1970 MG 1300 Two-Door Saloon
Among the many badge-engineered variants of BMC’s ADO16 family, the MG 1300 is one of the rarer two-door versions and among the more performance-oriented offerings, particularly in Mk II 1275 form introduced for 1968 and produced through 1971.
Styled through a collaboration between Alec Issigonis and Pininfarina, the two-door saloon carries a clean, compact profile that distinguished it from its Morris and Austin stablemates without departing from the family’s fundamental proportions.
Introduced in Mk II form in 1967 alongside a mild exterior refresh, the MG variant received the 1,275cc A-series engine built to a specification closely mirroring that of the Mini Cooper S, complete with twin SU carburetors and an 11-stud cylinder head.
Output was approximately 70 bhp, giving it a clear performance advantage over other single-carburetor ADO16 models in the range. Drive goes to the front wheels through a transverse layout carried over from the original 1962 design, keeping the mechanical package notably space-efficient for its footprint.
Curb weight was roughly 1,870 pounds (850 kg), which helped the lively A-series deliver genuinely spirited performance for a compact family sedan of the era. Production numbers were modest, and surviving examples in any condition are seldom encountered.
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