Oxford University college MG motor statue plan 'withdrawn'
The historic Morris Garage quad at New College, Oxford, once the birthplace of the first MG cars, was slated for a new public artwork.
College warden and fellows engaged acclaimed sculptor Paul Day to honour Cecil Kimber, the founder of MG, with a bronze figure that would greet visitors and reference the iconic octagonal logo.
The design called for a slightly larger‑than‑life Cecil Kimber in goggles, lifting the bonnet of an MG car, with a dynamic perspective of 1920s racing cars on the front and the MG logo on the rear, intended to anchor the quad’s industrial memory.
However, the city council’s planning department has now treated the application as withdrawn, leaving the site without the proposed tribute and prompting reflection on how the college balances its academic environment with its automotive heritage.