Although over 15,000 MG Maestro 1600s were built between March 1983 and October 1984 there are probably less than 200 left on British roads. This will clearly make the search for a 1600 in good condition quite a task. However the ones that have survived tend to be the better ones.
The best place to find an MG Maestro 1600 is www.loot.co.uk or www.autotrader.co.uk as this will broaden your search beyond your local area. The classified sections of MG Enthusiast and MG World are also a good place to look.
When looking at an MG Maestro 1600, check that the equipment that was only fitted to this model is in tact as replacement parts are had to find. You need to check for the silver grille with MG badge holder and badge, 14" Cheesegrater alloys (Part NAM3300) and square centre caps with no MG logo, digital dash and voice synthesiser, two spoke leather bound steering wheel and the early seats. The early seats had fixed headrests that only go up and down rather than titling back and forth.
Check that the engine still has the Weber twin carburrettor setup as each of these carbs costs about £500. If the car you are looking at is a 1984 model and it has a box behind the left headlamp then you are looking at the carburrettor cooling fan on an ultra-rare S-Series model. These S-Series engined cars were only built for three months and very few have survived
The MG Maestro 1600 is a very rewarding car because it is quirky and fun and represents the original MG Maestro. It is almost as powerful as the 2.0i models and because it is light, the handling and accelleration is very impressive. Pay between £100 and £400 depending on the condition of the bodywork and the interior. Any less than £100 and you are probably going to be taking on a restoration project.
Launched in October 1984, the MG Maestro EFi was without doubt the most successful of the three models. It was built for eight years and over 37,000 were sold. It is more economical than the MG Maestro 1600 but it produces more power, torque, has a higher top speed and accelerates faster. Amongst MG enthuiasts it is regarded as one of the best MG saloons ever to be built and it is probably the most convincing package that Austin Rover put together during the 1980s.
As a rival to other hot hatches, it set the pace as being the first compact mid-range car to be fitted with a 2.0 litre fuel-injected engine. Although fashion dictated that the VW Golf GTi outsold the MG Maestro EFi, the British built car was always the better performer.
Some early B-reg cars were fitted with the digital instrumentation and voice synthesiser of the MG Maestro 1600 but this was a cost option. So these cars are sought after as so few exist. From 1986 to 1989 alloy wheels were an option, so for this age car, look out for one with the flat disc alloys as these are much better than the steel wheels fitted as standard.
There's not much that can go wrong with the O-series engine and the beautifully smooth Honda gearbox. It has been known for cars with this engine and gearbox to reach over 300,000 miles without needing any work. So don't be put off by a car with 150,000 miles on the clock.
Post 1989 face-lifted models are the most popular amongst enthusiasts as they offer all the performance of a hot-hatch with a very attractive finish and luxury interior. The colour-coded exterior and 15" lattice alloys made the later cars one of the most attractive hot-hatches ever to grace the roads.
Look for cars with the optional electric windows and power steering. All the later cars have electrically operated heated mirrors as standard. Pay between £100 for a tatty model and up to £1000 for a low mileage car that looks like it's just been driven out of the showroom.
MG Maestro Turbos are very rare. Only 505 were built and because they are so fast, they are most sought after. This has led to a number or replicas being built. An MG Maestro 2.0i with a good body and an MG Montego Turbo with a good engine can both be bought for around £500. So a good mechanic can make a Maestro Turbo and then buy a replica bodykit and have a convincing replica for less than £1000.
Some people have converted their MG Maestro 2.0i into Turbos by removing the injectors and fitting the relevant parts. There is nothing wrong with a good replica but they are not worth any more than a standard car.
As good condition MG Maestro Turbos fetch up to £3000 and sometimes more, it is important to buy with care. You should always contact Martin Woods of the MG Car Club's FWD register when looking at a potential purchase. He has all the records from Tickford and can check the car's chassis and engine numbers against the Tickford register. He will be able to confirm a car's originality and give you a Tickford build number.
Check these items to make sure that a car still has the original features of the MG Maestro Turbo:
If you are looking at a car that has, for example, no electric windows this is unlikely to be a genuine car. Ask yourself, how many people remove electric windows and replace them with manual winders?
All other sensible precautions should be taken when buying a second hand car. Check the rear wheel arches, tailgate, door skins etc for excessive corrosion or bodged repairs. Check the car doesn't produce excessive smoke under full acceleration and look out for pre-ignition when the car is switched off.
More than anything else, if you haven't driven an MG Maestro Turbo before, and a car you test drive doesn't deliver breathtaking, hair-raising, performance then there is something wrong with the car. Even a turbo in poor mechanical condition will frighten and excite in equal measures - so don't buy a lethargic one!
Remember what the motoring press said:
It's the fastest ever car to wear the MG badge, quicker off the mark then any other production hot hatch we've tester Auto Car, May 1989
The MG's astonishing 0-60 time of 6.6 seconds leaves in its wake hot shots like the Golf GTi 16v, BMW 325i, Lotus Excel and even a 270bhp Ferrari Mondial CAR, June 1989
By any standards, the MG's acceleration is impressive. For a 2.0 litre five-door family hatch, it's quite startling CAR, June 1989
Please don't hesitate to e-mail me if you have any queries about a potential purchase and I will try to help or put you in touch with someone who can -
