Here are nine of MG's greatest hits

The launch of the M-Type in 1929 really did save MG. As sales of its big saloon were faltering, this small lightweight sports car – based on the 1928 Morris Minor – came along and set the tone for the future of British roadsters.

MG’s T-Type range was kickstarted by the TA in 1936. Another open-topped two-seat sports car, the TA was fitted with a 1.3-litre four cylinder making a heady 50bhp. Probably plenty given it used a steel body on a wooden frame.

The ultimate MG? The 6R4 (six for the cylinder count, R for rally and four for the driven wheels) was built by Williams GP Engineering for the ill-fated Group B rally regs. In competition spec the mid- mounted V6 produced over 400bhp.

MG’s attempt to take on the supercar elite resulted in the XPower SV – a V8-engined, carbon-bodied bruiser that used the headlights from a second-gen Fiat Punto. The uprated SV-R arrived in 2004 and had its Ford engine tuned by Roush to make 385bhp.

An exceedingly pretty little sports car, the MGA was produced between 1955 and 1962. It was a runaway success commercially, with over 100,000 examples sold. Interestingly, fewer than 6,000 remained in the UK, with most built for export markets.

In 1973, the MGB GT V8 arrived with that glorious coupe/shooting brake body, a 137bhp version of the aluminium Rover V8 and an absolute tongue twister of a name. Sadly it was only in production until 1976.

The only modern MG on this list, but it’s made the cut for good reason. The 4 is an extremely well-priced electric hatch that’s decent to drive and interesting to look at. Just make sure you get the standard rear drive version rather than the XPower.

The ZT was MG’s take on the Rover 75, except with sportier styling and engine options that included multiple different four-cylinders, a V6 and a full fat V8. Oh, and for families there was even a ZT-T estate version.

The first new MG-specific model since the MG B, the F was designed under Rover’s British Aerospace ownership but didn’t actually go on sale until after BMW was at the helm. Initially powered by a 1.8-litre K-Series engine, you could have the MkI with 118 or 143bhp.