MGR’s surviving test cars are finally sent to the crusher

[Benjybh]

Seems a shame really. I know that all you Rover haters are going to post messages of rejoice, but it's sad that the last remnants of the UK's once-proud volume car production industry are gone for good.

Linky

Edited by Benjybh on Wednesday 19th May 20:04

[RetroCosworth]

bds!

[Dift]

By all accounts, there was a 4wd V8 ZT, thats now gone to the crusher. It is a real shame... But unfortunatley it was always going to happen. I would of happily gave them a few hundred quid for the V8 ZT and a TF.

[EDLT]

Most manufacturers crush prototypes, not really news is it?

[BrewsterBear]

• NEWSFLASH*

Chinese people involved in ruthless and needless destruction.

And in other news scientists have proved that bald men spend less on hair gel.

[glazbagun]

EDLT said:

Most manufacturers crush prototypes, not really news is it?

+1. A bit sad seeing as MGR is dead these days, but still common practice & I'm surprised they lasted so long.

[anonymous-user]

I'm suprised manufacturers don't try to auction off some of these working prototypes, bound to be some people out there that will pay for the uniqueness, even if they don't have all the bells and whistles.

[theironduke]

Symbolica said:

I'm suprised manufacturers don't try to auction off some of these working prototypes, bound to be some people out there that will pay for the uniqueness, even if they don't have all the bells and whistles.

Is it really worth the hassle though from the Chinese perspective? what's a few thousand pounds to them at the end of the day?

[MX7]

Sort of funny that their HQ got called the Kremlin. Red Robbo must have been delighted.

[Mr.Jimbo]

Hmm, I probably worked on a few of those SAIC cars.

I agree, I don't like things being pointlessly destroyed, though to be fair you're not going to get much use out of these.

Doubt many people would want to buy them after the interiors are removed and often cut/modified to fit datalogging gear etc.

[niva441]

theironduke said:

Symbolica said:

I'm suprised manufacturers don't try to auction off some of these working prototypes, bound to be some people out there that will pay for the uniqueness, even if they don't have all the bells and whistles.

Is it really worth the hassle though from the Chinese perspective? what's a few thousand pounds to them at the end of the day?

I think the tax due on the value of the prototype parts is more of a problem.

[redgriff500]

They tend to crush prototypes because of legal issues.

Either because they are worried about being sued if something goes wrong or because they 'bent' various regs when registering it.

[P9]

redgriff500 said:

They tend to crush prototypes because of legal issues.

Either because they are worried about being sued if something goes wrong or because they 'bent' various regs when registering it.

Prototype components used and not subject to type approval.

In other words a legal nightmare!

Still a shame they can't go to a modern museum instead or a collection where they are never driven on the roads.

[Jayho]

I remember a while back there was something kicking about in the classifieds or fleebay or something, was effectively a Rover 200/25 modded to look like a MG ZR, basically a car built of other cars for no reason, and claimed as a prototype which made it from long bridge.... think the claimed some ridiculous power and engine bay mods... but looked like a whole load of baloney.

[glazbagun]

There was an old Evo opinion piece where the dude mentioned things liek brand new Rover 75 V8's with boggo spec and 130,000 miles on the clock that were obviously endurance test cars, as well as all kinds of "what if we..." combinations. Shame I don't have em with me.

[williamp]

its really sad I know, but its standard practcie to destory prototypes.

Have a look here:

http://www.astonmartins.com/vanquish/vanquish_prot...

which shows crash test Astons plus prototypes. They were kept for the duration of production, and then scrapped

[Engineer1]

Selling off old prototypes would be suicide for the company involved, the legal implications and shear ball ache of keeping them on the road would be immense would you be happy buying a car where the driveshafts where one offs or modified from someone else, also people may twig any dodgy parts bin borrowing.