MG Car Club launches plan to save the Z Range

Because nearly 80 percent of MG’s Z Range cars already are gone, the MG Car Club and Zed Register have launched a Save Our Zeds campaign “to highlight the decline of Zed MGs and help equip owners with the right tools to keep enjoying and running their cars, rather than consigning them to the scrapheap.”

Citing the HowManyLeft.co.jk website, the club and register said that of the 90,191 vehicles produced from 2001-2006, only about 22 percent remain intact.

“A staggering 43,152 (84.5 percent) of MG ZRs built are no longer on the road,” the MG Car Club said in its announcement.

Here’s the full Zed breakdown:

The ZR was a “hot” hatchback and was popular for rallying and for saloon-car racing.

“Today’s culture of financial incentives to scrap older cars when purchasing cars on PCP or lease deals versus the cost of repairing an older car appears to rule out repairs as a viable option,” John Thompson, chairman of the Zed Register, was quoted in the news release.

However, the club said in its news release, “there are many quality MG specialists & parts businesses across the UK, and the MG Car Club offer members discounts with some of these suppliers, so repair really is a good choice.”

The club notes that the Zed range provides “an affordable way into MG ownership, and the growing Modern Classic scene, with good condition cars available from as little as £350 ($450). This makes a Zed car a great option for a young driver as a first car, as well as something fun.”

The club, which dates to 1930, also has formed a Young Members Branch to organize events and an online community.

“We are concerned that an important part of the MG brand’s heritage is going to be lost,” said Adam Sloman, general manager of the MG Car Club. He added that the club is worried that “future generations are going to miss out on these much-loved cars,”