MG milestones: Sapphire and Silver
The original MG TF ceased production 65 Years ago, and 25 years ago a brand new MG F (later the MG TF) was launched. Paul Lumsdon commemorates dual anniversaries with a brief look at the history of two very different MG sports cars with a selection of his
In April 1955, it was the end of an era - the MG TF was retired after a production run of just 18 months. It was the final variant in the MG T-type ‘Midgets’ that were launched way back in 1936, with the MG TA. Today many nostalgically look back on the MG T-types as the quintessential British sports car. Indeed, it was the popularity of the design with US GIs based in the UK during the war that inspired a boom in British sports car sales in the USA during the immediate post war years.
The TF’s predecessor, the TD, was built between 1949 and 1953. With a total production of over 30,000 cars, it became easily the best-selling car of the entire series, and 90% of production went to the North American market. However, by 1953, when the TF was launched, the BMC board had decided not to sanction any major development expenditure on the TD successor. A sloping radiator grille allowed a lower bonnet profile, and the headlights were faired into the front wings to give a lower, sleeker look. However, it was sadly seen as a desperate attempt by BMC to facelift an outdated, pre-war Nuffield design and it was thus doomed to failure from the off! Even a last-gasp engine upgrade, in 1954, to a more powerful 1466cc, the TF 1500, could not rescue the situation and production ceased in April 1955 with just over 9,600 cars produced.
THE 1950S MG TF IN DIECAST
Strange then that of all the T types, the more successful earlier models were at the time largely overlooked in the diecast model world. The unpopular TF became the one that was modelled by
both Dinky and later Corgi, the two leading diecast manufacturers back in the day. The Dinky model in particular was hugely popular and remains highly collectable today.
Dinky MG TF 1/43 Scale
In 1955 Dinky released a series (often referred to as the 100 series) of five contemporary sports cars, with each being produced first in a competition livery and later as a touring car. The MG TF, known as the MG Midget, was included in this range and was released in two competition colour schemes followed by two touring car schemes. There were also some additional specific US releases and it was included in a Sports Cars Gift Set, giving collectors a variety of options and variations to track down.
Dinky 108 MG Midget Sports Car – competition finish
The April 1955 Meccano Magazine first heralded the arrival of the ‘competition finish’ version of the MG Midget. It was produced in the following schemes - white body with dark red/maroon interior, red ridged hubs and racing number 28, and red body with tan interior, red ridged hubs and racing number 24. Both versions also featured a separate black steering wheel, clear plastic screen and driver in white racing overalls and helmet. Headlights, radiator and bumpers were painted silver with rear lights in orange. This version was deleted in 1959.
Dinky 102 MG Midget Sports Car – touring finish
In 1957 the ‘Touring finish’ version of the MG Midget was announced with two new schemes as follows - yellow body with red interior and red ridged hubs, and pale green body with cream interior and cream ridged hubs. Other details were exactly the same as the competition version, with the notable exception of the driver who looked rather smart, sporting a grey blazer. These models were deleted in 1960.
Dinky 129 MG Sports Car – US market
Note the subtle change of title for the US market models. These were issued from around 1955 and were the same white and red colour scheme models as the UK market 108, but without the competition racing numbers and minus the driver figure. Dinky 149 Sports Car Gift Set
Available for a couple of years from around 1957, the five-piece Sports Car Gift set comprised ‘competition finish’ versions of the 107 Sunbeam Alpine, 108 MG Midget, 109 Austin Healey 100, 110 Aston Martin DB3S and 111 Triumph TR2. The MG Midget was in the white scheme with racing number 28. These sets are very rare in original unmolested condition and you can expect to pay from £500 upwards to well into four figures, depending on condition and originality.
Corgi MG TF 1/36 Scale
The Corgi MG TF was a product of the post-Mettoy management buyout that lasted from 1984 until Mattel took over the business in 1989. The models were initially part of a “Cars of the ‘50s” series, and the MGTF was produced in three different versions - roadster with hood down, roadster with hood up, and a competition car. A really nice feature of all these models was the twin opening bonnets revealing
a detailed engine in moulded black and chromeplated plastic. This is not a bad model and I am a little surprised that they are generally available for well under £20 in very good condition. If I have a criticism, it is the wheels, which were a little toy-like especially the moulded black plastic tyres. The release details are as follows…
Corgi 812 “Cars of the ‘50s” 1953 MG TF Roadster with hood down, introduced in 1984, was produced in British Racing Green with black tonneau. The seats were moulded in tan plastic, whilst the dashboard, steering wheel, gearstick and hand brake were all in black. All brightwork, radiator, bumpers, wheels and luggage rack were in chromeplated plastic. The windscreen was clear plastic with chrome plated surround and the registration plates were stickers.
Corgi 813 “Cars of the ‘50s” 1955 MG TF Roadster with hood up was also introduced in 1984 and featured a red version of the roadster with the black hood in a fixed up position and incorporating a clear rear window. All other details were as the 812 model. In 1985 the model was repackaged in a new grey Corgi Classics box and, whilst the red car was retained, a new scheme was added. This featured a two-tone off-white body with maroon wheel arches and looked very smart.
Corgi 869 Corgi Classics 1953 MG TF Competition Roadster, also launched in 1985, was the competition version of the roadster produced in a Bugatti blue with racing number 113 on doors and bonnet. Whilst this shared most of its parts with the earlier releases, it looked considerably different by virtue of the twin clear racing screens and the black moulded three-quarter tonneau which incorporated a roll bar. The eagle-eyed will also spot that the handbrake and gear stick were now in chrome-plated plastic rather than black, and the seats were moulded in a lighter tan, almost cream colour.
Micro Machines MG TF – ‘Tiny’ scale
Here is something a little different, which I am including because, firstly, I think they are rather cute, and secondly, they were aimed squarely at the kids’ market and I think it is important to review a broad range of collectables.
Micro-Machines were introduced by Galoob in 1987. They were seen as a competitor to Mattel’s Hot
Wheels – albeit even smaller – and whilst mainly plastic they did include a diecast base. The models were not intended as accurate replicas but more caricatures of the originals. The MGTF was tiny at around 34mm (just over 1.25 inches) in length. It was part of a Street Racer series launched in 1987 and it remained in the range until around 1996. Tracking down the full range is not easy, but I have so far uncovered the following releases:
• Two-tone - lemon/red, off-white/red, off-white/ blue.
• Single colour with no spare wheel – purple, pale blue.
• Single colour - red, dark green, pale green, mint green, metallic green, yellow, gold, cream, pale blue,
black with racing number 8.
Most of these models can be bought for around £3.00 to £5.00 each, although one or two do seem to carry a premium up to around £8.00.
AN EXCITING NEW MG ERA
In the spring of 1995, at the Geneva Motor Show, the Rover Group proudly revealed the first all-new MG model since the MGB that had been produced from 1962 until1980. The new British roadster was an instant success when it arrived in showrooms in the autumn of 1995, and immediately returned the MG brand to prominence in the UK sports car market. It was a far cry from its 1960s predecessor and featured excellent performance from an awardwinning K series 1.8 litre engine plus state-of-the-art specification including hydragas suspension, midengine configuration and electric assisted power steering. The design was up to date, yet still took some design cues from the old MGB to give a nice blend of modern and classic. All in all, it was a serious British competitor for the Mazda MX5 which had dominated the UK volume sports car category since its launch in 1990.
Like so many stories from the British Motor Industry, success was hard won against a roller coaster of issues behind the scenes. The MG F was designed whilst Rover Group was still owned by British Aerospace. However, in 1994, the car business was sold to BMW, who presided over the launch of the MG F and the successful production of the car until 2000. In May 2000, BMW split up the assets of Rover Group and MG and Rover marques were bought by the Phoenix (Venture Capital) Consortium who set up the business as MG Rover. The new company set about updating the MG F and, in 2002, the old model was dropped - in its place, came a heavily reengineered and cosmetically updated model, the MG TF - named after the 1950s original. Close to 40,000 cars were produced between 2002 and 2005, when the MG Rover Group collapsed.
During bankruptcy proceedings, the MG and Rover assets were sold to the Chinese Nanjing Automobile Corporation (NAC) that in 2007 merged with China’s biggest automotive producer, SAIC. In 2008 production of the MG TF recommenced at Longbridge. Sadly, the financial climate (‘the crash’), coupled with the fact that visually the MG TF was outdated (having hardly changed aesthetically since its launch in 1995) saw demand dramatically decline. Production stopped for a while, in October 2009, but restarted again early in 2010. However, the writing was on the wall and in March 2011 it was announced that production was to cease altogether. Like its 1950s namesake, the MG TF was doomed to failure pretty much from the 2008 re-start, and less than 1,000 cars were produced at Longbridge under Chinese ownership.
THE 1995 MG F/MG TF IN DIECAST
The MG F has been widely modelled by several major diecast manufacturers, whereas the ill-fated MG TF has been almost entirely overlooked.There are
Like so many stories from the British Motor Industry, success was hard won against a roller coaster of issues behind the scenes. The MG F was designed whilst Rover Group was still owned by British Aerospace. However, in 1994, the car business was sold to BMW, who presided over the launch of the MG F and the successful production of the car until 2000.
too many variants to cover all makes and scales in an article of this length. Perhaps a follow up is needed at some point?
This is a look at some of my favourite MG F/TF models, including one that I have not yet managed to find!
Corgi 1/18 scale MG F 1.8i VVC
Corgi’s foray into 1/18 scale cars was brief and, I think it is fair to say, not terribly successful. In 1995, having recently become independent again following a management buyout from Mattel, the company immediately made an agreement with Rover to model the old MGB and the brand new MG F. The Corgi models were relatively expensive in a highly competitive 1/18 scale market dominated by the likes of Bburago. Nevertheless, the MG F saw a fair number of releases over a production span of just four years between 1995 and 1999. These included the roadster with hard top, with soft top and as a rally racing variant as follows:
• 95100 Donington Limited Edition, white with black hard top
• 95101 Flame red with black hard top.
• 95102 Metallic British racing green with open top. • 95195 Deluxe Limited Edition, metallic grey with open top on wooden plinth with MG badge (Note - Look out also for the MG Press Drive ‘95 version of this model. Only 600 produced with the logo on bonnet.)
• 46702 Japan racing livery, white with black hard top • 46703 Rover Team Spirit racing livery, red with white hard top
• 46601 Metallic Amaranth with open top • 46602 MG 75th Anniversary, British racing green with open top
• 46603 MG 75th Anniversary, fl ame red with open top
The model was a good representation of the real car and was nicely finished. Features included opening doors and rear boot/engine bay lid, detailed engine and exhaust, working steering, detailed moulded wheels with separate soft rubber tyres, clear glazed headlights and colour glazed front and rear side/brake lights, plus a nicely detailed interior with realistic rear view and door mirrors. I particularly like the coloured inlay pattern on the seats and door cards. My main dislike is the printed petrol filler cap detail which to me looks like a bit of an afterthought.
In 2001, this metallic green MG F featured in a Matchbox five-piece set for Kelloggs.
Matchbox MG F in white, in a standard 1-75 Series orange window box.
The SAIC Dealer TF features opening bonnet, doors and boot, and a superb interior.
All variants appear to be readily available and prices vary widely. Overall, I would say £30 to £40 should secure a very nice example of any of the Corgi MG Fs.
Matchbox 1-75 MG F 1/56 Scale
At the opposite end of the scale to the Corgi 1/18 scale model, Matchbox introduced the MG F 1.8i Convertible Roadster into its 1-75 range in 1998, and it ran in various schemes until 2003. It was a fairly basic model with diecast body, plastic moulded interior, clear or smoked plastic windsceen and chromed Superfast-style wheels.
In the standard range it was produced in yellow, with MG badging on the bonnet and doors, red and white. Between 2000 and 2003, it featured in the Matchbox Coca Cola range as part of a 5-piece set in red, as a single model in red, and also as a single model in black. In 2001 it appeared in Metalflake Green in a 5-piece Kellogg’s Cereal set. Look out for wheel variations, and smoked/non-smoked windscreens, particularly on the Coca Cola models. Again, most of these models are fairly easy to find but prices vary widely from around £5.00 to £15.00 for very good to mint boxed examples.
SAIC Dealer Promotional MG TF 1/18 scale
This has to be the Holy Grail for the serious MG F/TF collector. Above all, it is the only factory finished, diecast model of the modern MG TF that I am aware of. I know very little of this model and I have struggled to research much information about it. All I can determine is that a nicely detailed 1/18 scale model of the MG TF was produced as a special promotional model and distributed by SAIC dealers. The photo shows a level of detail that easily surpasses the Corgi 1/18 MG F model, and even includes an opening front bonnet, complete with spare wheel. I have seen photos of examples in metallic gold, pale metallic green and red but I have never seen an actual model and despite my best efforts I have been unable to track one down that is for sale. They do come up on internet auction sites from time to time, mainly from US dealers and they sell for between US$125.00 and US$165.00.
I am sure there must be readers out there that know more about this elusive model and can furnish us with more information. Perhaps drop a line to the editor if you have any more details and your information can be published in the Dear Editor pages.