The British Motor Industry Heritage Trust has discovered the mystery surrounding the very last car built at the MG Rover Longbridge plant in Birmingham, prior to the collapse of Phoenix Venture Holding in April 2005.  Stephen Laing, the curator of the museum unveiled a frostfire Rover 75, 1955cc 4-cylinder diesel, which is the last vehicle on the register out of the plant. The Trust has become the proud owner of the car, which has gone on public display in the museum at the Heritage Motor Centre near Gaydon in Warwickshire.  It is most likely that this car will also be the last car to be adorned with the Rover badge.

Almost 15 million cars were manufactured in the century since Rover Cars was founded by Herbert Austin. It was on 8th April this year that MG Rover at Longbridge went into administration and car production ceased. Only a small group of skilled car workers was kept on at the plant over the summer to complete a number of unfinished vehicles, before the company was sold on to the Nanjing Automobile Corporation of China.

The Trust also owns the first Rover 75 car built under the company’s former owners BMW at Cowley Oxford in 2000.

2005 Rover 75 V8

The Rover 75 was the first large Rover car for 20 years, replacing the Honda inspired 600 and 800 models.  Introduced in 1999, the ‘75’ was initially built at the Cowley factory in Oxford, which had undergone a £700 million facelift, including a completely new manufacturing and paint shop facility.  The ‘75’ took styling cues from Rover’s heritage, whilst engine options were four or six cylinder petrol units from the K-series range, together with a BMW derived diesel.

When BMW decided to sell Rover Group in 2000, production of Rover models moved to the newly formed MG Rover Group’s factory at Longbridge in Birmingham.  The ‘75’ range was quickly developed, with the addition of an estate model (or tourer), more sporting MG versions and a long-wheelbase limousine.  A V8 powered version was also developed, re-engineered with rear-wheel drive.

During 2004 the ‘75’ range got a facelift, with a redesigned look for the front and rear end of the car and modifications to the trim specification.

I'm Always Dreamin'
20th September, 2005
Codenamed ‘Project Tempest’, development work on a core range of affordable, high performance cars, is now at an advanced stage ..... more

MG Rover Sold To Nanjing Automotive
1st August, 2005
The joint administrators from PricewaterhouseCoopers have announced the sale of the assets of both MG Rover Group and its engine producer, Powertrain Limited to Nanjing Automobile (Group) Corporation ..... more

MG Revival Breakthrough
13th May, 2005
Chapman Automotive Limited is in the final stages of putting together a bid to purchase assets related to MG from the administrators of MG Rover Group Limited and Powertrain Limited ..... more

England's Land Rover Show
21st April, 2005
England's annual Land Rover Show takes place at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon during the Bank Holiday weekend 30th April and 1st May ..... more

MG Rover Comes To The End Of The Road
16th April, 2005
Statement from the Directors of Phoenix Venture Holdings ..... more

Disaster At MG Rover
15th April, 2005
A statement dated today by the British Department of Trade and Industry indicates survival of the MG Rover Group is unlikely ..... more

Will We Ever See The Rover 75 Coupe?
10th April, 2005
Financial difficulties may take MG and Rover to the end of the road. Price Waterhouse Coopers have been appointed as Administrators of the company that manufactures both these iconic British marques ..... more

MG ZR 160 Arrives in Australia
4th February, 2005
Following the arrival of the mid size MG ZS 180 late last year, MG Rover Australia have announced today that the much anticipated MG ZR 160 hot hatch will be launched later this month ..... more

MG Rover Finalising Joint Venture
24th November, 2004
MG Rover is in the final stages of signing a joint venture deal with the Chinese vehicle manufacturer Shanghai Automotive Industries Corporation ..... more

Rover 75 Coupe Concept
16th November, 2004
Britishness, understated elegance and always an interior that is undeniably ‘a better place to be’ are Rover virtues that have come together in the Rover 75 Coupe concept car ..... more

Rover's 100th Anniversary
26th July, 2004
The Rover brand has always been at the heart of Britain’s motor industry. The products that bear the name Rover are quintessentially British, refined and timeless designs flourishing on innovative engineering ...... more

Rover 75 CDti
25th July, 2004
The diesel equipped 75 will hit the market at $53,990 plus add-on's. At 5l/100km (country cycle) it's bound to excite many! ...... more

Rover 75
23rd July, 2004
The new 75 is available with a model range priced between $49,990 and $69,990. There's a diesel available, which is rated at an amazing 5 litres per 100 km on country cycle! A V8 75 will be here later in the year...... more

MG ZT 260
23rd July, 2004
A new Rover 75 also means a new MG and this MG is like no MG before it. The ZT 260 is a $90,000 rear drive V8 muscle car ...... more

MG Rover Sell Their Parts Business
11th July, 2004
MG Rover sell their parts business to Cat ...... more

Rover 75 Club LE
6th July, 2004
Rover are offering the final few 75's from the original range, as they prepare for next month's arrival of the new model ...... more

Rover's Centenary
24th June, 2004
One hundred years of Rover motoring will be celebrated on Sunday 11th July 2004 near Stratford-upon-Avon (England) ...... more

MG TF coupe
11th June, 2004
There's just 30 MG TF coupes available. They are priced at $52,240 for the TF 120 and $54,750 for the TF 160 ...... more

Rover 75 V8
3rd March, 2004
The 75 becomes a super-power with a Ford V8 engine ..... more

Proton and MG Rover announce collaboration!
19th February, 2004
Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Berhad (PROTON) entered into a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Phoenix Venture Holdings Limited (PVH) on 18 February 2004. PVH is a company registered in Birmingham, England. Through its subsidiaries, including MG Rover Group Limited, it is primarily involved in the business of engineering, research and development, manufacturing and selling of motor vehicles and related products, including accessories, engine, spare parts and other components. The LOI envisages PROTON and PVH working together to pursue exploratory/feasibility studies concerning potential collaborations.