You're my boy, blue! Mega MG ZS 180 for sale

Not before time, MG's Z cars are gaining some recognition - and value

There’s nothing like the end of the year to make you realise how fast time is passing. 2025, for instance, marked 20 years since the demise of MG Rover, which still seems hard to wrap your mind around. More positively, it means that a quarter of a century has passed since the idea of the MG Z Cars was first floated; nothing beats a bit of sporting activity to get over the post-break-up blues, so with BMW out of the way, Rover would overhaul its core models with a much-loved badge and some spicy powertrains.

It was 2001 when the world first saw the ZR, ZS and ZT, so it’s a significant anniversary year for them all in 2026. It was quite a few years that followed, too, as the MG badge was given a full resurrection: there was everything from a junior rally car to a Le Mans entrant, a BTCC weapon to a Bonneville land speed record breaker. Along the way, the ZR became Britain’s best-selling hot hatch, the ZT spawned its incredible V8, rear-drive models, and MG demonstrated that silly spoilers need not just be the preserve of the Japanese.

They were the good years; the bad years were the ones that immediately followed 2005, as uncertainty swirled around the cars with MG Rover gone, the early cars hit depreciation nadir just as the scrappage schemes came in, and those that did survive weren’t always looked after properly. It would be very easy to put off a cambelt, for example, if the cost of replacement wasn’t far off the value of the car. Add to that cars being converted to motorsport spec, crashed and whatever else, and the supply of decent ZRs, ZSes and ZTs really tanked.

Fortunately, however, those that now remain tend to be in the hands of enthusiasts who really know and love them. They’re now all old enough to be bought as passion projects, not simply picked up as a cheap runaround to ditch when necessary. As the final MGs before the Chinese takeover, too, they have a special significance in Longbridge history. As well as being great fun to drive.

In period, the ZS was always the slightly awkward Z car. The 25-based ZR was perfectly suited to a lairy body kit and loud paint, because it was aimed at young, overeager enthusiasts. The ZT was so handsome, built as it was from the 75 launched only three years before, that it would be a struggle to make a bad-looking one. The ZS, however, with its origins in the 45 (which itself was of course a facelifted 400), always looked like it was trying a bit too hard with its huge wing and body-coloured leather. Never mind that it was brilliant to drive; a BMW was so much more suave.

Now, of course, it’s all part of the appeal, the slight naffness easily qualifying as nostalgic, which ought to make the driving experience all the more special. V6 power and a sweet suspension setup made the ZS a surprise star of the range, and there’s nothing to suggest this one won’t still be a joy. It has just two previous owners, less than 60,000 miles and loads of history, for starters. But it’s also had the infamous cambelt change last year, a power steering pump this summer, and sits on four Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres. That’s the sort of attention we all like to see.

And if you’re thinking it looks even better than the rose-tinted specs would suggest, this ZS 180 even benefits from a recent paint protection and ceramic coating. Which probably didn’t even exist in 2002. So Trophy Blue really pops, and you just know it would turn heads. The interior also looks great; the door cards seem to have come from another car, but at least all four of them match.

The asking price is £8,995; given the rarity of these cars now and their dedicated following, it’s hard to imagine them ever being worth an awful lot less. Particularly with that big birthday coming up. And just think of the price that would be attached if there was a Ford or BMW badge on it. Maybe they were the preferred choice 25 years ago - it’s hard to be so sure now.

See the original advert

OP Posts Only

Prev 2 Next

OP Posts Only

Author

Discussion

fantheman80

Original Poster

2,259 posts

69 months