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MG Sales (Thailand) warmly welcomed an eight caravan of classic MG sportscars who were embarking on their history-making intercontinental trek from Bangkok to London in their “2017 MG Silk Road Driving Tour”. The adventure resonates MG’s long, thoroughly British heritage of being fun to drive, a vehicle with sportscar DNA yet accessible to all and supreme reliability. The trip will take the crew over 37,000 km of driving for an expected 111 days.
The crew of the 2017 MG Silk Road Driving Tour comprise of 16 passionate Australian MG fans who decided to start the trip in Thailand as this is the current day strategic MG automotive business and assembly hub for Southeast Asia.
Mr. Pongsak Lertrudeewattanawong, VP of MG Sales (Thailand) stated, “the MG brand is now nearly 100 years young and was born out of passion for driving producing cars that reward the drivers – a character that is still embedded in every new MG vehicles sold today. The 8 classic MG sportscars are prime examples of how the MG DNA help develop reliable sportscars attainable by all, fun to drive and good value for they can be used for everyday driving or for touring. On behalf of MG in Thailand, I wish all the drivers a safe journey to London.”

The birth of the MG brand began as racing car with the “Old Number One” the first super sport car of MG which built purely for racing with a 1,548cc engine mated to a 3-speed gearbox on a Morris Cowley-built chassis. Its first victory was in 1925 at the Land End’s Trial and that success was the first step towards many decades of sportscar production. MG had a surge in popularity with the MGA that were built between 1955 and 1962. Its successor, the MGB became a highly praised legend with elegant body styling in both hardtop and convertible coupled to a powerful yet reliable engine. It garnered success from 1962 all the way to 1980. The history-making caravan include fine specimens of both the MGA and MGB. 

Mr. John Basten, owner of a gold coloured MGB said, “This is the sportscar I dreamed of even as a kid for not only it has strong engine similar to robot but is rewardingly fun to drive every single time. I drove my MGB up Khaoyai up its steep gradient and winding curves and the way it handled reminds me just how great it was engineered even though it has been so many years ago. I am thoroughly impressed with its performance.” 

Today, Australia is another key market for MG alongside Thailand. Australia has a strong MG fan base with over 4,000 registered MG Club members. This intercontinental trek has been two years in the making. After the start in Thailand, the caravan with drive through China and head for SAIC Motor Corporation, the mother company of MG in Thailand and worldwide. Then, they will drive through the Middle East with the final destination being Abingdon, England, the site of MG’s original factory almost 100 years ago. 
Mr. Mike Herlihy, who is participating in this historic tour with an MGB owns another seven MGs. He said, “I’ve test driven the new MG vehicles built in Thailand at the MG Driving Experience Centre. The MG3 and MG GS are impressive, still full of character and fun to drive. They offer sporty driving yet also sense of safety which reminds me of the old slogan “MG Safety Fast”. I trust that Thai MG owners will also be impressed with the performance and built quality and no matter where you are in the world, we are family.”

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