1969 MG ADO21 (Amalgamated Design Office Project 21)

The MG ADO21, developed in 1969, was part of a radical sports car program initiated after the formation of the British Leyland Motor Corporation (BLMC) in 1968. The program was given the name ADO21, which stands for Amalgamated Design Office Project 21. Designed by Harris Mann, the goal was to create a new sports car that would replace both MG and Triumph's existing sports car ranges. The car's design was innovative, using the same principle that Fiat employed with the X1/9: taking a transverse engine and transmission from a front-wheel-drive car and relocating it to a mid-engine configuration that would drive the rear wheels.

The MG ADO21 was to be powered by E-series OHC engines, with engine options of 1.5, 1.75 (4-cylinder), and 2.2 litres (6-cylinder). The car was also designed to use hydrolastic suspension, a suspension system known for its smooth ride quality, which had already been used in other BLMC cars.

Despite the promising design and innovative features, the ADO21 program was cancelled in December 1970, just as it was nearing the prototype stage. The cancellation was made in favor of developing the Triumph TR7, which became the next major project for BLMC. As a result, the ADO21 never made it to production, and its innovative mid-engine design and other features were ultimately left to history.