And a happy First of April to you, too.
Bob
On Fri, 31 Mar 2000 23:49:02 -0600 "David F. Darby" <darby@tri-lakes.net>
writes:
> From the New Albion Times
> 01 April 2000
>
> MG Car Company Sold Again!
>
> Forget Alchemy Partners and Ford Motor Corporation, in a surprise
> move, it
> was announced today that BMW has agreed in principle to sell off the
> MG auto
> operations, including MGF, the old Mini, and the Rover line of
> saloon cars,
> to a new consortium made up of MG enthusiasts, mainly from North
> America and
> the UK. Details of the agreement had not been released as of press
> time, but
> advance information leaked in e-mail messages from the members of
> the MG
> group suggested that the trade involved cash and NOS auto parts.
>
> The new prospective owners are all members of an Internet e-mail
> list with
> worldwide membership. When asked about financing, a senior member of
> the
> group, who asked not to be identified, stated that the group
> members, who
> all own and operate vintage MGs, had strong cash reserves built up
> over
> years of driving and maintaining the frugal sportscars. It was
> further
> disclosed that the MG group planned to restore the old "G" factory
> at
> Abingdon-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, with actual factory relic bricks
> that they
> had purchased from various vendors years before during a memorabilia
> sale.
>
> The group has released the following management directives:
>
> The MGF, although somewhat successful, is being dropped in favour of
> a
> re-introduction of the MGTF. A worldwide search for serviceable XPEG
> engine
> blocks is being conducted.
>
> The existing line of Rover cars is to be continued, but they will be
> re-badged as Morris, Riley, and Wolseley cars.
>
> Before the remaining MGF stock are cleared out, the door locks,
> handles, and
> windows will be scrapped in favour of more sporting cable-pull
> latches and
> sliding sidescreens. Heaters and radios will be available only as
> options.
>
> The MGB line will be reactivated, with the exact same body, but all
> cars
> will be fitted with V-8 engines and they will feature
> self-extracting axle
> shafts.
>
> Special features of all the new and re-introduced MG range is that
> all
> vehicles will come with authentic MG Mitten car covers and all
> models can be
> safely towed without disconnecting the driveshafts provided that the
> gearboxes are filled with factory spec engine oil.
>
> Another spokesperson for the MG e-mail group cleared up some
> long-standing
> questions regarding the marque:
>
> The letters "MG," it was announced, stand for "Motors, General;" and
> the
> cryptic word "MOWOG," is actually an acronym for, Missouri, Ohio,
> Wisconsin,
> Oregon, and Georgia, all North American sites where new assembly
> plants are
> to be established. This clears up the question of new MGs being
> available in
> North America. The remaining question now is will they be available
> in
> England?
>
> You heard it here first.
>
> DFD
>
>
|