THE MID MARKET
As MG Rover came into existence, it was faced with an issue. Dunlop wanted a fortune to continue production of Hydragas displacers; a figure it couldn’t abide, even with the stipend provided by BMW in the divorce. And no Hydragas displacers meant no MGF – a problem for the continued existence of what was still Britain’s bestselling roadster. The MX-5 might have wrested the mantle for a while, but we took MG’s return to our hearts, despite the build quality, leaking soft tops and endlessly debated issues with the Rover K-Series.
A redesign was ordered; Peter Stevens freshened up the entire car, concentrating on the nose and tail. Meanwhile, new subframes – with springs and dampers – replaced the Hydragas units fore and aft. The MG TF was born, adopting the name of a beloved post-war MG that conquered the export markets; but sadly, despite later attempts, the 21st-century TF never went
