A couple of ZT cars are missing from your video. The ZT 385 quad cam wide body touring car is in Australia as well as the ZT360 Sprintex supercharged prototype. Excellent history on MG Rover cars. I don't own the cars but can send you some pictures.
I was working in London around the fashion week that MGR sponsored.. There were a load of 'art car' 75s floating around the city with different colourful paintwork (wraps prob).. Looked great, and at the time I'd just bought and spec'd up a new TF160 in typhoon with Oxford cream leather, blue hood and the faux wood trim to replace my ZTT 190 in anthracite with factory tinted windows lol (VE02 WGS where are you!). Loved the TF (and ZTT) and saw it on one of the forums years later.. in a sorry state.... Tried to buy the TF extreme at auction but was worried about the cosworth engine and upkeep 😣so didn't.. Now live with my TF160 daily, and SD1 Vitesse, 800 coupe Vitesse and P5b Coupe. They get under your skin lol
Thank you Tom that was another amazing video being very informative and have learned so much lately about MG and the Rover ranges especially with the X-Power ranges with the concept models. The Rover 25 at the very end was highly interesting with the Rover interior design I think. If Rovers were having able to continue on i believe it would most certainly have been a great success in turning the company around. As for the Rover 75 would love to learn on the Old English White would be very interested
I did the mg 6 launch course and the le ,500 course at Longbridge. There was so much odd stuff kicking around the site. Mg badged ssangyong. Common rail l series diesel. Streetwise with different specs. Plus ovp etc
@@tomdrives I have three Rovers and I organise a Rover & MG meeting for owners from Czechia and Slovakia every year. Here is an old video from 2012 for example: ruclips.net/video/oAi1oBEFcCc/видео.html
MG/Rover did build one ZT T385 as you say without the body kit. It had a Roush supercharger fitted ,was in ignition blue on a 54 plate and it was due to go to Spain for wind noise testing but unfortunately before that was due to happen MG/Rovers went into administration. It was sold through SMC Rover. This vehicle still exists. You also made mention of the Mathew Wright Rover 25 but i recall seeing a Rover 25 Liberty edition on show at the motor show. It was a lovely car ,nice colour scheme and i have often wondered what ever happened to it. I note the 08 plate Rover 75 alongside OVP. It was a pre facelift model ,i wonder if this was one of the Bermuda cars? The ZT500 was also painted in British racing green? and finally Aurora at the point of the collapse of MG/Rover . It was returned to Xpower grey by the MGOC.
They should of built a 400/45 estate to compete against the Astra/Focus seem strange they did it with the R8, keep up with great video's Tom. Would be nice to see your car's again with spring nearly here now.
Honda put a stop to that. But, the Bishop of Birmingham has a conversion one you can find in a couple of colours (rebuilt after an accident) if you Google it.
A supplier I worked at still had an incomplete early prototype MG ZT, originally supplied to do development work on unique parts for the V8 version, in its factory some years after 2005 - it was totally off the receiver's radar/forgotten about - eventually shipped to a specialist for dismantling/spares.
Love the story of OVP, I've followed the story of that a few times and saw the car at the NEC. Haven't seen much of it recently, hopefully it's being well kept. Nice to see the 25 getting some regognition, be good to see a full video on the 25 and 45 story at some point.
Same here interesting story shame about the mot history tho looks to be in need of lots of work :) I'm going to be buying a 600 soon as it's very cheap and very very low mileage but would love an early 75 if could find one at the rite money even tho I'm a Volvo person I have a soft spot for rover as my grandad worked at Longbridge for a while
Good Lord, so many sad stories but at least there was a happy ending with old OVP! I was fearing a final 'but unfortunately..' and was bracing myself for a Danny-Archer-in-Blood-Diamond ending and me turning on the water works again!
Rover had some amazing ideas, and well ahead of their time, for instance the MG ZRx with 220hp and this was a time that no other manufacturer was even thinking about turbo’d hot hatches with anywhere that power, ie VW’s golf, Vauxhalls VXR or even the Focus ST, these cars would be playing catch up compared to the Rover , it’s deplorable what happened to rover, such innovative ideas stifled by BMW As BMW knew that Rover would give them a bloody nose!! And bmw weren’t going to let their smaller subsidiary do that to the parent company 😢
I’m the same the Rover 25 art car has always intrigued me! I’m sure if it was registered it will still be around someone as anyone who owned it must know it’s special
A few years ago I use to own a 1972 MGB GT in Black with Rostyle wheels and chrome bumpers. Number plates were black with silver decals. And recently I walked past a forecourt with brand new cars for sale, and one of those cars was a new Chinese built MG. There is no comparison now with MG’s from the past. Despite British Leyland’s deliberate neglect to build reliable cars, those MGB’s built back than were British cars that built up over time an iconic following. It’s just humiliating and sad when the British independent car industry fell apart, when we were capable of designing and engineering world beating cars. I just hope one day, a british entrepreneur will revive the British independent car industry once again, utilising the best technologies, like hydrogen and electric, but designing vehicles with British charm. 🇬🇧
The MG X80 was sold off at the same auction as the the other cars when the company collapsed. I actually bid on the the 'car' but it went over my budget so someone else got it. It was just a clay mock-up so couldn't be driven, and didn't even have an interior. Unfortunately I don't know who ended up with the 'car' but it is out there somewhere.
FYI you talk about the black MG F Supersport having a colour change to chromerflair green. I'm pretty sure that new colour is one of the monogram colours called "Bitter Sweet"
They should of released a zr turbo.. I've made one using mostly stock reworked parts which gives around 260 reliable horse power.. Add a freelander type 4wd system and at the time would've been a hot hatch top favourite ..
In the last 20 years since I was 18 I've done my best to save as many mg rover cars as i possibly could it might be a sad thing to admit but i truly love them and could do a k series head gasket in my sleep I've owned a zr 160 for 14 years now and have owned hundreds of k series rover's also have 6 metros 2 GTI's 2 mg turbos 2 c models long live the ones that are left ❤
They should have just made the normal cars they sold look more like the special versions, without the tail wing. Great styling costs nothing more than dull styling.
Last I heard it was in a private collection , but it’s taxed and mot’d so that’s good ! by the way there were two zr-x’s , one was the biomorphic green one shown and also a monogram black olive one , sure it was badged 210 , the biomorphic green one only had a normal 120 1.8 engine by the time they sold it
A couple of ZT cars are missing from your video. The ZT 385 quad cam wide body touring car is in Australia as well as the ZT360 Sprintex supercharged prototype. Excellent history on MG Rover cars. I don't own the cars but can send you some pictures.
Always very interesting videos Tom, I appreciate your hard work.
The 25 MWLE is a car I would not be seen within 20 miles of, but my 4 year old daughter would love it.
I was working in London around the fashion week that MGR sponsored.. There were a load of 'art car' 75s floating around the city with different colourful paintwork (wraps prob).. Looked great, and at the time I'd just bought and spec'd up a new TF160 in typhoon with Oxford cream leather, blue hood and the faux wood trim to replace my ZTT 190 in anthracite with factory tinted windows lol (VE02 WGS where are you!). Loved the TF (and ZTT) and saw it on one of the forums years later.. in a sorry state.... Tried to buy the TF extreme at auction but was worried about the cosworth engine and upkeep 😣so didn't.. Now live with my TF160 daily, and SD1 Vitesse, 800 coupe Vitesse and P5b Coupe. They get under your skin lol
I loved reading that, thank you. M.
That is an amazing jumper. Looks a bit like a bus seat, I love it
Thank you Tom that was another amazing video being very informative and have learned so much lately about MG and the Rover ranges especially with the X-Power ranges with the concept models. The Rover 25 at the very end was highly interesting with the Rover interior design I think. If Rovers were having able to continue on i believe it would most certainly have been a great success in turning the company around.
As for the Rover 75 would love to learn on the Old English White would be very interested
I did the mg 6 launch course and the le ,500 course at Longbridge. There was so much odd stuff kicking around the site. Mg badged ssangyong. Common rail l series diesel. Streetwise with different specs. Plus ovp etc
Can you tell more about the common rail l série ...
I'm looking information for years
Very informative video. Lots of stuff most car enthusiasts knew nothing about. Thank you.
Hello from Czechia! Your videos are great and I´m looking forward to watch another one.
Glad to hear it! Appreciate you being here
@@tomdrives I have three Rovers and I organise a Rover & MG meeting for owners from Czechia and Slovakia every year. Here is an old video from 2012 for example: ruclips.net/video/oAi1oBEFcCc/видео.html
Nice interesting video, from a MGF VVC,R25 Gti,R25 1.6IS owner 🤗
You’ve got a great collection Michael!
Great research Tom very impressed , it would be great to find some of the missing cars . Thanks .
MG/Rover did build one ZT T385 as you say without the body kit. It had a Roush supercharger fitted ,was in ignition blue on a 54 plate and it was due to go to Spain for wind noise testing but unfortunately before that was due to happen MG/Rovers went into administration. It was sold through SMC Rover. This vehicle still exists. You also made mention of the Mathew Wright Rover 25 but i recall seeing a Rover 25 Liberty edition on show at the motor show. It was a lovely car ,nice colour scheme and i have often wondered what ever happened to it.
I note the 08 plate Rover 75 alongside OVP. It was a pre facelift model ,i wonder if this was one of the Bermuda cars? The ZT500 was also painted in British racing green? and finally Aurora at the point of the collapse of MG/Rover . It was returned to Xpower grey by the MGOC.
They should of built a 400/45 estate to compete against the Astra/Focus seem strange they did it with the R8, keep up with great video's Tom. Would be nice to see your car's again with spring nearly here now.
Honda put a stop to that. But, the Bishop of Birmingham has a conversion one you can find in a couple of colours (rebuilt after an accident) if you Google it.
A supplier I worked at still had an incomplete early prototype MG ZT, originally supplied to do development work on unique parts for the V8 version, in its factory some years after 2005 - it was totally off the receiver's radar/forgotten about - eventually shipped to a specialist for dismantling/spares.
Oh nooooooooo
Excellent video Tom. OMG I want the ZT 385 in that blue.
10:24 there can't be many 08 plate cars registered
Love the story of OVP, I've followed the story of that a few times and saw the car at the NEC. Haven't seen much of it recently, hopefully it's being well kept.
Nice to see the 25 getting some regognition, be good to see a full video on the 25 and 45 story at some point.
Same here interesting story shame about the mot history tho looks to be in need of lots of work :) I'm going to be buying a 600 soon as it's very cheap and very very low mileage but would love an early 75 if could find one at the rite money even tho I'm a Volvo person I have a soft spot for rover as my grandad worked at Longbridge for a while
Good Lord, so many sad stories but at least there was a happy ending with old OVP! I was fearing a final 'but unfortunately..' and was bracing myself for a Danny-Archer-in-Blood-Diamond ending and me turning on the water works again!
Great video, hope someone comes back with where they now are you get to share
Rover had some amazing ideas, and well ahead of their time, for instance the MG ZRx with 220hp and this was a time that no other manufacturer was even thinking about turbo’d hot hatches with anywhere that power, ie VW’s golf, Vauxhalls VXR or even the Focus ST, these cars would be playing catch up compared to the Rover , it’s deplorable what happened to rover, such innovative ideas stifled by BMW
As BMW knew that Rover would give them a bloody nose!! And bmw weren’t going to let their smaller subsidiary do that to the parent company 😢
Real top quality , very interesting videos these
Like I say we should bring back B.L
Immediately
Thanks Matthew
Thanks for the video Tom my grandad would have been happy to se this if he was still with us
These videos are great mate 👍
Thanks Paul I like making them, appreciate you being here
@@tomdrives Some good stuff loads there that I didn't know about, were there no 45/ZS prototypes?
@@goblin457 yes I’m covering those in my next one apparently there was a ZS-X and a Rover 425
@@tomdrives Awesome look forward to seeing that mate
I’m the same the Rover 25 art car has always intrigued me! I’m sure if it was registered it will still be around someone as anyone who owned it must know it’s special
Really great interesting video , keep up good work. Regards mark mgzs 180+ owner
Thanks Mark appreciate you watching
Apparently the the problem with the k series engine was down to fitting it with a inferior head gasket sad😢
A few years ago I use to own a 1972 MGB GT in Black with Rostyle wheels and chrome bumpers. Number plates were black with silver decals. And recently I walked past a forecourt with brand new cars for sale, and one of those cars was a new Chinese built MG. There is no comparison now with MG’s from the past. Despite British Leyland’s deliberate neglect to build reliable cars, those MGB’s built back than were British cars that built up over time an iconic following. It’s just humiliating and sad when the British independent car industry fell apart, when we were capable of designing and engineering world beating cars. I just hope one day, a british entrepreneur will revive the British independent car industry once again, utilising the best technologies, like hydrogen and electric, but designing vehicles with British charm. 🇬🇧
The MG X80 was sold off at the same auction as the the other cars when the company collapsed. I actually bid on the the 'car' but it went over my budget so someone else got it. It was just a clay mock-up so couldn't be driven, and didn't even have an interior. Unfortunately I don't know who ended up with the 'car' but it is out there somewhere.
FYI you talk about the black MG F Supersport having a colour change to chromerflair green. I'm pretty sure that new colour is one of the monogram colours called "Bitter Sweet"
They should of released a zr turbo.. I've made one using mostly stock reworked parts which gives around 260 reliable horse power..
Add a freelander type 4wd system and at the time would've been a hot hatch top favourite ..
In the last 20 years since I was 18 I've done my best to save as many mg rover cars as i possibly could it might be a sad thing to admit but i truly love them and could do a k series head gasket in my sleep I've owned a zr 160 for 14 years now and have owned hundreds of k series rover's also have 6 metros 2 GTI's 2 mg turbos 2 c models long live the ones that are left ❤
What happened to that 2-litre K-series?
That black sport 75 looked nice
Always wondering what happened to both the cars though they simply vanished
They should have just made the normal cars they sold look more like the special versions, without the tail wing. Great styling costs nothing more than dull styling.
Great shame they never did a ZS 2 door coupe in the same way they did the old 200. Both 2 door hatch and 2 door coupe. 200 odd BHP like the Tomcat.
I almost bought the ZR-X years ago from startin rover in Worcester, bloody wish I had !
Does anyone know where it ended up?
Last I heard it was in a private collection , but it’s taxed and mot’d so that’s good ! by the way there were two zr-x’s , one was the biomorphic green one shown and also a monogram black olive one , sure it was badged 210 , the biomorphic green one only had a normal 120 1.8 engine by the time they sold it
Oh, what could have been.
Really great vid shame the company was badly run
Thanks Gary appreciate it :)
That art car is the last word in gopping hideous!
killer carpets
I love that car
Hello from Holland,
Driving one of the last ZS120 mk1 here for 12 years now.
Great car
@@tomdrives i love that black 75 to die for funny as how in the last week i have started to see a black 04 plate est on my rounds
Rover 25 artcar
You having a laugh utter pony
FORD AVO
No