Heritage

Cars like these seems are coming from the past, where nowadays’ race to the most futuristic morbid and useless gadgets on board, the attention to emissions and fuel consumption, were only science-fiction. It was all about creating cars that were able to excite, to make you want to drive more, without necessarily having a destination. Since the early 90s, with the iconic Mazda MX-5 and through the various BMW Z3, Fiat Barchetta & co., many car makers have been launched themselves in the segment of small roadsters, but little else, unlike MG, could boast a legacy as important as that of the prestigious predecessors MG A and MG B. And so, despite the property of the British brand has passed several times by hand, in 1995 the new model was presented, the F, that strong of a layout totally devoted to pure driving pleasure, would collect followers in every corner of the world. On the occasion of the annual “British Days” organized by our friends of the MG TF Passion Club, we have known, among the others, Graziella and Michele, proud owners of two special MG, an F and a TF, which maintained in all respects, the style of a typical English two-seater that will take you, with the wind in your hair, to grind kilometers without ever get bored of being behind the wheel and always looking to find a good excuse to delay the arrival home.

The passion of Graziella for the British brand has very deep roots, planted since she was 20 and she first fell in love with the MG A. Finances and the dynamics of a young girl, however, did not allow her to be able to realize her dream, which was kept in the drawer, until 1999, when she finally bought an MG F 75th anniversary edition. This model, precisely created to celebrate the anniversary of the British brand, has been produced in 2,000 units and was only available in three colors, including this “platinum silver” with grenade leather interior. “I appreciate this car’s stiffness and handling, using it even in winter with snow and ice that in Milan never miss: it’s just a little ‘grumpy, but gives you tremendous fun when cornering.” In these few but blunt words you find the true meaning of this modern MG. Practical to be used every day, coming out of the city traffic, and ideal companion to drive a few corners, preferably with the top manually folded and the wind in your hair. The 1.8 4-cylinder is located in the middle and the rear wheel drive transmission gives you every petrolhead’s best layout, even if performance is not comparable to that of a supercar (0-100 kph in 8.7 seconds and a top speed of about 200 kph), at the wheel is total involvement. On this particular model, then, the cabin is more pleasant, thanks to its leather seats and the grenade references present around the driver and passenger seats. Plastics are not exceptional, but it is not a detail that will make you turn up your nose, because a weight of just 1.087kg and an output power of 118hp are among the main reasons for choosing a car like that.

In 2002, it then started the production of the TF model, in order to refine the line of the previous model, making it more up to date (and with the competition that certainly was not wasting time), also eliminating those defects due to a reliability too often in the hands of fate. The model we have chosen for our review has impeccable conditions thanks to its owner Michele, who bought it in 2013, after the previous and first owner has kept it as a real gem for about eleven years. This 80th anniversary is equipped with a 1.6 Rover engine of 116hp, accompanied by an official certificate signed by designer Peter Stevens: it’s the model #27/1600, finished in Starlight Silver with red Burgundy soft-top. Lines have been made more sporting, also thanks to a new set of wheels, more suitable to the overall look of the new TF. The interior, though remained almost identical to the previous model, is well-finished, especially in this special edition, while the annoying understeer at sustained speeds could keep you away from track days. But then, an MG does not care about lap times among the curbs, they want to take you on trips to the countryside or on a beautiful mountain road, offering you a featherweight (again not exceeding 1.100kg) and a small engine in the right place with enough horses for some overtakes. “Eccentric, reserved and brave” as Michele says, adding that this very car wants to be loved by those who know how to really exploit what it offers: a close relationship to be lived where the background is the frame of the purest desire for freedom. “I would like to be able to drive along the Causeway Coastal Route in Ireland, one of the best routes in the world, ideal for this type of car, built and created just to ride similar paths.” Michele is madly in love with his MG, that despite 11 years, only marks 35,000km, but despite this mechanical freshness, if he gets the chance for a remarkable drive, he does not hesitate to get at the wheel, ready for a new adventure with his beloved roadster.