MG Maestro Turbo

Highlights 

• Genuine MG Maestro Turbo

• One of only 505 built by Rover Special Products

• Now developing circa 340bhp

• Over £11k spent on engine and transmission

• Check it out on Instagram @angry_turbo

Overview

A Maestro? On PistonHeads? Are we going potty?

Well, no. Because those who know, know. What we have here is a very rare car indeed, as well as one that’s a lot more than the sum of its original parts. We’ll start with the basic car. The MG Maestro Turbo began life at Austin-Rover’s Concept Design department (which would later become Rover Special products, or RSP), led by department director Richard Hamblin. Concept Design’s role was to explore areas where Austin-Rover didn’t already have something to offer.

The team was already working on an MG Maestro styling pack with side skirts and bigger bumpers, at which point a turbocharged model was also proposed. 

It was agreed by management that the styling kit was a definite improvement on the standard MG Maestro’s appearance and would be looked at for production, but turbocharging was deemed too large a task for the engineering teams to develop in-house. And that’s where an Aston Martin connection kicks in. 

Tuning specialists Tickford were brought in to help, the Newport Pagnell-based spin-off of the sports car maker being experts in making things go faster. Despite lots of internal politics, the production Maestro Turbo made its debut at the 1988 British Motor Show – much to the annoyance of Vauxhall, as the limited-run Maestro got as many column inches as the new Cavalier.

But then, it had headline-grabbing performance. Its 0-60 time of 6.7 seconds made it the fastest-accelerating MG production car of all time, beating even the MG RV8 away from the lights. So, a Maestro on PistonHeads? Yes, absolutely. And it’s here on merit.

That said, if the original 0-60-mph in 6.7 seconds isn’t quick enough, this one is altogether more bonkers. The engine is a fully-forged Rover T-series unit built by Andy Nicholls of AN Engineering with a Garrett T3 360-degree roller bearing turbo, currently developing 340bhp – enough for a 0-60 sprint of just over four seconds… and that’s only part of it. 

History and documentation

• First registered in the UK on 31 December 1989 

• Build number 498 of 505

• UK V5C in the current owner’s name

• MOT until 26 May 2026

• No advisory notices on latest MOT

• Two keys and remote fobs

• Huge file of invoices plus old MOTs and tax discs back to 1995

• Proof of over £11,000 spent on engine and transmission build

• Fully rebuilt in 2017 with photographic record of restoration

• Engine rebuilt to current specification in 2020

• The seller reports that the car won best in show at Goodwood retro rides in 2023
• The car was also reportedly featured by Investigation at the Trax fast car magazine show 2025
• Excitingly, it's been filmed by a television production in 2025 and should be featured on an upcoming TV series in 2026 on the Discovery channel

Interior

• Grey velour sports seats in good overall condition

• Original digital dials, all functioning as they should, alongside retro turbo and temp gauges

• Grey floor mats with red piping

• Red carpets and seatbelts

• 2000s-era Sony XPLOD stereo with USB input and Aux for mobile phone connectivity

• Red details around gear shifter and steering wheel paddles

• Leather-trimmed door cards in excellent condition, with yellow quilted stitching and piping

• Electric front windows

• Very minor wear to driver’s side seat edge

• Aftermarket Zeitronix ECU control and boost gauge

Exterior

• Repainted in original solid black

• All rust removed and fully rustproofed all over

• Aftermarket alloys from MG ZS (genuine MG) and matching Spare

• Excellent Toyo Proxes tyres all-round, including spare

• Undamaged panels and body kit

• Reported by the vendor to be in excellent order underneath

Mechanical

• 2.0-litre turbo

• Five-speed manual transmission

• Fully forged Rover T-Series engine, built in 2020 by An Engineering

• Currently developing circa 340bhp 

• 0-60 mph in around 4.2 seconds

• HKS fully adjustable Coilovers all round.

• AP four-pot callipers and enlarged front discs 

• Uprated steel gaskets

• Larger M Sport inlet manifold 

• Ported head 

• Custom full stainless exhaust

• Larger air filter 

• High-capacity radiator

• Front-mounted intercooler, 

• Genuine Garrett T3 360-degree roller-bearing turbo good for 36psi boost – currently running 16psi  

• AP Racing twin-plate clutch and lightened flywheel

• Polished and balanced crank, 

• Uprated racing mid-range cams, 

• Gearbox rebuild with new internals and caged bearings in 2020

• The vendor reports that the car drives has only covered only 7000 miles since its build without fault and is huge fun

 Summary

 In its standard form, the MG Maestro is a lot of fun. It’s also a rare and collectable car. This one, though, takes things to the next level. It’s probably the most extreme Maestro to have ever been built, yet still manages to look restrained and close to standard.

 If you want the ultimate Q-car, and one that has been properly put together, then here it is – a unique opportunity to buy a fantastic example of one of the most unusual hot hatches of the eighties. We love it!

 To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Wixams, Bedfordshire.