You can almost imagine the designers being told to stop working on this innovative and imaginative sports car, and to go and help the Allegro design team with the ashtrays. Then losing the will to live.

Brilliant work, Ed. That's the way car stories should be.

This channel has gone from interestingly decent, to grippingly brilliant. Thank you for your hard work.

My heart is in my throat. And I am in shock. If these cars had come into fruition, there would be an MG dealership right now in NYC.

A superb retrospective on a car I’d never heard of. Excellent work!

A highly impressive piece of work, congratulations.

Great story, thanks for putting it together so well 😊

You know so so much! I'm ever so pleased I watched this. TY for sharing your expertise. You've a talent for presentation!! 😊

Did my apprenticeship at a BL dealer from '72 and have to say the E series never gave us any trouble. The only warranty repair I can remember was re shimming tappets on a new one once. Same with diffs on Marinas and Sherpas, never repaired a single one; very different when I was at Ford at we were constantly rebuilding Salisbury axles. I won't mention Marina gearbox's though, as I rebuilt what seemed like millions of them. The Maxi was a cracking car but very dull although the fleets seemed to like them ( I think they got them cheap, and I cant see many reps being pleased to be handed the keys). I remember the motorways then and if you looked at lane three it would be full of reps in Cortinas going flat out!

Brilliant story, thank you. I loved many of these interesting cars, we had the last of the breeds in the Austin Kimberley and Tasman here in Australia. They were a bit old but roomy and good to drive. My MGF however brilliant to drive and lively to look at had its hydro suspension leaks and sat rather low, ruining the ride. I could not afford to have it repaired nor could I afford the coil conversions so I put up with it for a while , eventually sold to someone with more time and money. The various minis and mokes I had were all a bit naf in the wet, but just fun to drive and easy to fix. I miss those old British cars. Overall however whenever I see a morris 1100 I see Basil Faulty belting it with a branch. I that image sums up the experience of owning one here in Aus in the 70’s.

I’ve never heard of this car before but watching your video I feel like you’ve actually driven it so vivid are your descriptions! Another “if only” moment.

Look at the prototypes compared to the crap they turned out. It’s mind boggling what those people managers was up to

Thank you so much for another great British car history lesson.

Anyone else notice the Jaguar XJS resemblance, around the rear window. Side butresses too, by the look of it too.

A great video, Ed! It's sad to see what has happened to the MG name...

Fascinating and interesting as always! Great episode thanks Ed!

Brilliant video as always Ed - thanks Steve

Growing up just east of Indianapolis, I was fascinated when Lotus brought their rear-engined 29 to the Brickyard. Beyond being interested in Lotus racing cars, I soon became aware of their road cars. Having a family requiring 4-doord and a backseat ruled out an Elan and Elite. The arrival of the mid-engined Lotus Europa got my attention, but again growing family made a 4-door sedan a necessity. As my finances improved, a Toyota MR-2 soon got my attention. Bought on in 1987. It was the most fun I've ever had driving.

If the X1/9 and MR2 are any indication, it could have been a success. But knowing BL I'm certain they would have found a way of messing up if they would have produced it.

The MGR... the first works restomod. A very special car.

Thanks great work, that was a good Sunday morning viewing!👍👌

The suspension was fantastic, yet it is the interior space that marked the 1800 in mind. It was considered, and indeed appeared to be, a small car by Australian standards, and yet it seemed to be a Tardis once in either the front or rear seats.

All right gang (those of us who’ve been watching for a long while), let’s all share these ever more awesome videos around and get Ed to 100k. If viewership grew at the rate of production quality and content, we would be there.

Nice video mate, well presented and researched, lovely to see 1800s and Maxis, my Dad had both when I was a kid

Very well done documentary,Thanks for sharing

Ed, brilliant as always. In an alternate MGD universe of my youth, schoolmate mate Roy would have been drawing MGDs everywhere and not TR7s, Steve would have bought an MGD not a B and I may have adored the D in the same way I did the X1/9 lol. EX234 looks very similar to the early somewhat feminine looking Alfa Spyder. the AD070 picture used looks a bit like a Japanese shopped Marina Targa and some real similarities in the XJS back end styling to the MGD.

Wet informative and enjoyable video. Thank you.

Great video and story. Look forward to you doing a story on the Rover SDI. I had 3 and still the cars I have enjoyed owning the most. For younger readers, if you think the SDI still looks modern today, can you imagine the impact it had amongst the boxey cars of the 70's

Brilliant video - well done, i'm now a dedicated fan.

Great video as always Ed! 👍

While the Hydrolastic Suspension system was good, there wasn't enough damping from front-to-rear for my liking on my modded 1310cc Cooper S swapped Aussie Mini Clubman S. However, among many of the changes to make it a high-performance Mini, was to bolt a pair of front shock-brackets to the subframe (yes, the threaded-nuts were welded on the sub-frames regardless of which type of suspension!), but there weren't any places to bolt the shocks onto the suspension-arms, so it did require some drilling & tapping to fit the original Mini shock-studs to the arms! As my Mini was one of the last Aussie cars to have the Hydrolastic System, it was relatively easy to find the parts needed in 1980!

Very good and entertaining analysis! Your presentations have really matured over the years - excellent!

Nicely narrated!👍

Very interesting - as an ex-owner of an MGF, I feel glad they got there in the end. All the logic of mid engine and hydragas ride (and flawed but zingy and brilliant K-Series) translated into a masterpiece. Pity it was so underrated, I had an MX5 afterwards and hated it, sold it after 6 months!

I did enjoy watching this, I had 2 MGFs over the years, nice cars to drive, one got written off from a rear end shunt though. Had a Mazda MX5, ok but for the rear end stepping out in damp conditions, but my favourite was the Toyota MR2, a gem of a car, handled like a go-cart, really fun to drive, as all sports cars should be. But going back to the MGF, as a front engine car, it was a really good car and fun to drive, couldn't fault it.

Well researched and presented in an interesting, informative and sober manner. For me at least, this is the way that car videos should be and it's much appreciated. One thing that always crops up in videos about BMC/BMH/BL is the shortage of money to develop new products. It seems that from the late 1950s onwards the management forgot that profits were essential to keeping the business healthy; the Mini being a good example of this, despite its innovative design.

Good video, thank you! Interesting that Gilbern also tried to build a mid engined car with the Maxi engine but they got as far as a prototype (which has now been completed). Looking forward to more interesting videos from you.

Great stuff!

That MG DGT looks similar to the mockup for the Holden Torana GTR-X from 1970. The TR7 looked ridiculous with 'Murican "5 MPH" bumpers.

Amazing video having grown up being a car enthusiast as a child & my father too the history is fascinating tkx

Your videos get better and better. So much information here and obviously you've done your research. Having owned a Eunos Roadster - 12 years old when I bought it - over three years I put up a lot of miles - over 100 thousand and noting fell off - unlike the 18 month old Spitfire I'd bought may ears earlier. I always admired the MGB - the GT was beautiful but it would have had to be a roadster for me but it was always just a little out of my reach. I imagine though that it would have been closer to the Triumph than the Mazda in terms of reliability and usability as a daily driver. The MX5, although in several actual incarnations has sold more than four times the MG|B , which makes it the best selling car in the world.

In the pre-interent era a magazine reviewer described the braking in a B as feeling like "Shit, I've just hit a brick wall". 🤣

The AC3000ME started out as the Diablo Project using a Maxi drive train in mid engined configuration. When AC took it over they lost years by redesigning it to take a Ford V6 3 litre and a bespoke gearbox. The resulting car was a gem. But the delay in getting it to market hampered the eventual success of the project. Also available in the seventies were a number of mid engined "specialist" and kit cars using the Mini drivetrain in mid engined configuration. Cars such as the GTM, DeepSanderson and Unipower GT A later car by GTM, The Libra, used Rover Metro drive trains in mid engined configuration. I heard that MG Rover had one for evaluation when designing the MGF.

It`s hard to imagine anything from England matching the delicate elegance of the Fiat x19, but still, the potential was there

Great film. I'd never even heard of the MG-D prototype. One little thing about the E-Series engine; I could be wrong but I think the cylinder head was cast iron. Only that large finned rocker cover was alloy.

Fantastic video. You’ve gained a sub, here. 👍

Great video which is well informed. I have had Austin and Cooper Minis, Sprite, MGB, Recently MGRV8. Sadly the MX5 had a clean run globally because of the BMC "fisheads" at the top sadly.

How ironic that Ed never mentions the Lotus Europa in the background behind the MGB V8 as he leans on it during his presentation. He does mention the later Lotus Elite, but the Europa was a direct competitor to the proposed mid-engined MGD, being introduced in 1966 and produced through 1975, the period the MGD would have come online.

50,000 subscribers. Pretty sure it will be a large multiple of that in times to come. Terrific content. Always informative and fun.

Another superb delivery of a professionaI video. 👍 I thought you might have mentioned the Austin Zanda which was also to use a rear mounted Maxi engine. A lovely looking concept car by Harris Mann (glass-fibre mock-up at Gaydon). The idea being later revived as the ADO21. I seem to remember that later Maxis and all 1750 versions ditched the cable gear linkage and replaced it with rods.

I love it: the styling looks so beautiful for an affordable mid-engine car. I can't think of a sportd car in it's class that has the same looks: maybe a Matra Murena for the front, and a Lancia Montecarlo for the rear, but it's not exact.

Quality script, faultlessly narrated, and a compelling story

Ed you must excuse the cognitive difficulties of an old man for my total misunderstanding of the announcement of your expansion onto more social media platforms, which this idiot took as your excellent reviews being dropped from Utube. So you have absolutely no idea just how delighted to have this MG sports care tour de force pop up today. Phew! I hope to avoid undue sycophancy but you are THE go to site for such well researched, written and presented classic car reviews, delivered with confidence, boldness and with a touch of fun. Indeed you are nonpareil in the motoring firmament! This history of MG sports cars was great and enjoyably which filled in the gaps of numbering about which I had no idea. Brilliant! I look forward to my continued enjoyment of your site on Utube 'cos this old codger only has this technophobic choice! Rob 😊

The British sports car engine development missed an important heart beat way back in the 1930s when several companies asked for government for money to compete against Germany and Italy whose company’s had the full backing of Hitler and Mussolini. In an ironic twist you wouldn’t see any Porsche’s, Ferrari’s or even Lamborghini’s today if it wasn’t for the early British racers who where dominating sports car racing at the time and who stimulated the desire to win.

Both of the MGB replacements are great looking cars, the earlier green one is very reminiscent of the Alfa Romeo Spider, and the later one is just plain stunning for 1970.

20:50 (Fiero too haha) Great video

I still want the MGR V8 stunning car in red ❤

As a senior development engineer in Engineering department at MG working with Syd Enever, Roy Brocklehurst, Terry M, Don H , Alec Henry et al. I had some input into the New concept. It had a Central mounted DeDion axle, transverse Fuel tank and the 1750 Maxi power unit. Early tests at chicane Dunlop test area Fradley aerodrome were good .Although it was a bit shaky. The photo is interesting as I have no idea where or when this car was made into thus condition. It was engineered to compete and expand with MG V8 NEVER A BESTSELLER OR TYPICALLY MG. At the time Stokes and his cohorts were influencing most Engineering activities, including the MG air bag development To qoute " I'm not having those things in any of my cars ! Stop work on them today." Sad time when the company was closed.

Same story over and over with BL. They did have some interesting developments in the pipeline but then they were cancelled by management because the current range was selling well enough. It is like they never heard of product development.

Great video

The MGD was a far nicer looking car then the TR7.

7:27 The interior shot of Ex234 shows what I think is a TR7 steering wheel. The E series was originally intended to be a 1300, but in development it was decided that it wasn't pokey enough. The bores were already siamesed, so the only way to increase capacity was to lengthen the stroke to get 1500cc. That still was not enough, and it got lengthened again for 1750cc. BTW the 2200 E6 engine was designed to bolt to the 4-speed sump and gearbox of the 1800cc B-series. As was the O-series when it came along. The Rover T-series 16v engine was based on the O block. I wonder if you could put the T engine on the fwd sump gearbox (actually it is BEHIND the engine on the 1800 Landcrab and Princess etc) and have a 140bhp 2 litre Landcrab.

The rear has shades of a properly designed Lotus Europa. (I firmly think that the Europa is a good looking car but it could have been a beautiful one) The views being shown from the rear 3/4 show absolutely beautiful lines. Fantastic video and a tragedy that this beauty never saw the tarmac.

As a concept, this looks stunning. Bang up to date for 1971. What a shame. 😕

A very enjoyable video.

Very informative and eloquent presentation, if only the trade unions hadn’t been hell bent on ruining the UK car industry.

EX 234 - what a beautiful car. Shades of Afla Romeo Spyder and Sunbeam Alpine for sure, but it could have been a world beater. Difficult to imagine it's from the same umbrella organisation that gave us the Allegro.

A mg r v8 was pretty well sorted out, I did a fair few mods on mgbs fitting mg r v8 bits like fitting complete front and rear suspension and brakes. It completely changed the vehicle, just wish the car was just a bit lighter.

I went to look at the MGF at its launch in my local dealership with my Dad and brother. As an MG midget owner really wanted to like it and was in the market for a new sports car. The salesman at the dealer obviously thought I was too young as I looked a young 20 despite being nearly 30 and focused on my dad and brother pretty much ignoring my entirely. Dad and brother got a test drive and I didn’t. I got to sit in it and was totally disappointed as it’s saying position was very saloon like not sports car at all. When the salesman was told by my dad that he should really be focusing on me since I was the person in the position of buying one. However by then I was not interested as it was more expensive than MX 5 and wasn’t in the same level. I told him it was too expensive, too slow and the driving position was like sitting on a sofa. Ended up buying a Caterham 7 and early on had a bit of a burn up on the road leaving an MG F for dead while I was running it in on

Fantastic video. Makes me want to take my 70 B out today!

How sad that we did not get the D it could have been extremely stylish car

there was also the Diablo concept with a Maxi engine which became the AC 3000- that would have been a very cool MGD !

Very pretty car. I could see someone making a newer version with fender flares, and better tail-lights.

Superb work stitching the story together, ironic that the stop gap V8 MGB is the most sought after......were brilliant without the committees involved.

Thanks muchly for another corking feature, Ed - superb! Here's my 6d-worth: (i). That corporate attitude of "That'll do! - it's still selling well, so we'll just rest on our laurels" was in such stark contrast to most other free-market/capitalist manufacturers and was the equivalent of signing a Death Warrant a couple o'years in advance. (ii). Those FLYING BUTTRESSES HAD TO BE THERE in order to allow for such a TALL engine, but were an excellent way to mask the engine's height (its 'weakness') - IMHO, an excellent design master-stroke! - I'd speculate that the mid-engined ADO21 was probably TOO radical, for the staid Corporate SUITS, I suspect. AFAIK, Ray Brocklehurst was primarily responsible for following through/developing its design - the actual concept sketch having come from the great Harris Mann, in mid-1969 - admittedly borrowing somewhat from the Ferrari Dino 206GT. - The sad ending of this MGD was that it was completed and presented in late 1970 but then 'killed' in December of that year, being crushed shortly thereafter.

The issue with ADO21 was that it didn't have huge support within MG itself. I was astounded to discover this when I interviewed the late Don Hayter, but the car would've had poor interior room and little luggage capacity (less than the MGB GT) - a problem for the North American market. Another issue were the engines, because whilst the E-series had a five-speed gearbox, the larger faster E6 only ever had a four-speed gearbox. I'm also pretty sure that ADO21 was only ever intended to run with steel suspension. The prototype certainly was running coils in the photos which Hayter had - featuring its de Dion rear set-up. Also, if BLMC were to run something more exotic then it's doubtful that it would've opted for Hydrolastic given the car's likely launch date. By 1972 BLMC had moved to Hydragas for the Allegro and it would appear in the 1975 Austin-Morris 18/22s. Completely understand your passion for this car though. So close to greatness.

Fascinating. That crusty Alfa GTV illustrates another issue with IRS. This is the tendancy to mount the rear disc brakes inboard near the final drive. This is good for unsprung weight, but poor for sevicing. Jaguar and Rover please note. Actually, for a road car, which lives with road filth, it is better to have outboard drum rear brakes. The MGD could also have had a bigger brother with the Rover P6BS, if only... BMC ceased in 1966, and MG met Jaguar, via BMH, before meeting Triumph via Leyland in 1968.

Wonderful Italian styling!

Another incredibly interesting presentation... Again very well researched... Loved the old video footage... Thank you... Roger....

Another excellent vid that you managed to knock out of the park! Why is it whenever I watch any vid involving BMC/BL it ultimately tracks the useless decisions made by the incompetent management. Yeah I know about Red Robbo and his mates. I even remember watching the BBC news where he was shouting at the workers calling for another strike and out they went purely on a show of hands. But I can't help feeling that he would not have existed if it weren't for the utterly useless management that the workforce was saddled with .... 23:52 23:52

Looks like the love child of an Esprit and an XJS

We had a works visit to the rover factory, at the end of the tour they had a mgr v8 on display next to the prototype MGF, as I remember they said most of the mgr’s were being exported to japan

Excellent video. I shuddered when I heard the MGF was 1995. Reminds me, I need to check my pension!! 😂

You would have thought that the law of averages would have helpful Leyland get one greatest hit from all the prototypes they churned out over the years. Then, I suppose we have to take sod's law into account. Great job Ed.

I had a 73 Midget in the mid 80s. IMO, the best MG.

Superb . We have countless cars available from our community. Come and take your pick. All the best, Adam

Hang on, that's a copy of the Farina Alfa Duetto spider (6:15) not an MGA!!! Another great story of what should have been but never happened. Thanks Ed.

No one seems to remember that the 2200 and 2600 sixes were built in Australia. The east/west Tasman and Kimberley. Both cars upgraded 1800s. They were 5 speed, fast and handled like a dream but a bit small for Australian distances. I had the 2600 version in NZ but spare parts had dried up, not a usual BLMC problem.

It used to be said that the tension in BMC/bl between triumph and mg often meant that mg got the rotten end of the stick.

Similar to the Fiero in the States, bit of a miracle it was made, had pretty solid sales, but was held down because of the Firebird, Camaro, the Corvette. Can't have a more ckever car taking sales from other divisions.

What shame this car never got built it goes look great apart from the front view

Interesting and well presented video. The shortening of the front incorporating a spoiler would have worked wonders for this car, but the engine and gearbox would have let it down though. As with the TR7, the 2+2 version would have been advantageous and would have appealed to a larger market. Shame the idea all fell apart.

@17:44 - tell me that if you took the front end of a 308, and glued it onto the back of a Fiero fastback, you wouldn't have THIS. :O (ok, save the tail lights)

The Morris 1800 was a lovely car in many ways but dad's drank oil as it grew old, say 4 quarts fuel for every quart oil! The suspension worked great, all those years, but eventually, he gave up and got himself a couple of SAABs, all without steering servo, even the 900 (a very early one).

That would've been a beautiful car. As an American, I'm envious of British sport cars of the 60's. I would love to have an old MG, Triump, or any other of those beautiful cars

16:08 The Matra 530 (Matra _Sports_ 530 more precisely) has been released in 1967, the Fiat X1/9 has been released in 1972.

I never heard of the MGD, which is a surprise as I followed the motoring press, I agree the nose needed to be 8'' shorter, BTW my favourite Scalextric car was an Austin Healy 3000

Cannot get over how good looking the 1100 was and then the Allegro fell out of the organisation ...

Thanks 🙏

Ha haaaaa!!! When I was a child I used to suffer from travel sickness really badly. But eventually it went away. About the time.................. ooooooooooooh, when my Dad sold his Austin 1100?? Now I know why😆😆😆 The combination of the hydrolastic suspension and the all pervading whiff of baked plastic car seat covers, that were themselves the colour of puke!!! I remember getting back home the one time and admiring my addition of go-faster vomit stripe all down the side of the car from the back window. AAAAhh the 70's