1989 MG Maestro Turbo — today’s tempter

By: Spencer Leech, Unique Cars magazine

Date: 07.01.2017

Once the fastest production MG ever built

MG Maestro turbo is a rare beast.

It’s fair to say that this MG is rare. One of only 505 produced, it’s also claimed to be the only one in Australia right now.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with this little British hot hatch, it’s called the Maestro Turbo. MG introduced the car in 1988, as a reaction to the growing trend of 16-valve sport hatches. The car was first shown at the Birmingham Motor Show, to the surprise of everyone in attendance. They were essentially a standard MG Maestro, but with the MG Montego Turbo drivetrain and suspension fitted; which transformed the car into the fastest production MG to date.

The 2.0-litre SOHC engine produced 112kW of power and 229Nm of torque, which was quite substantial as the car weighed only 1087kG. The Maestro Turbo used a five-speed manual transmission, which allowed a top speed of 208km/h.

Styling wise, the car featured a one-off body kit by Tickford which gave the Maestro turbo a bold and aggressive look. Integral Lucas driving lamps were also added, along with turbo graphics along each side.

This one that’s currently for sale appears to be in good condition, especially considering it’s racked up 114,490km. The seller says that the 1989 model has been complied with all the later updates, making 200bhp at the flywheel by a ‘very simple’ turbo adjustment.

The car currently resides in Koo Wee Rup North (Vic), and is for sale at $19,750, with a roadworthy certificate provided.

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