Rare MG Rover prototypes found still parked outside old car plant

A car lover discovered a collection of rare MG Rover prototypes parked outside a plant that once belonged to the carmaker in the UK.

The cars were found outside the old factory in Longbridge in Birmingham last October, much to the surprise of car enthusiast Tom Cowling. 

Cowling couldn’t quite believe his eyes when he saw the haul of rare motors seemingly dumped outside.

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Rare prototypes amongst the haul found at MG Rover’s former plant

While we’ve seen many an abandoned car over the years – including some real rare finds such as this collection in the UK that contained some former fire trucks or this mammoth collection of obscure cars uncovered in France – this one is mightily impressive.

However, the fact that some of the ‘rarest cars’ made by MG Rover were found sitting outside a former factory belonging to the carmaker adds an unusual twist to the tale.

MG stopped making cars at the site in 2016, but held onto the facility and stored some of its vehicles there.

Car-loving Cowling, who runs the Tom Drives YouTube channel, traveled from his home in Sheffield to visit the site, where he found the prototype motors, including the Rover TCV, MG TF Coupe, and RDX60.

“These are real pieces of British motoring history and need to be documented and saved,” he told the BBC.

“There’s been a lot of hard work from the people at Longbridge who used to work there to create those cars. And it’s really sad to see that hard work and that history sitting outside not being appreciated.”

The cars have since been moved to a museum

But fear not, car fans – as MG confirmed with the BBC that it was arranging for some of the prototypes to be sent to the British Motor Museum in Warwickshire.

A spokesperson said a ‘selection of prototypes’ were held at the former car plant, and that the cars in question had only temporarily been placed outside while the building was being refurbished.

“MG Motor UK value the history and legacy of these cars and as such we are in active discussions with the British Motor Museum in Gaydon who have shown interest in displaying them,” a spokesperson told the BBC.

“We are currently liaising with the museum to arrange collection and relocation of these cars.”

Good to hear.