MG T-Bar Quiz

bensewell wrote: This is a closure / reopening of Longbridge question set:

When did Longbridge close down and why?

When did it re-open and by whom?

How many staff did it roughly employ on the production line when it opened?

What models are currently being made there?

Car production at Longbridge by MG Rover was halted on April 7th 2005 because Stadco and other suppliers had put MGR's account on stop due to non payment, leading to the factory being short on parts for assembly of vehicles. MGR was placed in administration the following day and most of the workforce were made redundant.

A limited production run started in May 2007 with an "official re-opening" on 29 May 2007 in which 3 MG TFs assembled at Longbridge were paraded around the site with a procession of older MGs. At the time the owners were Nanjing Automotive Corporation.

"Full scale production" of the MG TF was re-started on 1 Aug 2008 by MG Motor UK, a company owned by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation. However the process that SAIC gained Longbridge was convoluted.

When Longbridge was sold by PwC the Administrators of MGR, there were 2 serious bids. The first was from SAIC, the other from Nanjing Automotive Corporation. NAC were the successful bidders and begun the lift and shift of the machinery with the intention of starting production in China. However SAIC had been negotiating a Joint Venture with MGR before the collapse and had had the IPR for the cars and engines signed over to them. This led to 2 different versions of the former Rover 75/MGZT being developed. NAC developed the MG7, which was very much the former 75/ZT, whilst Riccardo Engineering developed the Roewe 750 for SAIC, which was similar but had a different interior and rear end styling.

The Chinese government forced NAC and SAIC into a "merger", in reality SAIC was taking over NAC, and this happened during 2007 and into the early part of 2008. When this happened, NAC MG became MG Motor UK.

In May 2007 there were 130 workers at Longbridge with 90% of them being local staff. In Aug '08 there were 180 workers.

Currently the MG6 GT and MG6 Magnette are being produced there.

Various sources (dates were from googling), company details were from wikipedia, rest from my own knowledge.

Amaziballs you're right well done

Staying with Longbridge (at least partially - and that is the MG Connection)

It's generally known that the Austin Motor Company under Herbert Austin purchased the site in 1906.

What company occupied Longbridge before Austin?

Who did Austin buy Longbridge from?

When did Austin first occupy the Longbridge site?

Which car company did Herbert Austin run before founding Austin? Why did he leave?

It's generally known that the Austin Motor Company under Herbert Austin purchased the site in 1906.

Answers from Wikipedia.

What company occupied Longbridge before Austin?
White and Pike: 1895-1901

The original site and factory development was undertaken by Birmingham-based copper plate printers White and Pike Ltd. Looking to consolidate a number of small sites around Birmingham, and diversify into new areas, they choose a series of 20 agricultural fields to the south of the city in Longbridge, on a site bounded by: Lickey Road; Lowhill Lane; the Midland Railway's main Birmingham to Gloucester mainline; and the Halesowen Joint Railway with the Great Western Railway. The purchase also included Cofton Hill, which rose 70 feet (21 m) above its surroundings. Designed by Stark & Rowntree of Glasgow and constructed by James Moffatt & Sons of Camp Hill, the factory was built at a cost of £105,000, opening in the first quarter of 1895. Unfortunately the venture failed, and the site was repossessed by the bank in 1901.


Who did Austin buy Longbridge from?
Herbert Austin undertook numerous exploratory rides around Birmingham in his Wolseley 7.5 h.p. On 4 November 1905, he found the derelict printing works, owned by financier E A Olivieri. Friends came forward with financial help, and with additional invoice financing from Frank Kayser of Kayser, Ellison and Company, and Harvey du Cros of the Dunlop Rubber Company, enabled Austin to buy the site and an additional 8 acres (3.2 ha) from Olivieri for £7,500 on the 22nd January 1906.

When did Austin first occupy the Longbridge site?
Austin and his initial workforce of The Austin Motor Company Limited had in actual fact moved into the derelict buildings before this date, as Austin was so focused on showing his new car at the first British Motor Show, to be held in 1905 at Olympia, London.

Which car company did Herbert Austin run before founding Austin?
In 1901 he founded (with the Vickers brothers) and ran the business he made Britain's largest car manufacturer, The Wolseley Tool and Motor Car Company.

Why did he leave?
In 1905 he fell out with the Vickers brothers.

Thanks Martin, I for one am very grateful when full answers are given, makes learning more about the history, cars and characters surrounding our marque so much easier.

Look forward to your new question :yesnod:

Can I just clarify that when I give/confirm answers to quiz questions I've set I am always mindful of copyright laws. Therefore I prefer to give the url of my source rather than cut and paste large sections of someone elses text.

Quite right Alan, I have editted my post to reflect the source which I forgot in my haste.

Staying with Longbridge.

1) Who sold the land to the current property developers?
2) When did the sale take place?
3) Who are the current property developers?
4) What building was recently demolished much to the horror of enthusiasts and historians?
5) What was one of the reasons given for the building being deemed unsafe?

:whistle:

MartinW wrote: Any chance we could go back to shorter questions, I am at an age in life where my doctor said I should sell my long playing records and just keep the 7" singles. ..

What were you saying Martin? :lol:

Just following the rules, boss, I don't want another 50 penalty points!

1) Who sold the land to the current property developers?

MG Rover sold the Longbridge site to the developers.

2) When did the sale take place?

Some unused land was sold in 2001, however the main sale and leaseback was during 2003 and 2004 (source St Modwen)

3) Who are the current property developers?

St Modwen Properties PLC

4) What building was recently demolished much to the horror of enthusiasts and historians?

The general office block on Lickey Road. Source BMHIT

5) What was one of the reasons given for the building being deemed unsafe?

The building had been derelict for many years contained a large amount of asbestos. (source BMHIT)

I'd forgotten I had posted a question!

Well done.

OK a picture round and one question only.

What links this with MG?