Rare and performance MG and Rover guides
MG and Rover repeatedly turned practical British platforms into cars with far more ambitious engineering: a purpose-built Group B Metro, a fuel-injected V8 executive hatchback, a carbon-bodied supercar and a front-drive saloon reinvented around rear-wheel drive.
These guides explain the history, versions and technology of each car, then identify the checks that matter when assessing surviving examples.
MG and Rover model guides
MG Metro 6R4
The naturally aspirated V6 Group B car, including Clubman and International specifications, provenance and buying checks.
MG XPower SV and SV-R
MG Rover’s carbon-bodied Ford V8 flagship, its Qvale origins, production story and ownership priorities.
Rover SD1 Vitesse
The fuel-injected V8 flagship, Twin Plenum homologation derivative and touring-car story.
MG ZT 260 and Rover 75 V8
The extraordinary rear-wheel-drive conversion, covering saloon and estate versions, engineering and buying checks.
MG F and MG TF
Mid-engined roadsters covering Hydragas and coil-spring generations, cooling-system risks and buying checks.
MG ZR 160
The VVC K-series hot hatch, including versions, cooling issues, corrosion and modification checks.
MG ZS 180
The understated KV6 sports saloon and hatchback, with cambelt, chassis and structural buying advice.
MG Montego Turbo
The turbocharged O-series family saloon, including period engineering, corrosion and originality checks.
MG RV8
The hand-finished V8 roadster that revived the MGB silhouette, with production history, specifications and buying checks.
MG Maestro Turbo
Tickford-developed turbocharging, 1980s hot-hatch pace and the provenance and corrosion checks that matter today.
Rover 220 Coupé Turbo Tomcat
The 200PS T-series coupé, including its removable glass roof, performance, problem areas and buying priorities.
Rover 200 BRM
The British Racing Motors-inspired limited edition, with 1.8 VVC power, orange detailing and distinctive cabin trim.
Rover 800 Vitesse and Vitesse Sport
From the early V6 fastback to the turbocharged Vitesse Sport, including specifications, history and buying checks.
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What connects these unusual British cars?
None was created by following the easy route. The 6R4 used a bespoke mid-engined four-wheel-drive structure, the SD1 Vitesse turned a large hatchback into a touring-car force, the XPower SV linked Modena and Longbridge through carbon-composite manufacture, and the ZT 260 re-engineered a transverse front-drive platform for a longitudinal V8.
Their strongest stories combine engineering ambition with the complex industrial history of Austin Rover, Rover Group and MG Rover.
