People’s Republic of Birmingham: 1995 Rover MGF
The first thing you need to know about the 1995 MGF is that it was the first new design from MG since the launch of the MGB in 1962. The MG marque was used by the Austin Rover Group as a strange performance brand in the 70s/80s, but in the early 1990s they started developing this interesting little mid-engine roadster. Today the MG brand is owned by a Chinese state owned auto company and sells all kinds of strange cars with the MG badge on the hood, but that is a story for another time. Find this 1995 Rover MGF offered for $7000 in Richmond, TX via craigslist.
From the seller:
1995 Rover
condition: good
cylinders: 4 cylinders
drive: rwd
fuel: gas
odometer: 115000
paint color: green
size: compact
title status: clean
transmission: manual
type: convertible
Recently imported from the UK. This is one of the 1st rover MFGs in the country. These were only made from 1995 to 2000. Now they are 25years old and elegible for import. You will lit3be the only one in Houston, and maybe the USA with this vehicle. It is a mid engine car(engine in the back) and has lots of power. Right hand drive makes it fun. Convertable top is awesome. It did not come with a radio, but I will install one. I have all the customs paperwork in order for you to register the vehicle, and I’ll walk you through everything. This is an eye catcher and fun to drive. Feel free to message or call, I don’t bite.
See a better way to drive mid-engine? tips@dailyturismo.com
*right hand drive makes it terrifying for your passenger.
-fixed it.
Or terrifying for everyone behind you if your passenger decides to put his hands behind his head for a few miles when you’re driving with the top down.
You don’t see very many British cars after around 1980 imported under the 25 year rule – the MGFs just may start changing that.
Looks like the 20yo love child from a Neon and an Acura Legend.
This is where the 25-year rule starts speaking to me. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I dig JDM stuff, but I’m not looking to own a Kei car or a Cedric or some weirdo space van. The cars I would want are not worth it anymore. I find I can personally get just as much out of the US-spec Japanese cars without paying the premium markup. But it’s the hidden gems from Europe that I want to drive.
This country has been starved of French and Italian cars for decades and also British cars from smaller manufacturers. There’s just so much good stuff from Europe that we are barely aware of. The good thing is that, with some exceptions, the Euro cars I’m thinking of don’t have the fanboy followers like JDM, so the prices may stay reasonable for a bit.
I’ve never imported a car, but if I had confidence in it, I might. I think I’d go to Europe and hand pick the right car over buying sight unseen though, so I won’t be doing it anytime soon. If I’m paying to import, I want to drive it first. There have been too many cars I’ve wanted only to be disappointed when finally seeing them in person and driving them.
Seeing the variety of cars we did not/do not get is akin to surviving on gruel only to discover real, tasty food. Sometimes the food looks better than it tastes, but you only find out by trying.
Agreed. Like the Audi A2. 78mpg of aluminum goodness. Would love one of those.
I really wanted an Alfa 159 wagon when I got over here (northern UK), but the more reading I did, the less that seemed like a good idea. So I bought a boring but functional Toyota Avensis, which is like a skinny Camry and was perfectly fine, with its perforated leather seats and rumbly diesel and 5-speed stick. I eventually gave that to a needy relative and got a cool old Citroen Xantia, which was cheap and fun and had green balls, but fell to hidden structural rust. So now I have a W212 E250 wagon, which is fine with me, because it has a two turbos and a 6-speed stick! I win!
Let me know if you want me to track down an ex-police Rover SD1 or maybe a Reliant Scimitar or a Lynx Eventer and put it on a ship.