MG Motor UK saw orders go into overdrive last month, selling 236 MG6 cars compared to just eight in March 2011 - a rise of nearly 3,000 per cent for the Birmingham-based firm.

The sales success marks a lucrative £4 million plus windfall for the Chinese-owned Longbridge firm, which has now sold more cars in the first quarter of the year than in any previous full year dating back to 2007.

MG Motor UK PR and events manager Doug Wallace said: “We are absolutely delighted with the figures and they are still building.

‘‘Most people said it would never happen and had written the company off outright, but here we are as proof of the pudding.

“We are still a small company, and the numbers may be small compared to bigger companies. But they are increasing all the time.

‘‘We have 38 UK dealers at the moment and are looking to have between 55 and 60 by the end of the year.

“We have customers from across the range, everyone from youngsters in their 20s right through to people in retirement, and we are also getting some fleet sales.

“The car has not even been on sale yet for a full year, so it’s a case of building slowly. But it’s a very optimistic outlook for us.”

The March sales performance marks a record month for the Longbridge firm and follows 107 sales in January and 103 in February.

“We have now sold more cars over the last three months than for whole years,” added Mr Wallace.

The firm is now gearing up for production of a diesel version of the MG6 and the launch of the MG3, a new hatchback model, and has returned to the racing circuit, with two MG6 GT cars entering the British Touring Car Championship.

*New figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show that Land Rover sold 11,490 vehicles in the UK last month compared to 10,083 in March 2011. Jaguar sold 2,907 in March 2012 compared to 2,951 the year previously.