MG DR2/PR5

This is one of the more popular exhibits at the British Motor Museum, although not so much is known about this car. It was conceived by Roy Axe – again – as a new and conventional sports car to sell in the USA. It was styled by his design house DRA, and was penned deliberately ambiguously to work as both an Austin-Healey or a top-flight MG.

As it stands, the car looks absolutely beautiful under the lights at the Gaydon museum, and had Rover had the resources to put it together, would have been a very satisfying replacement for the MG RV8. Keen car spotters will easily spot the TVR Tasmin interior, and that’s because underneath the DR2/PR5’s skin, lurks one of those cars, almost unmodified. Roy Axe recalled in his autobiography, A Life in Style that an absolutely immaculate TVR Tasmin was bought secondhand from an enthusiast, who would have been horrifed to learn the fate of his cherished pride and joy.

Had it been given the go ahead, the DR2/PR5 would have made production in the early 1990s.

WHY WASN’T IT MADE?

Another case of a great idea that didn’t get enough support within senior management to be considered a serious production possibility. Although it looked good and like the RV8 could have been put into production for not a huge amount of money, it wasn’t considered lucrative enough a proposition. Shame, as it would be a great classic now.