MG CARS

MORRIS MAGIC

Then there are the really classic MGs from the Morris Garages. These were the cars that started coming to America after the war. True sports cars in every sense. Cecil Kimber was Sales Manager at Morris Garages working for William Morris back in 1921. He moved into design and then into full production of cars of his design. By 1924, the cars were simply called MGs, and are still today after a whole series of owners. The early cars were called Midgets up through the TD. Then came the MGA in 1955, the Midget MK I in 1961 and the MGB in 1962. The MGC in 1967. British Leyland took over ownership in the 1970s and then went out of business in 1980. The company was resurrected in 1990 and is still going today, but the cars are sadly not exported to the Colonies.

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1951 MG-TD MIDGET The classic post war British Roadster. 1250 cc Four that turned out an outstanding 54 bhp with a top speed of 78 mph. To compare with modern speedsters, this car can do 0-60 in a mere 21 seconds. The windscreen is hinged, so it can lay out flat over the hood. Probably when goggles got to be important. Produced from 1949 to 1953, so this one is right in the middle.

1958 MGA ROADSTER Running MGB disk brakes, competition suspension and sway bars, B head and autocross cam. Bored out 1500 cc in-line 4 with an MGB head and twin SU carbs. Runs just great. No clue as to horsepower or top end speed. Loud as heck, but no room under the wooden floorboards to put a muffler. A real classic. First 'modern' car after all those years of the 'T' models.

1958 MGA COUPE The hardtop version of the above car. This was obviously designed in an era before the 'fast back' look became popular. Basically the same 1500 cc four in the roadster, but this has stock heads and all that. Feels the same as the roadster, but a bit claustrobic as it closely surrounds you. But there are glass roll up windows, door handles and all that stuff. Very few were made.

1965 MGB ROADSTER Another case where earlier is better. This early B has the nice thin chrome bumpers and a grille. Great job on restoration, new everything and motor with 10 miles on it after a complete rebuild when I got it. Has the 1800 cc Four with twin SU carbs. In this case the windows actually go down and disappear. Neat. This is the car that Datsun copied to make their Fairladys.

1974 1/2 MGB GT COUPE A salon version of the roadster. It has the same 1800 cc four that the MGB roadster has, but a more sophisticated suspension system. The rubber bumper thing met Federal standards, but did not meet much in the way of eye appeal. Overall, a great touring car. Also they made good race cars back then.

1974 MG MIDGET MK IV Last year for the chrome bumpers. The Mark 4 had the 1275 cc four, a nice upgrade from the earlier 1098 cc engines of the 1960s. A tad bigger than my Bug Eye, but identical to the later Sprites, which were a kinda joint venture of MG and Austin Healey. Each year made, they were alike. 'Spridgets.'Doesn't eat up a lot of garage space, or road space either.