MG | Cartype

The history of MG began nearly 90 years ago in 1924.

MG emblem.

The famous MG initials were chosen by Cecil Kimber, the founder of MG, as a "nod" to William Morris, his employer, and the owner of Morris Garages.

Cecil Kimber also created the first line of MGs, starting by fitting coach-built tourer bodies to the Morris Cowley chassis, creating cars known as the Morris Garage Chummys.

A few years later, in 1924, he designed the 14/26 Super Sports model, the first true MG and the car that premiered the octagonal MG logo, which was registered on May 1st of 1924.

(source: MG)

Update: Chinese carmaker Nanjing Automotive has secured ownership of MG Rover for an unknown sum, after a three-way bidding battle spread over three months. It was one of two Chinese companies trying to buy the assets of MG Rover, the other being Shanghai Automotive.

Although Nanjing was the smaller firm it secured a deal with administrators Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) on Friday, July 22nd, 2005.

"Nanjing will now begin to take control of the assets and develop its plans for the future," said Tony Lomas of PwC. The news is a blow for UK businessman David James, whose Kimber group had put in two bids to buy parts of Rover. Earlier this week Mr James, the company-recovery specialist who helped revive the Millennium Dome, told the BBC the combined value of his bid would be about 40m. (source: BBC ).

In China, MG no longer stands for Morris Garages, instead it means "Modern Gentleman", although that is unlikely to be used on export models. (source: Road&Track).