In the US, BMC targeted this car squarely at the VW buyer.
For just a few hundred dollars more than a Beetle, you got FWD, an 1100cc water-cooled engine, real - non-toxic - heat, a roomier interior, Hydrolastic suspension and a name associated with very popular sports cars.
Unfortunately, all things weren't equal, and between MG's relatively small dealer network and relatively large list of mechanical and electrical issues, the 1100 was barely a blip on the US sales screen. It was never a threat to VW. Work stoppages at BMC's factories during the 1960s didn't help things either, as at times the cars were in short supply. Less than 35,000 were sold here during its 5 year run.
The MG 1100 (also known as - but never officially badged as - the MG Sports Sedan) is part of BMC's ADO16 range. The ADO16 range, which included cars badged as Morris, Riley, Austin and others, was very popular in England and other parts of the world.These cars ride like few other small cars ride. The Hydrolastic suspension was a brilliant piece of engineering. Also brilliant is the engine and transmission, which shared lubricant. It saved space, but it makes changing the oil every 3000 miles (or less) a must.
A stock MG 1100 is painfully slow. However, since the engine is the same as the one found in the Mini, most Mini performance parts can be applied to the MG 1100. Me? I'd run it as is until the engine quit and then replace it with a mildly tuned 1275cc engine.
This is a very nice driver-quality MG 1100. It's amazingly rust free. The seller says it has had one re-spray in its life and that the interior is original. The engine has never been rebuilt. It has roughly 75,000 miles on it.It's probably not practical for everyday use, but this 1100 would be a great car for slow weekend drives and would be a big hit at any British car show.
Located in Fresno, CA, click here to see the eBay listing.A big thanks to JaCG reader, Tom, for sending me the link to this car!
