1969 MG ADO21 - AllCarIndex

The MG ADO21 was a bold and forward-thinking concept developed by MG engineers at Abingdon in 1968, following the formation of British Leyland Motor Corporation (BLMC). Conceived as a potential replacement for the ageing MG Midget and Triumph Spitfire, the ADO21 aimed to redefine the British sports car with a radical shift in design and engineering philosophy.

At its core, the ADO21 was a mid-engined sports car, powered by the E-Series engine, giving it proportions and a silhouette that wouldn’t look out of place alongside Ferraris of the era. Its sharp front-end styling and dramatic rear—with tall buttresses flanking a narrow window—masked the packaging challenges caused by the tall E4 engine.

Mechanically, the ADO21 was as ambitious as it looked. It featured a mid-mounted E-Series engine and transmission, paired with Hydrolastic suspension and a sophisticated de Dion rear axle. These advanced underpinnings promised excellent handling dynamics and a smooth ride—far ahead of its contemporaries. Engine options ranged from the 1500cc four-cylinder up to the 2227cc six-cylinder, pushing it into MGB territory and blurring the lines between MG’s entry-level and premium offerings.

However, the project faced multiple hurdles. The tall engine compromised rear visibility, and the cumbersome three-cable gear linkage—borrowed from the Austin Maxi—threatened to undermine the driving experience. Despite these quirks, the ADO21 remained a highly promising prototype that showcased MG’s engineering ambition.

Yet, corporate politics and internal rivalries within BLMC sealed the ADO21’s fate. The Triumph Bullet (another internal project) won out, especially after feedback from U.S. dealers called for simplicity and reliability over sophistication. Although the ADO21’s front-end styling was admired, BLMC’s newly established Corporate Sports Car Policy ultimately sidelined the program.

By late 1970, development quietly ceased. The prototype was left to gather dust before being unceremoniously scrapped on instruction from upper management. In the end, the ADO21 became yet another promising idea lost to British Leyland’s internal power struggles.

Still, its spirit lived on—echoed in later cars like the MGF, which revisited the ADO21’s mid-engined layout and fluid suspension. In hindsight, the ADO21 was ahead of its time: a sleek, innovative sports car that could have redefined MG’s future had it ever reached the road.