MG versus Triumph sales

Sir,

Amongst your usual excellent correspondence column’s in the January issue, I find a common misconception being perpetuated. Geoffrey Pflaumer states that the MG-B outsells the TR7. A colleague in the motor industry, however, assures me that the opposite is true. The following figures are the UK registrations for 1977 for the relevant vehicles.

MG including GT and V8 5,434

TR7 9644

As a matter of interest MG Midget registrations were 3,893 vehicles.. Thus the TR7 not only outsells the MG-B, but also the MG-B and Midget combined!

I have recently had the opportunity to drive both these vehicles (TR7 and MG-B) and can only repeat the oft-quoted description of the MG-B after this experience “The two seater Morris Oxford”. I am, however, slightly biased in favour of the Triumph, as I am the delighted owner of a Dolomite Sprint a vastly underrated motor car in my opinion. I trust that this will put the record straight.

Penicuik, Midlothian A. DE VERE-SMYTHE

(These figures do not reflect the world wide sales and do not take into account the fact that no TR75 have been manufactured since August/September because of the Speke factory strike. Ed.)