Back in 2005 two events were to bring the Birmingham motor industry to the fore, the first was the closure of Britain's last mass production car industry, the other, situated just over the road, at Cofton Park, was an event that now heralds what was, and still is great, about what eventually became MG-Rover.
PLEASE CLICK ON ANY PICTURE TO VIEW LARGER SIZE.
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| A view from the MG sales centre opposite the park. |
From the start of the very first car that arrived, the endless stream of cars continued to arrive, for hours, the myriad of Rover 25's, 45's and 75's along with there MG Sisters, an lonely SV, a few commercial vehicles, along with Triumph's, Austin's, Morris's, Riley's, Wolseley's and more.
This event was not just for the UK either, as a number of European registered cars were in attendance, which, goes to show, what an event this really has become over the years, it was so great to see cars from an era that did not make cars to last, with the dreaded rot calling the death knell to many models, but those, dedicated, and brilliant people, that have the time, patience and money to keep these stunning examples on the roads, it is these people that deserve to be applauded, for without them, these events would not exist.
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| So, you want a Rover 200 BRM, we have a few here, all Green with red leather. |
I had a nice chat with a geezer from the Rover 200 BRM club, and my, where there dozens of these there, it was another lost opportunity for Rover, the BRM badge should have been utilised on more than just the 200, imagine, a 100 BRM with the red leather interior, or a 45, now that would be something special, but i digress, as i usually do in these events, as there is just so much to convey, that i get excited by what's to come, and believe me, the pictures below are only a handful of the hundreds we took.
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| Pre War Rover 10 |
I do have to say though, that if you took away the MG-Rover era of cars there would be a distinct lack of cars there, as it was they ranged from a pre-war Rover 10 - via a pre production Austin 1800 with its scale model, to the first Longbridge produced again via the last Rover (real) Mini right up to a brand spanking new MG3, that was collected from the sales centre, over the road, just a few minutes earlier.
I will also have to say, how happy i was to see so many MG6 and MG3 cars on display, and how these owners are really getting behind NEW MG, and regardless of the drivel you can read on other forums from people that should now better, these new cars are special, in a way that the MGR era cars were special, we have to remember that it was 9 long years ago that MGR died, and the Chinese took control, yes it has been a long wait, but things are happening, successful, if no marketing to promote it, BTCC wins, the decent little MG3, that deserves to be selling so many more, and the MG6, that deserves, well, to be honest, that's my bug bear, the MG6 is over priced, and under specified, not in kit, but engines and gearboxes, and that's all I will say on the subject.
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| MG6 GT and Magnettes along with MG3 cars by teh MG Stand. |
Back to the event, the overwhelming amount of Rover 75 and ZT/ZT-T cars on display was huge, in fact i would not be surprised if it amounted to about a third of the total, but to see so many mk1 and mk2 cars in all colours was a spectacle to behold, and one i just drooled over at each car, and there were some special ones there too.
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| Not sure about the black paint around the grill on this Rover 75 |
At one stage we popped over the road and say the dozens and dozens of MG3 cars in the compound, that were awaiting customers, there really should not be any there, they need to be sold, like a large number of MG3 cars by the sales centre with SOLD on, there was even an unregistered Rover 45 in Silver next to the Magnette MG6.
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| Unregistered 45 along with dozens of MG3 cars in the background. |
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| Yet more MG3 cars ready for some new buyers. |
There were just so many cars there, some that just smacked you with how beautiful they were to others that, well, need to have their owners smacked, it is unfortunate that with the demise of MGR, the collapse of the second hand car market brought about the arrival of what used to be call the Max Power brigade, modded up cars, lower suspension, scissor doors, huge exhausts and so on, for me, these are not classic cars, for me, and it is my personal opinion that these cars will end up smashed and destroyed, ended another great car that could have been kept original, I like my cars original, not tarted up like a dogs dinner, but for those that do, that's fine too.
Below is my top cars of the event.
Unusual Car of the Event
Best Austin
Best MG
Top Ten favourite cars of the event
10th Place
9th Place
8th Place
7th Place
6th Place
5th Place
4th Place
3rd Place
2nd Place
My favourite car of the event + Best Rover
A stunning Rover P5b 3.5 litre V8 in Black, it just cant get any better than this !
Get ready for this, these are some of the other pictures, enjoy.
And remember these are my pictures, please ask before you use them elsewhere.
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| A interloper - well, our daily grind unfortunately. |
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| Last time I saw this registration it was on a factory produced mk2 Rover 45 Tourer |
As you can see, there are a lot of pictures, and this is only just a small handful of the ones we took, the PoL has to be congratulated for continuing to bring this event to the masses, I cant think of anywhere else that could host an event like this, after all it is on the doorstep of Longbridge, and it is great to see the factory back up and running, albeit, just assembling bits and pieces of the MG6 and MG3, but as they say, from small acorns comes great Oaks, and this is what will happen here, with each new model they introduce, the sales will grow, but they can not rest, they MUST advertise the cars, get them back on TV and push them, keep pushing them, and with that will come more new dealers, and they bring sales, so, you must speculate to accumulate, Please MG, start getting it right, you have a brilliant new car on the horizon, price it cheaply enough to rough up the competition, and people will start to take even more notice.
Thank you to all the owners of the cars that attended, without you this would not happen, and thank you for keeping such motoring icons alive for the next and future generations, and the Committee, thank you too, and with the 10th Anniversary next year of both the closure and 1st event, it will no doubt be one that we all look forward too.
TMW - Jon Mower
