No, the MG name *is* owned by Phoenix but the Rover name is only licenced to
them by BMW for the current range of cars, this was an agreement between
Ford and BMW to stop anyone else selling 4x4s under the Rover name. Ford
have also bought the whole British Motor Heritage Group (includes BMIHT
exhibits and archive, BMH classic parts manufacture). I spoke to Gaydon
today and they have no information yet as to what the transfer to Ford might
mean but see it as a positive move for them. We could well see a wider
British museum including Jaguar and Aston Martin. Oh, and I suppose Ford
too.
The BMIHT exhibits and archive have always been part of a charitable
educational trust to protect them against breaking up, selling, or shipping
off elsewhere - and that was from the man who was awarded the OBE by the
Queen for starting the whole thing (BMIHT) off.
PaulH.
----- Original Message -----
From: <MGMagnette@aol.com>
To: <mgs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2000 8:10 PM
Subject: British Motor Heritage... to FORD
> In buying Range Rover, Ford Motor Company got the following: (Source:
Road
> and TRack Daily Auto Insider)
>
> Ford will pay $2.7 billion to buy the Land Rover business, which includes
its
> full line-up of four-wheel-drive vehicles â€" Range Rover, Discovery,
> Freelander and Defender.
> Ford also gets the rights to the Land Rover brand, the Land Rover plant in
> Solihull (Birmingham) as well as the Gaydon Research and Development
Centre,
> the Land Rover dealer network, the British Motor Industry Heritage Centre
> (Gaydon), and a total workforce of approximately 13,000 employees.
>
> NOTE: Ford bought THE RIGHTS to the Land Rover name... Pheonix DID NOT
buy
> the rights to the ROVER name or the MG name... they got a licensing
> agreement. MG is still owned by BMW...
>
> BUT THE ENTIRE MG HERITAGE LINE Old Number One clear through the last
MGB
> is owned by FORD, LOCK STOCK AND BARREL.
>
> Interesting huh? Comments Appreciated
>
> John
|