A ticking off over Maestro styling kit

Iread with interest Giles Chapman’s Myth Buster feature relating to the MG Maestro Turbo ( CCW, 13 September). Contrary to what Mr Chapman states about the five-piece body styling kit being ‘designed and manufactured by Tickford’, this is actually incorrect.

Having corresponded with Richard Hamblin, the former Director of Austin Rover’s Concept Design department a few years ago, I can advise you that the body styling kit, or Body Styling Enhancement (BSE) pack to give it its full and correct title, was actually designed in-house. It was undertaken by Austin Rover Group’s designers working under the direction of Gordon Sked. At that time Concept Design had previously created BSEs for the Rover 800 Series and Montego saloon, which had been unveiled at the 1987 Frankfurt Motor Show. These would go on to be manufactured under contract by Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) and Wood & Pickett respectively, and were offered as assembly line-fit optional extras. Tickford would ultimately be responsible for sub-contracting the manufacture of the BSE package for the Maestro MG Turbo to another company before fitting the completed items, along with the ‘turbo’ graphics, to the lower sections of the doors, at the Tickford Vehicle Preparation Centre in Bedworth.

Some visual aspects of the aforementioned BSE packs would also be evident on later projects, such as early styling renditions of the MGF project and also for the front bumper of the BSE package offered on the R8 Rover 200 Series, which was offered as a dealer-fit option for the 1991 Model Year. Sorry to deliver Mr Chapman his own myth buster. David Morgan,

Seaton, Devon