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Still an amateur-- what is an MG?

101 messages,  Last post on May 05, 2012 at 9:40 AM

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Messages Page 10 of 11

#82 of 101 Re: Shifty?? [Mr_Shiftright] by british_rover

Sep 29, 2007 (10:50 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 29, 2007 9:53 am)
You know if you were going to reprise a Triumph model could you do better then TR-6?
 
It fits with BMWs tendency to use alpha numerics and BMW already has the best inline 6 cylinders in the world.
 
I personally always liked the name Stag but I don't see it making a come back either.

#83 of 101 Re: Shifty?? [british_rover] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 29, 2007 (10:55 am)

Replying to: british_rover (Sep 29, 2007 10:50 am)
There was a car madein the USA called the American Moosehead. I always thought that would be a great name for a big SUV.
 
This constant reaching back to the past smacks of desperation doesn't it?
 
They'll never be another MG. It's still possible to evoke the past in a new car---Porsche and Ferrari both do that---their 2007 cars DO FEEL like the old cars in some ways...there's a definite connection in sound, driving position, even in styling....but a "new" MG? How could that possibly be re-created? Is someone really going to build a torquey pushrod 4 cylinder engine and mate it to a dogsled suspension? I don't THINK so.
 
Ferrari and Porsche were sophisticated cars in 1965. MG certainly was not. It had more in common with 1925 than 2005.
 

#84 of 101 Re: Shifty?? [Mr_Shiftright] by british_rover

Sep 29, 2007 (11:10 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 29, 2007 10:55 am)
There was a car madein the USA called the American Moosehead. I always thought that would be a great name for a big SUV.
 
 
That would be a good name althought it almost sounds Canyoneroish.
 

 
Completely off topic but that reminded me of this. If you ever get over to my side of the country you have to stop by the Golden Age of Trucking museum. My Wife's aunt, Aunt In-Law I guess, runs it along with another woman.
 
Golden Age of Trucking
 
I had my wedding there and it is a freaking cool place. They have some really cool old trucks there including some pre-war stuff from local makes.
 
Partial list of trucks on hand They get new stuff all the time. When I was there for my wedding they had a collection of WWII era armor there.
 

 
That is one of my favorites. 1928 Pierce Arrow.

#85 of 101 Re: Shifty?? [Mr_Shiftright] by hudsonthedog

Oct 02, 2007 (6:59 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 29, 2007 9:53 am)
One would think (if one were thinking) that to reprise a model name, one would pick a model name that had some glory, fame, mythology, etc attached to it....SILVER GHOST...CHARGER....MINI...MUSTANG....CAMARO....2002...540K...300SL
  
but "spitfire"?
  
I mean, this was a very humble little car when it first came out...
 
But Mini "was a very humble little car when it first came out" as well.
 
I can't imagine that BMW would launch a "BMW Spitfire" but a new Triumph Spitfire wouldn't have any negative connection to BMW. Nobody seems to have a problem with the ultimate British icons (Rolls-Royce and Bentley) being owned by their former rivals the Germans.
 
BMW has done an excellent job of promoting its newer brands. Rolls-Royce has returned to its position as the top car to be driven in. Mini has established a subcompact as a premium brand. And none of this has seemed to lessen the impact of BMW's image.
 
My dual loves of Triumph's rival MG (Triumph-powered MG Midgets were NOT as good as MG-powered ones) and off-brand vehicles in general are at odds. I would rather see MG become a global brand again (preferably not under Chinese control, though) than a revival of Triumph, but I also would like to see more niche brands revived. It's such a conundrum!

#86 of 101 Re: Shifty?? [hudsonthedog] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Oct 02, 2007 (7:39 am)

Replying to: hudsonthedog (Oct 02, 2007 6:59 am)
Well humble in original form but also developed into a world-class butt-kicker. The MINI Cooper S gave bigger faster cars FITS in racing on tight tracks and in the Monte Carlo rally (and others). You can still view old film footage of MINIS eating up Corvettes at Lime Rock (back when Corvettes had maximum power and minimum brakes). The racing MINIS were formidable and highly respected cars.
 
Spitfires share none of this world-class glory IMO. It's a car you bought when you couldn't afford an MGB and when you couldn't bring yourself to drive a Triumph Herald.

#87 of 101 Re: Shifty?? [Mr_Shiftright] by hudsonthedog

Oct 02, 2007 (12:17 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Oct 02, 2007 7:39 am)
Spitfires share none of this world-class glory IMO. It's a car you bought when you couldn't afford an MGB and when you couldn't bring yourself to drive a Triumph Herald.
 
Again, I'm an MG fan so I find it difficult to defend Triumph. BUT...
 
I would imagine that a revived Triumph would start with the TR-Series before they'd relaunch any other model name. I, personally, would rather see a revived Dolomite hitting the market to compete with the RWD tuner cars that the Japanese car fans seem to want from Toyota/Nissan.
 
But make a TR9 and I'll be there to check it out.

#88 of 101 Re: Shifty?? [Mr_Shiftright] by starrow68

Oct 08, 2007 (7:46 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Oct 02, 2007 7:39 am)
"Spitfires share none of this world-class glory IMO. ..."
 
I'm sure you are correct, but in the world of sports car
racing I seem to have read about several well tuned spitfires
that did a lot in SCCA lower classes for several decades.
Seems the car could be put in shape to compete at that level.
BTW, I owned a B from '72 to '85 so was always partial
to B's over any Triumph model.

#89 of 101 Re: Shifty?? [starrow68] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Oct 08, 2007 (7:47 am)

Replying to: starrow68 (Oct 08, 2007 7:46 am)
I'm sure a Spitfire won a race or two but we never heard about it in the outside world. MG had a lot more visibility in America at least, and certainly a more substantial pre-war reputation; also victories with Stirling Moss, etc. And of course, we had the MG TC which really was responsible for introducing the foreign sports car to America, with the returning US soldiers who brought them home after WW II.
 
Triumph was, is, and always will be the also-ran of MG, and that's just the way it is, fair or not.

#90 of 101 Re: Shifty?? [Mr_Shiftright] by starrow68

Oct 08, 2007 (7:50 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Oct 08, 2007 7:47 am)
Guess that is the one advantage about not having followed it
at the time. I only know about what they dredge up for the
classic motorsports reviews of the past. I will say that
I've seen two spitfires at track events in the past 4+years
and no MGB's. Although the B's do seem to have a few entries
at the Historic events.
Randy

#91 of 101 Re: Shifty?? [starrow68] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Oct 08, 2007 (8:00 am)

Replying to: starrow68 (Oct 08, 2007 7:50 am)
Yeah I don't think contemporary vintage racing reflects the actual spread or performance of the cars at the time of their manufacture...but I'm sure people raced their Triumphs back in the day. But I don't think Spitfires made much of a name for themselves back then.
 
It's a pretty slender hook upon which to hang a reputation, is my point. It's a rather obscure car for a "heritage".

Messages Page 10 of 11

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