Petrolheads could OWN iconic British car brand loved by Princess Diana – as rights & company name go up for auction

PETROLHEADS have been given the opportunity to own an iconic British car brand loved by Princess Diana and build their own new model.

Classic car fans could now revive the nostalgic company from the dead after 35 years.

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The sole rights for Austin Rover Ltd have gone up for sale through .

The company came about through a major restructuring of the UK's largest car company, British Leyland, in 1982.

Through a merger of the Austin and Rover brands, coupled with the retirement of the Morris and Triumph badges, a new mass-production firm was formed.

Cars from the era, including the Austin Metro, Rover 800 and the original Mini, have become some of the most enduring symbols of British motoring culture.

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A Metro was even famously Princess Diana's car of choice in the late '80s.

However, Austin Rover failed to replicate some of the success of the earlier days of British Leyland like the Morris Minor and Austin Allegro.

Austin would be discontinued as a marque in 1987 after the collapse of British Leyland, marking the end of the company.

Its successor, the Rover Group, would then be sold to BMW in 1994 before eventually going bust in 2000.

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The rights to the company name, registration and domain were snapped up by the long-term owner shortly after and are now on sale.

The listing calls the sale a "unique opportunity" to own the brand, which also comes with a set of original drawings of the Austin Metro R64.

There is no reserve price or asking price, so it could be a real bargain.

Save enough money on the purchase and you might even be able to revive the brand and build your very own Austin Rover model.

The rights will be auctioned at Sywell Aerodrome in Northamptonshire on May 18.

It comes after we gave readers a look inside the world's smallest sports car, complete with a bizarre "bubble" windscreen.

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