RoadworkUK Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 Couple of weeks ago a Twitter conversation erupted in which I whimsically pondered an alternative early 80s MG lineup. By 1982, the MGB and Midget were both dead, but the octagon had been applied to the Metro. So why not try and inject a bit of spirit into the increasingly moribund Allegro? I mean, with the Allegro running an A-Series, in 1982 it was chronologically feasible for BL to slam the MG Metro Turbo lump behind the 'legro's piggy snout, with hilarious results. Well, my mate Russell, who draws stuff and does a really bloody good job of doing so, seized on the opportunity and created this magnificent sight. I reckon it's rather fetching, and it was recieved on Twitter with some fanfare. In fact, such a tasty recipe did an MG-infused Allegro cook up that we wondered what else might respond well to a bit of octagonisation. I mentioned the Ambassador. The idea of an MG Ambassador, as a cheaper, front-drive alternative to the properly executive SD1 Rover Vitesse, seemed something not entirely without merit. And lets face it, the thought of a flying wedge had immense appeal. WELL, said Russ. "I've not drawn an Ambassador, but I do have a Princess I could fiddle around with...". Needless to say I encouraged him, and I'm bloody glad I did. I reckon this works absolutely superbly, especially with the genius use of graphics to black out the side window pillars, with that continuing to the headlights for a subtle clamshell bonnet effect. And hey, it's not as if there was never an MG Princess before. The ADO16 had an MG badge on it, and in some markets it was the actual VP-grilled variant that did so. MG Princess, it was called. In fact, it has me pondering on the fact that (in my fertile imagination) a turbo'd T16 lump from an 800 Vitesse isn't such a distant relative to the O Series that putting one under the bonnet of a Princess need be an impossibility. The artist in question is a chap called Russell Wallis, and he has a Redbubble shop for his work. His Rover 800 T Shirts are particularly appealing, and I wear mine with pride. Of course. I make no apology for the advert, the bloke's a genius. Amishtat, Low Horatio gearbox, Rocket88 and 33 others 36 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noel Tidybeard Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 MG Allegro 1750 tc FTMFW RoadworkUK and Stevebrookman 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 Both of those would be copper-bottomed classics by now! I hope I would have had at least one of each before the prices shot up after about 2005. They would be enormous fun! RoadworkUK, Low Horatio gearbox and Shep Shepherd 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoadworkUK Posted January 17, 2021 Author Share Posted January 17, 2021 I just like the idea of a tighter, quicker car with that Hydrolastic ride. Shep Shepherd 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shep Shepherd Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 The idea of an MG Ambassador really appeals to me. Eyersey1234, RoadworkUK and mk2_craig 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocket88 Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 Drove one of these back in eighties..surprisingly capable...........Allegro Equipe. 1750 5 speed Carlosfandango, Dick Longbridge, RoadworkUK and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoadworkUK Posted January 17, 2021 Author Share Posted January 17, 2021 Yeah, the Equipe provided a delicious hint that the Allegro needn't be quite the plodder its image suggested. If only they'd pushed a little bit harder. Stevebrookman and eddyramrod 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quicksilver Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 Those are ace and I'd happily roll in either of them. I'd love to see what an MG Maxi might look like - if ever there was a car that needed to shake off a stuffy image the Maxi is it. An MG Marina Turbo has actually been done in real life. Not to my taste but you can't fault its creator for his vision and determination. Carlosfandango, Shite Ron, timolloyd and 6 others 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shep Shepherd Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 Or an MG Ital Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoadworkUK Posted January 17, 2021 Author Share Posted January 17, 2021 6 minutes ago, quicksilver said: An MG Marina Turbo has actually been done in real life. Not to my taste but you can't fault its creator for his vision and determination. That's... *checks notes*... "hawt". Kind of looks like the determinedly hotted-up versions of (dreadful American malaise-era family dreck like) the Dodge Aspen and Chevy Vega. Low Horatio gearbox 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ETCHY Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 Superb. The Allegro and Princess/Ambassador always needed a sportier image. A lot of dull as crap 1.1 popular Escorts were sold but the image of something like the Mexico in the range helped make Escorts somehow sporty. A Cortina GT helped a 1.3 L's image look a bit less dowdy. I reckon MG versions of bread and butter BL cars might have helped. Squirrel2, RoadworkUK, mk2_craig and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulgalour Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 Turbo them both, obviously. stick to the 1750 in the Allegro and the 2000 in the Princess. Don't bother going for the 2.2, it's not really any quicker and a good bit heavier. Upgrade the Hydragas with some shocks to assist as on the MG F (which would give the added bonus of upgrades for regular cars by enterprising Freds in sheds) and a few more years could have been squeezed out of both. They would have slotted in neatly between the ancient Midget and B that should have stopped being produced in the 70s, and the incoming Montego and Maestro that should have appeared in the 70s. Nice colour choices and bolt on bits for both in the artwork. They're both very plausible as what-ifs, a little bit of fibreglass fabrication for the bolt on bits, and some vinyl for the graphics and you're away. Eyersey1234, LightBulbFun, eddyramrod and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoadworkUK Posted January 17, 2021 Author Share Posted January 17, 2021 BL is saved! inconsistant, Low Horatio gearbox and eddyramrod 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooSavvy Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 21 minutes ago, RoadworkUK said: BL is saved! BL is Chinesium..... :/ EFA martc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HMC Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 Love the detailing, The sort of Lancia beta Hi-Fi edition coupe aesthetic, where selective dechroming, chunky splitters and spoilers and gaudy side stripes almost manages not to look a bit desperate. mk2_craig and RoadworkUK 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noel Tidybeard Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 2 hours ago, colc said: Drove one of these back in eighties..surprisingly capable...........Allegro Equipe. 1750 5 speed that actually makes you a leg end Rocket88 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig the Princess Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 That MG Princess is stunning. Low Horatio gearbox 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HMC Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 My attempt at an MG maxi has been somewhat less successful Stanky, Shite Ron, BlankFrank and 9 others 4 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low Horatio gearbox Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 Those are pretty epic renders. I am on a FB group for BL/BMC/Austin Rover chod and somone is sigh* writing a fictional "what if" history if them in the 70s and 80s with their own new* models. There was a rover 5000 based on an XJ platform that looked like a very, very bad Granada, many new models were dreamed* up and gosh they were gopping and comical. I want an Allegro and a Princess anyway these just make me want them more - and wish I could find a 2nd to do over a la MG (and had the skilz and munneey to do so 🤔😢 always the small details) Shite Ron, Craig the Princess, Eyersey1234 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilko220 Posted January 18, 2021 Share Posted January 18, 2021 13 hours ago, RoadworkUK said: The artist in question is a chap called Russell Wallis, and he has a Redbubble shop for his work. His Rover 800 T Shirts are particularly appealing, and I wear mine with pride. Of course. I make no apology for the advert, the bloke's a genius. Thanks for flagging this up - seriously talented guy (who clearly likes his Citroens). Could see myself spending quite a lot of money in that shop in an unguarded moment after a few beers... RoadworkUK 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeeExEll Posted January 18, 2021 Share Posted January 18, 2021 For 1966. RWD, rear suspension as in S-type Jaguar, Powerlock diff. Maxi 3-door models (from 1969) shared the same longer doors. ETCHY, DVee8 and HMC 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ETCHY Posted January 18, 2021 Share Posted January 18, 2021 18 hours ago, HMC said: Love the detailing, The sort of Lancia beta Hi-Fi edition coupe aesthetic, where selective dechroming, chunky splitters and spoilers and gaudy side stripes almost manages not to look a bit desperate. Not seen that advert in years. Those were the ones where Lancia GB were literally rubbing off rust spots on brand new cars re-spraying & selling them on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OM646 Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 The sporty wedge does look unexplicably good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OM646 Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 On 17/01/2021 at 23:17, HMC said: My attempt at an MG maxi has been somewhat less successful I tried to make this a thing, but ended up giving it the face of a MK2 Golf accidentally Note: To avoid confusion, I used the plate of the Land Rover that i bought brand new in 1987 aldo135, RoadworkUK, Skizzer and 15 others 12 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STUNO Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 One from left field. 1976 Austin Mini Vetch Conversion | Trade Me Motors Asking $65,000 Remember the tie-up between BLMC and Honda ? Also note this has a deposit of $50,000 for taking a test drive, refundable if returned in one piece ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dead_E23 Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 An MG Sherpa would have been strangely appropriate. eddyramrod and mk2_craig 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilko220 Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 7 hours ago, OM646 said: I tried to make this a thing, but ended up giving it the face of a MK2 Golf accidentally Note: To avoid confusion, I used the plate of the Land Rover that i bought brand new in 1987 Too long since we’ve seen a D701 SWL joke 😆 OM646 and Fumbler 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 5 hours ago, Dead_E23 said: An MG Sherpa would have been strangely appropriate. Using the Pilot body and the Rover V8... LightBulbFun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 12 hours ago, OM646 said: I tried to make this a thing, but ended up giving it the face of a MK2 Golf accidentally Note: To avoid confusion, I used the plate of the Land Rover that i bought brand new in 1987 An MG Maxi with a 2.0 Honda engine might have given the Golf GTI something to really worry about! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dead_E23 Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 A decisive moment for the 5 year old future designer of the Nissan Cube captured there! martc and Landy Mann 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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