The MG TF/ZR/ZT and Rover 75 are not the first former BMC>MG models to be manufactured in China. The original production lines for the Morris Marina and the Austin Maestro were also sold to the Chinese and, ironically, both ended up in different factories located in the city of Chengdu.

I reckoned that was reason enough to visit Chengdu and discover what had happened to those production lines. The Marina’s tale is a short one: I didn’t find a single Marina, Marina van or pick-up in the streets of Chengdu. The old FAW factory has long since been closed and demolished. The social unrest at this backward factory had led in to an unprecedented demonstration on the Chengdu streets in 2003 and that gave the regime good reason to close the factory and fire the workers. No, there is nothing left of the Chinese Marinas.

The Maestro-line was first sold to a tobacco company in Shandong province, named Etsong (or Yizheng in Chinese). That company managed to produce a small series of Maestros and Maestro vans but, in 2003, the line was sold again to the Chengdu-based Sichuan Auto Industry Group Company Limited, which produces vehicles under the Yema brand. Sichuan Auto is a very small company with a long history of building strong SUVs in extremely small quantities - they are, though, particularly suitable for the rough roads of South West China.

A visit to a small manufacturer like Sichuan Auto is not easy. Nobody speaks English but, more importantly, people don’t understand why there is foreign interest in their factory and products. When one tries to make an appointment, there is always the promise to call you back, but they never call you and emails are not answered. There is only one solution: just go there.

The historic Longbridge car plant witnessed its "re-birth" on Tuesday - two years after closing following the dramatic collapse of motor giant Rover.

The massive site in Birmingham was spectacularly re-opened with a lavish ceremony by new Chinese owners Nanjing Automobile Corporation (NAC).

Marking the re-start of the newly re-commissioned car production line - which will build the MG TF sports car - NAC CEO Yu Jian Wei described the West Midlands factory as having an "irreplaceable role in the MG project".