Up for auction: The Austin Rover company name could be yours

Consider yourself a fan of British automotive heritage? Then we may have found the auction item for you. 

The forthcoming Iconic Auctioneers Supercar Fest sale includes the chance to buy the Austin Rover Ltd company name and registration number. 

Winning the auction would give its owner sole rights to use the name, along with an Austin Rover email address and a ‘vast amount’ of drawings for the legendary MG Metro 6R4.

The lot will go under the hammer on Saturday 18 May 2024, with the sale taking place at Sywell Aerodrome in Northampton.

British brand values

Austin Rover Name Auction

Austin Rover arrived in 1982 as the mass-market car manufacturing division of British Leyland. The name lasted until 1989, when the business was rebranded as Rover Group.

During its relatively short existence, Austin Rover was responsible for launching the Austin Maestro and Montego, along with the Rover 200 and Rover 800.

When the MG Rover Group finally collapsed in 2005, the Austin Rover name was sold by PricewaterhouseCoopers as part of the administration process. It has lain dormant ever since – simply being retained by the current vendor.

‘A unique opportunity’

Austin Rover Name Auction

No guide price has been given for the Austin Rover name and associated documents, and Lot 245A will be sold without reserve. 

Although an unusual item to appear at auction, it could hold appeal for serious fans of Rover products

The original MG Metro 6R4 drawings are also likely to be of value to companies such as MST, which builds a modern version of the Group B rally car.

Nigel Gough, automobilia specialist at Iconic Auctioneers, said: “This is a unique opportunity for someone to own a piece of British motoring history and possibly do something exciting with the brand. We recommend that any interested buyer comes to view Lot 254A in person to fully understand what is included.”

For those who’d rather not build their own 6R4 up from technical drawings, the Iconic Auctioneers sale also includes a genuine ex-works 6R4 rally racer.

ALSO READ:

1983 Austin Metro review: Retro Road Test

Scrappage survivor: one-owner Rover 200 rescued by enthusiasts

Great Motoring Disasters: Austin Maxi

Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

spot_imgspot_img

Latest

Great Motoring Disasters: Fiat Croma

Fiat withdrew the Croma from UK sale just two years after its 2005 launch. We investigate why it was a Great Motoring Disaster.

1992 Skoda Favorit review: Retro Road Test

The Favorit represented the dawn of a new era for Skoda. With Bertone styling and an amenable character, it's an interesting modern classic.

Retro and classic favourites at the NEC Classic Motor Show

Our favourite cars from day one of the NEC Classic Motor Show

Great Motoring Disasters: NSU Ro80

Modern Audis owe much to the 1967 NSU Ro80. The elegant saloon was ahead of its time, but its radical rotary engine proved to be its downfall.

From the Retro Motor archive: 2009 Tesla Roadster review

With Tesla now one of the UK's top-selling car manufacturers, we raid the archives for a review of the original Roadster sports car from 2009.