In 2004, MG celebrates its ‘Octagon decades’ – 80 years of car production. Key 80^th Anniversary dates in 2004 include:

• 13^th March 1924 - 1^st MG car (Jack Gardiner’s Special 4 seater Sports 14/28)
• 1^st May 1924 - Octagon 1^st registered as an MG trademark
• 9^th May 2004 - MG Regency Run (1000 MG cars drive from 3 locations to Brighton)
• 22/23 May 2004 - MG Owners Club event at Brands Hatch
• 23-25 July 2004 - MG Car Club, Silverstone (biggest gathering of MGs in the world)
• 1^st September 1924 - 1^st production MG Super Sports (14/28) went on sale

MGs product range, in its 80^th anniversary year, has the brands largest product portfolio in its history. The line-up includes:

• MG Express - a car-derived van for the small-business user
• MG ZR – the UK’s best-selling super-mini hot hatch
• MG ZS – medium sized car available in 5- and 4-door saloon
• MG ZT – a capable saloon and ZT-T estate with a wide range of engine options
• MG TF – the UK’s best-selling sports car
• MG XPower SV – an ultra-coupe product from MG Sport & Racing Ltd

MG PRODUCTION TOTAL – IN 80 YEARS (as of 1 Jan 2004)

MG cars	Produced	Total
MG XPower SV	2004-	Customer deliveries commence in 2004
MG Express	2003-	c250
MG TF	2002-	c28,000
MG ZT (saloon & ZT-T estate)	2001-	c18,500
MG ZS (5dr & Saloon)	2001-	c20,000
MG ZR (3- & 5-dr)	2001-	c55,000
MGF	1995-2001	77,269
MG RV8	1992-1995	1,983
MG Maestro Turbo	1989-1991	504
MG Montego Turbo	1985-1991	7,276
MG Montego EFi	1984-1991	34,476
MG Metro 6R4	1985-1986	205
MG Maestro 1600/2.0 EFi	1983-1991	47,914
MG Metro Turbo	1983-1990	21,968
MG Metro 1300	1982-1990	120,197
MGB GT V8	1973-1976	2,591
MGC/GT	1967-1969	9,002
MGB/GT	1962-1980	513,276
MG 1100/1300	1962-1971	157,409
MG Midget	1961-1979	224,843
MG Magnette MkIII/IV	1959-1968	30,996
MGA Twincam	1958-1960	2,111
MGA	1955-1962	98,970
MG ZA/ZB Magnette	1953-1958	36,600
MG TF Midget	1953-1955	9,600
MG TD Midget	1949-1953	29,664
MG Y-type (YA/YB & YT open tourer)	1947-1953	8,336
MG TC Midget	1945-1949	10,001
MG WA 2.6-litre saloon	1938-1939	369
MG TB Midget	1939-1939	379
MG VA 1½-litre	1936-1939	2,407
MG TA Midget	1936-1939	3,003
MG SA saloon/drophead coupe	1935-1939	2,738
MG R-type	1935-1935	10
MG Q-type Midget	1934-1934	8
MG PA/PB Midget	1934-1936	2,499
MG N-type Magnette	1934-1936	745
MG L-type Magna	1933-1934	576
MG K3 Magnette	1932-1934	31
MG K1/K2 Magnette	1932-1935	410
MG J3/J4 Midget	1932-1933	31
MG J1/J2 Midget	1932-1934	2,463
MG F1/F2/F3 Magna	1931-1932	1,250
MG D-type Midget	1931-1932	250
MG C-type Midget	1931-1932	44
MG 18/100 MkIII Tigress	1930-1931	5
MG M-type Midget	1928-1932	3,235
MG 18/80 Mk1/11	1928-1933	736
MG 14/40 & MkIV	1926-1929	851
MG 14/28 Super Sports	1924-1926	395
MG cars production total	1924-2002	c1,589,376

A FEW MG MILESTONES

• 1924 - Cecil Kimber, Morris Garages General Manager, establishes a marketing niche for modified Morris cars that were sportier and faster. In a short time MG would come to stand for ‘affordable performance’ to a growing motoring world.
• May 1924 – thought to be the date that the MG Octagon was first placed on the Super Sports Morris.
• The telephone number - Abingdon 251 - provided the starting point for most MG’s chassis VINs (Vehicle Identification Numbers).
• MG’s competition success in the 30’s was characterised by a class win with the K3 at the 1933 Mille Miglia road race – the first time a non-Italian team had won.
• The most famous TC customer was the Duke of Edinburgh, who bought the MG in August 1947.
• Longbridge designed and manufactured the A- and B-Series engines, 50 years ago in 1952, for the MG Midget and Z Series Magnette, MGA and MGB.
• Production TF and Magnette ZAs use a *501 VIN start, from BMCs Birmingham headquarters telephone number.
• Wednesday, 16 May 1956 - 100,000^th MG was an LHD MGA 1500.
• The 500,000th MG was produced in 1963.
• The most famous MGC customer was HRH Prince Charles, who took delivery of his GT in 1969 (SGY 766F), which he recently past down to Prince William.
• The 1,000,000^th was built in October 1975 - a unique LHD MGB roadster finished in Brooklands Green, with Jubilee GT livery and wheels.
• March 1962 – 100,000^th metallic Gold MGA displayed at New York Motor Show.
• Thursday, 27 May 1971 – an MGB GT is the 250,000^th MGB and given away in USA sweepstake.
• The first Longbridge built MG was the MG 1100/1300 family in 1962.
• Tuesday, 9 May 2000 – MG and Rover brands returned to British ownership, with Production, Engineering, Sales and Marketing centred at Longbridge and shares held by MG Rover Group employees and its franchised dealers.
• Production of the new TF commenced with a *101 VIN after the company’s Longbridge telephone number (0121 475 2101) tradition.
• Tuesday, 16 April 2002 – the 1.5 Millionth MG is a new MG TF 160 roadster (VIN 604127). The TF is icon of the current MG range, which includes the ZR, ZS and ZT.