A Chinese car manufacturer announced plans to build new MGs in Oklahoma. Let me say that again. The Chinese are going to build MGs in dust bowl land. I don't know why, but the line from a Zappa song keeps going through my head: "I'm going to Montana soon. Gonna be a dental floss tycoon." Dale
Incredible isn't it? A supposed "British" sportscar, built by rednecks in a company owned by Chinese! Cecil Kimber must be turning in his grave! What ever happened to the British car industry?
Of course, we all know what happened. The simple refusal to change with the times ultimately did them in. I rode and restored Brit bikes for years. Great bikes to look at after a run. Not so great to ride on after you had experienced what the Japanese and, later, Italians had to offer. Too bad, really. To me, the 1970 Triumph Bonneville that I have sitting in my garage is perhaps one of the most beautiful motorcycles ever made. However, I can't remember when I rode it last. Getting an ad hoc proctology exam from the vibration because Triumph never learned how to balance a crankshaft (or fit proper main bearings) is not my idea of fun. BTW, I also have a Spec Miata, which, if MG or Lotus had built back in the day, could have saved the Brits. Cheers. Dale
The simple refusal to change with the times ultimately did them in. I couldn't agree more Dr Who. I wouldn't blame British cars or motorcycle engineers for lack of competence; many of them tried to 'move with the time' but where never heard. In fact a lot of engineering is contracted in UK, even now, by foreign industries. The reason British car and motorcycle has almost vanished is more because of corporate mentality here in UK. Most of our industry is run by financiers, not engineers. Also, people who invest in industry are only interested in a quick return, not the product, not the long term future. To please them company managers have to redistribute most of the profit as dividend, with very little to re-invest for research, development, tooling, etc... If they don't they are voted out for someone more compliant, or the investors withdraw support and switch money to a more profitable venture. UK must have had the only car company in the world where the Chairman couldn't even drive!(MG-Rover) Also the comment of another car company's chairman: "I'm not interested in making cars, I'm interested in making money". So maybe, it's a blessing in disguise that MG will be made in US.
Yes, it is rather ironic. We'll see what develops. Hopefully, they will make a really cool little car like the Miata, but give it 100 more hp! Dale
Yeah, I heard that on CNBC on Thursday and I scanned the web looking for any sketches or concept cars. No luck so far. Anyone know if they've released such?
That also led me to wonder what happened to Triumph. According to wikipedia, BMW kept the rights to Triumph and felt so strongly about it that it became an issue when they sold Rover as the buyers wanted that brand too. Anyone heard if BMW plans a new Triumph some day? They obviously did well reviving Cooper.
Yes. A new Triumph is planned Probably 5-10 years away but it has been reported that there definatley will be a new Triumph. Shame really because no doubt tons of people (READ: Americans) will buy it because its "cute" and have no idea on the history behind the marque
Tru dat. I came of age during the sixties. Imagine driving a little MG around next to real hemis with straight pipes and drag slicks. Such was thier appeal. Dale
Why not? GM has been building car for years in Oklahoma City until they recently closed all those plants down. Seems there would be a lot of available labor in the area that have car making experience. Don't forget either, doing business in Oklahoma is cheap--land is cheap, labor is cheap, and it wouldn't be hard to get the municipalities to give tax breaks. Sounds like a smart decision to me. Oh, and the "dust bowl land" wasn't just Oklahoma from the 30's, it was Texas too, you know, that land where half of it is a desert. They burned up in electrical car fires. Here is a supposed picture: http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/12/mg-tf-coupe-will-be-built-in-ooooooklahoma/ One thing I haven't heard about is whether this new MG car is going to be based on the Qvale/DeTomaso Mangusta platform that MG bought in the past. Wouldn't that be a wild--British car, Italian platform, owned by the Chinese, built in Oklahoma. Oh how the car world has changed.
I certainly hope that they can come up with something better than another guppy design. My suggestion. Build something that looks like an old D9 Jag race car. Now, that would be cool. Dale
