Thousands of MGs descend on Silverstone for 90th anniversary

| 3 Jul 2014

More than 15,000 visitors piled into the Silverstone circuit on 21-22 June to mark 90 years since the first MG went on sale, with the headline act being a timeline of the firm's cars, which was valued at £3m.

Following MG's Chinese resurgence, it was expected that the emphasis of the timeline would be on newer models and concept cars, but the star of the show was undoubtedly 'Old Number One'.

MG90

The first competition MG broke cover at the 1925 Lands End Trial and was based on a "Bullnose" Morris Cowley chassis, while power was delivered by a 1548cc Hotchkiss engine.

MG90

Though it stood in beautifully restored condition, its gleaming paintwork hides a chequered past: it was used to haul a pig food trailer before being discovered in a Manchester scrapyard in 1932 by an MG employee, who subsequently returned it to the factory. 
The car was on loan from the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Collection at Gaydon.

MG90

Visitors travelled far and wide to attend the event, none more so than an intrepid group of enthusiasts from China, who drove more than 12,500 miles through 13 countries in order to arrive at Longbridge for a commemorative presentation before making their way to Silverstone.