The MG Maestro Turbo was an outrageous final development of Austin Rover’s family hatchback: very fast, aggressively styled and produced in tiny numbers.
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1. Tickford completed the cars
Austin Rover supplied MG Maestro bodies that Tickford converted with turbo hardware, bodywork and specialist finishing.
2. Production was exceptionally limited
Just over 500 examples were made, placing it among the rarest production hot hatchbacks of its era.
3. It used the two-litre O-Series engine
A Garrett turbo and SU carburettor raised output to about 152 bhp and delivered enormous mid-range shove.
4. It was briefly Britain’s fastest hatchback
Period figures of around 6.7 seconds to 60 mph and more than 125 mph embarrassed many expensive sports cars.
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5. The body kit was functional and theatrical
Deep bumpers, arch extensions and side skirts distinguished it instantly from both ordinary Maestros and the earlier EFi.
6. Torque steer came with the performance
The front-wheel-drive chassis had to manage substantial turbo torque without modern electronic assistance.
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7. Most were red, white or black
The limited palette reinforced the car’s uncompromising late-1980s image and makes non-standard finishes easy to spot.
8. It arrived near the end of Maestro development
By 1989 the Maestro was no longer a fresh design, making the Turbo an unexpected and dramatic last flourish.
9. Carburettor turbocharging was already old-fashioned
Fuel-injected rivals were becoming normal, but the pressure-sealed SU arrangement gave the MG a distinctive mechanical character.
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10. Survival is remarkably low
Rust, accidents, tuning and years of negligible values removed many cars, making authentic examples genuinely rare.
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Sources
For more about this car, read our MG Maestro Turbo guide.
