History of the MG Maestro
Coming just fifty-nine years after the launch of the original MG saloon car, The Morris Garages Bullnose Morris, the MG Maestro joined the MG Metro in March 1983 and was to be the second car in Austin Rover's new line up of MG sports saloons. As was fitting with the time when Hot Hatches were to dominate the majority of the next decade, the range of MG cars launched by Austin Rover was comprehensive and successful. The seven cars sold a total number of 232,540 and were exported all over the world; throughout Europe and as far away as New Zealand. (The seven cars being: MG Metro 1300, MG Metro Turbo, MG Metro 6R4, MG Maestro 1600, MG Maestro EFi/2.0i, MG Maestro Turbo, MG Montego EFi/2.0i and MG Montego Turbo)
The MG Maestro has since become very popular amongst collectors because it bears the closest resemblance to the hot hatches produced by Austin Rover's rivals and because it is held in such high esteem amongst traditional MG enthusiasts who rate it as one of the best MG saloon cars ever produced.
| March 1983 | MG Maestro 1600 launched in Spain with 1598cc R-Series engine and two twin-choke Weber carburetors. All MG Maestros to be built at the Morris plant at Cowley, near Oxford. |
| April 1984 | MG Maestro 1600 fitted with revised S-Series engine |
| October 1984 | MG Maestro EFi launched with 1994cc O-Series engine and multi-point fuel injection. MG Maestro 1600 discontinued. |
| 1986 | MG Maestro EFi receives improved Montego-style one-piece dashboard and a factory-fitted sunroof as standard. New disc design alloy wheels are now an optional extra. |
| 1987 | MG Maestro re-badged as MG Maestro 2.0i. Extra colours become available for a short time including Atlantic Blue and Steel Grey. |
| October 1988 | MG Maestro 2.0i receives major facelift with full colour coding of all exterior trim, new 15 inch lattice alloy wheels and a new interior. Colours available rationalised to four new shades: British Racing Green, Flame Red, Diamond White and Factory Black. |
| October 1988 | MG Maestro Turbo launched at the Birmingham Motorshow at the NEC. Flame Red car featuring the new Tickford bodykit and a two-litre turbo-charged O-series engine and intercooler similar to that fitted to the MG Montego Turbo. |
| 1989 | The 500,000th Maestro was built, an MG Maestro 2.0i in Diamond White. |
| February 1989 | MG Maestro Turbo goes into limited production. All cars to be built at Cowley and finished at Aston Martin Tickford in Bedworth, Warwickshire. |
| November 1989 | Production of MG Maestro Turbo ceases after a limited run of 505. Cult status is ensured. |
| July 1991 | The last MG Maestro 2.0i is built making way for the new MG RV8 and a new policy that excludes production of MG Saloons for ten years. |
| 1992 | MG Maestro 2.0is continue to be registered on K-registrations. Most of these cars appear to be British Racing Green although white K-registration MG Maestros are also known to exist. |
| 1993 | The last MG Maestro is registered bearing an L-registration. |
| July 1999 | The 10th anniversary of the MG Maestro Turbo is celebrated at the Midland Motor Museum in Bridgnorth, Shropshire. The largest known gathering of MG Maestro Turbos is recorded as 41 cars attend. |
| July 2000 | The MG Maestro Turbo stars on episode 5 of Clarkson's Car Years alongside other Hot Hatches of the eighties and nineties. |
| 6th August 2000 | The first MG Maestro Turbo run takes place between the MG Car Club HQ in Abingdon and The Heritage Museum at Gaydon. |
| 2003 | To mark the 20th anniversary of the launch of the MG Maestro, celebrations were held at classic car shows throughout the country. |
