ANOTHER famous British car marque has arrived in the booming Philippines. The legendary British MG badge now joins an illustrious line-up that includes Rolls Royce, Bentley, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mini, Aston Martin and Morgan.
Newly formed MG Philippines is offering three models made in the UK and assembled in China - the MG 3 supermini, the MG 5 hatchback and the MG 350 sedan. Prices range from P695,000 to P795,000.
But coming shortly to our shores will be the MG GS SUV, which was just launched at the Shanghai Motor Show.
The rich history of MG began in England in the 1920s when Cecil Kimber, a senior manager at car maker W R Morris, launched a sales promotion sideline by producing two-seater open sports cars. He called the new company MG, the initials for Morris Garages.
The first cars were re-bodied Morris sedans. But in 1928, the 18/80, the first true MG, was launched.
MGs were fast and sporty and quickly became the everyday man's sports car. Affordable and fun. Such was the demand that the company had to move to a separate factory.
The 1930s saw a great variety of sports cars, sedans and coupés being manufactured. The company also made pure racing models which scored countless successes on race tracks and road circuits in Britain and abroad including a class win at the 1933 Mille Miglia road race – the first time a non-Italian team had won.
At the outbreak of World War II, all production ceased, but in 1945 MG was back in business. There followed a series of outstanding sports cars and sedans including the TC, TD, TF and the Magnette. In 1955 the magical MGA was launched to be followed by the Midget and in 1962 by the hugely successful MGB.
Unfortunately the latter part of the 20th century wasn't great for UK car manufacturing and in 2005, the company, which had changed hands several times, was declared bankrupt. Its assets were bought by Nanjing Automobile which later merged with the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC). Production resumed in England in 2007 and began in China.
As gutsy and fuel efficient as the new MGs no doubt are, they are not sports car so they will never invoke the thrill and excitement of the classic MGs of yesteryear.
British filmmaker and former Bacolod resident Hazel Stuart has fond memories of the two MGBs she owned in the 60s and 70s. "To say I loved my MGBs would be an understatement," she said.
My sister Rosemary and her husband Keith owned a beautiful 1957 MG Magnette ZB which they treasured until some idiot in a gas tanker rear-ended them on a highway.
And Ben Knight, an old English friend, now living in the US, has lovingly restored a 1953 MG TD which he proudly displays along with his other classic cars.
Legendary cars, indeed. One just hopes the new owners of MG up there in Shanghai might one day consider bringing back a few "wind in your face" models.
Perhaps with the famous MG radiator design and, who knows, maybe even with swept wings, folding windscreen and large accessible hood.
We keep our fingers crossed.