MG Models

MG Models and South African Examples

Brief history of MG

Cecil Kimber was appointed Morris Garages' sales manager in 1921 and became general manager in 1924. Kimber began modifying standard Morris cars, with special bodies and tuned engines on Morris chassis, to sell to sporting customers - "affordable performance". The first was the small Morris Garages Chummy, based on the Cowley. Then came the M.G. Vee-Front Saloon using the 13.9hp Morris Oxford engine, which was the first to be sold under the name "MG" with the octagonal badge, in 1924. William Morris subsidised Kimber's experiments, and MG production grew rapidly. Morris Garages moved to the old Pavlova Leather Company's factory at Abingdon on Thames, a few miles South of Oxford, in 1929, and was renamed the MG Car Company, with William Morris as Chairman and Cecil Kimber as Managing Director. After the initial Morris-based saloon cars, the Company concentrated on sports cars, using Wolseley 4 and 6-cylinder overhead camshaft engines, with Kimber trying to establish MG's independence from Morris Motors. MG recorded a number of competition successes. At various times MG gained every world record for 750 to 1100 cc cars.

William Morris sold the MG Car Company to Morris Motors in 1935, at a time when sales were dropping, partly as a result of the world economic depression. MG's brief 10 years of independence ended, and it was successively swallowed by larger manufacturers and its identity lost. MG's own design and racing departments were closed, and design moved to Cowley, which then began producing Morris-based MG saloon cars as well. Morris had acquired Wolseley in 1926, forming the Nuffield Organisation, and added Riley in 1938. In 1952 the Nuffield motor group including Wolseley, Riley, Morris and MG merged with Austin (including its subsidiary Vanden Plas) to become the British Motor Corporation Limited. BMC merged with Jaguar/Daimler in 1966 to form British Motor Holdings, and shortly after was taken over by Leyland, which included Triumph and Rover, to form British Leyland Motor Corporation in 1968. Sports car production continued at Abingdon until 1980 when BLMC closed the Abingdon plant and the premises were demolished. After a period in the BMW Group, the MG and Rover marques were purchased by a British consortium and the MG Rover Group established in May 2000, with production, engineering, sales and marketing centred at Longbridge, Birmingham. MG Rover South Africa was launched in September 2001. In June 2005 the MG Rover Group terminated production, and in March 2007 the Nanjing Automobile Corporation which had purchased the MG assets of the MR Rover Group began MG production in Nanjing, China.

From 1952 BMC standardised on three basic pushrod ohv engines:

"A" - 4-cylinder, 803 to 1275 cc
"B" - 4-cylinder, 1200 to 1800 cc
"C" - 6-cylinder, 2.6 to 3 litre
These engines were fitted to the various marques owned by BMC: Austin, Morris, Wolseley, Riley, MG, and Vanden Plas Princess, with differences such as twin SU carburettors for the higher-performance and more luxurious cars like the Riley, MG, and Vanden Plas Princess. BMC also standardised on bodies, using the same basic bodies with minor differences in trim and accessories for the different marques - the so-called "badge engineering".

MG Models 1924 to the Present

A partial list of the cars produced by MG is the following.

The photographs are of cars in South Africa:

Morris Garages Chummy - 1923. Based on the Cowley, two-seater. Took part in 1923 Lands End Trial
M.G. Vee-Front Saloon - 1924. Used the 13.9hp Morris Oxford engine. Two-seater, closed body
Morris Special - Old Number One - the first MG two-seater "sports car". A modified Morris chassis and an overhead valve version of the side valve Morris engine. It had a light racing type body, with no weather protection, no windscreen. Smiths dials for fuel and oil pressure, engine revs, speed, and the electrical system. Water temperature gauge on the radiator cap. Controls included a fuel pressure pump, a lever for ignition advance and retard, and a fuel mixture dial, for starting in cold weather. The brake pedal actuated the front brakes, and an outside lever the rear brakes. Top speed of 70mph. Registered in March 1925. Kimber used it in the 1925 Lands End Trial and won a gold medal.
14/28 - 1924 to 1928. MG Super Sports. Saloons based on the Morris Oxford 14/28 Bull Nose and from 1026 Flat Nose with its 4-cylinder 1802cc side valve 13.9 hp (the RAC or tax horsepower/brake horsepower) 30 bhp. Two and four seater open tourers, as well as Salonette models, ducktailed 2+2 - the rear compartment could seat extra passengers, and four-door Saloon. Top speed 65 mph, price UK£ 350, production about 400.
In 1928 it was replaced by the improved 14/40 Mk IV 1802cc side valve, 35 bhp. Two and four seaters, Salonette, and Featherweight Fabric Sports Saloon. "The car that takes the ills out of hills" - a reference to a poster announcing that "The MG Super Sports Morris will climb the famous Porlock Hill (1:5 gradient) at 25 mph", which was also the first time that the new MG logo appeared in public. Production about 900.
18/80 - 1928-1931, MG Sports Six Saloon Mk I; Folding Head Coupe; 6-cylinder chain driven overhead camshaft 2468cc, 60 bhp. Production 501.
Mk II 1931-1933, heavier, wider, Production: 236
Mk III 18/100 Tigress four seater racing model, 80 bhp, 1930, Production: 5.
M Type - 1928 to 1932 - 8/33. Midget, the first of the MMM (Midget - Magna - Magnette) cars, that established MG. 4 cylinder Wolseley overhead camshaft driven by a vertical dynamo, 2-bearing crankshaft, 847cc, 20bhp, top speed 65mph. Based on the 1928 Morris Minor, small, metal or lightweight fabric covered body. Sports two-seater with pointed "boat" tail, Sportsman's Coupe, long chassis Foursome Coupe. Price UK£ 175. Number produced: 3235
C Type - 1931-1932 - developed from M-type - Montlhery Midget Mk II, supercharged racing car. 746 cc chain-driven overhead cam, 100mph. Number built: 44
D Type - 1931-1932 - commercialised C-type, 4-seater tourer and Salonette, 847 cc ohc. Number built: 250
F Type - 1931. 12/70. The first Magna sports, 6 cylinder 1271cc 37 bhp ohc with vertical dynamo. Chassis lengthened to take the larger engine, track unaltered. Produced in 2-seater and 4 seater open and closed configurations, sliding roof Foursome Coupe, Salonette model. F1: 4-seater; F2: 2-seater. Number of F1s built: 114 ; F2s: 41; F3s: 94.

J Type - 1932 Midget. Developed from the M-type, and replacing the M, C and D. Overhead cam driven by vertical dynamo. The first of the traditional "square" style, deep elbow cutaway doors, rear slab tank with spare wheel strapped to the back, double humped scuttle, fold-flat windscreen, initially cycle-like mudguards, later swept wings, 19" wheels with 4" tyres.

J1 - 4-seater, tourer and Salonette. 847 cc 57x83mm engine, 36 bhp, 78 mph top speed. Number built: 381
J2 - 2-seater, open. Price UK£ 199. Number built 2083
J3 - Sports 2-seater, supercharged, 57x73mm 746 cc 45 bhp. Number built: 22
J4 - Racing model, 746 cc, 72 bhp, supercharged, only 9 were built

K Type - 1932, 1933 Magnette 6-cylinder ohc, in single-seat, 2-seater, and 4-seater open versions as well as closed saloons.
K1 four-seater open and saloon, 57x71mm 1086cc. Production: 53.
K2 a 2-seater open model. Production: 1086cc - 16; 1271cc - 5.
K3 a supercharged competition car, 1086cc, 120 bhp. Production: 33.
KN saloon 57x84mm 1286cc. Production 201.

L Type - 1933 Magna 2-seater Continental Coupe, 4-seater open and saloon. 6-cylinder ohc vertical dynamo 57x71mm 1086cc 41 bhp. L2 2-seater open. Numbers sold - L1: 486; L2: 90.

N Type - 1934 Magnette. 2 and 4-seater tourers, 2 and 4-seater Allinghams, and closed Airline Coupes. N-types fitted with K2 bodies were designated ND. 1271 cc 6-cylinder KD engine. 1935 NB Magnette. Total production 738.

P Type - 1934 Midget, PA 4-cylinder 3-bearing 57x83mm 847cc ohc, vertical dynamo, 35 bhp, 2-seater. PB in 1935 had 60x83 939 cc ohc 3-bearing engine, 43 bhp. 2-seater sports; 4-seater open; Airline Coupe - special-bodied MGs built by Allingham on both the P and later T chassis. Tickford - bodies by outside coachbuilder on MG chassis. Number built: PA 1973; PB 525. Price UK£ 222.

Q Type - 1934 Midget single seater racer, supercharged, 113 bhp from 746 cc engine. Price: UK£ 555. Number built: 8

R Type - 1935 - Midget, single seater racer, 746 cc, 113 bhp. Number built: 10

SA - 1936. Saloon car, luxury 4-seater. Based on Morris saloon. Pushrod overhead valve 6 cylinder, 2 litre engine (2062, later 2322cc), 75 bhp, 75mph. Price in 1936: UK£ 375.

Also Tickford drophead coupe version. Number built: 2738

T-Type, 1936 to 1955

TA - 1936 to 1939 Midget, replacement for PB. The first Cowley-designed MG sports car. 63.5x102mm 1292cc, pushrod, overhead-valve, long stroke, four-cylinder Morris-based XPJG engine, twin SU carburettors, 50bhp. Leaf spring front and rear suspension. Hydraulic brakes. Two-seater open. Also closed Tickford version. Number built: 3003. Price: UK£ 222.
TB - 1939 Midget, 66.5x90mm 1250cc, shortened stroke pushrod ohv, four-cylinder engine taken from the new Morris Ten, and known as the XPAG engine, 45bhp. Synchromesh gearbox. Number built - 379. Price: UK£ 225.
TC - 1945 to 1949 post-war Midget, essentially a TB, slightly updated open two-seater, still the 1250cc Morris Ten engine, 54bhp. Number built: 10000. Price: UK£ 527.
TD - 1949 to 1953 Midget, new chassis developed from that used in the Y-Type saloon, independent front suspension, rack and pinion steering, 15 inch pressed steel wheels rather than the old 19 inch wire wheels, bumpers. Mark II version 57bhp XPAG engine. Number built: 29664. Price: UK£ 530.
TF - 1953 to 1954 Midget, essentially TD , redesigned body. Number built: 6200
TF 1500 - 1954 to 1955 Engine increased to 72x90mm 1466cc XPEG, called the TF 1500. Number built: 3400
For more information go to the T Type page or theT Type Racing page.

VA - 1937 to 1939
"One and a half litre". 4-seater open tourer and saloon. Based on Morris saloon and pushrod overhead valve four-cylinder 1548cc engine, 54 bhp. Also Tickford drop-head coupe body styles. Number built: 2407

WA - 1939, based on SA, wider bodied, 2.6 litre 73x102mm 2561 cc six cylinder engine, 95bhp, 80mph. 4-door Saloons, 4-seat Tourers, and Tickford Coupes. Largest MG ever. Number built: 369

YA - 1947 "One and a quarter litre" saloon. Pre-war design, with body based on the Morris 8 Series E. Morris 10 1250 cc XPAG ohv engine, 46bhp, 69mph. TB gearbox without the remote gear change. Coil spring and wishbone independent front suspension, rack and pinion steering, hydraulic brakes, four-point built-in under-bonnet hydraulic jacking system. Price new in 1947: UK£ 671. YB saloon in 1951 featured 15 inch instead of 16 inch wheels, and twin leading shoe brakes.

YT - 1949 to 1951 open tourer version, two doors, four seats, humped scuttle, TC-type dashboard, cutaway door tops, folding windscreen, twin SU carburettors, TC camshaft, 54 bhp. Most were left hand drive, all but 42 being being exported to the US and Australasia.
Numbers built: YA 6158; YB 1301; YT 877.

ZA - 1953 to 1956, and ZB - 1956 to 1959 Magnette saloon, modern stylish successor to the Y. Bodyshell and running gear shared with the Wolseley 4/44. Monocoque. ZA used 73x89mm 1489cc Austin B engine, 60 bhp, 80mph. ZB 68bhp. Later ZBs were Varitone (two-tone) models. Price new in 1955: UK£ 914. Number built: ZA 12754; ZB 28846.
MGA, 1955 to 1962
"First of a New Line", the first new MG after the merger of Nuffield and Austin.

MGA - 1955 1500 Roadster, 73x89mm 1489 cc B-series engine, price at launch: UK£ 855.
MGA - 1956 1500 Coupe, UK£ 915.
MGA - 1958 Twin Cam Roadster and Coupe, 75.4x89mm 1588cc ohc UK£ 1055.
MGA - 1959 1600 Roadster and Coupe, 75.4x89mm 1588cc.
MGA - 1961 1600 Mk II Roadster and Coupe.
The series was discontinued in 1962. Total MGAs sold: 101081
For more information go to the MGA page.

MG Midget/Sprite, 1958 to 1979

Austin-Healey "Frogeye" Sprite - 1958 - A-series 948cc engine, twin SUs, 42 bhp, monocoque. In 1961 restyled and the de luxe version badged as MG Midget, 47 bhp.
MG Midget Mk I - 1961-1963 - 948 then 1098 cc A-series engine, 55 bhp - 25681 produced
MG Midget Mk II - 1964-1965 - 26601 produced
MG Midget Mk III - 1966-1973, A-series 1275cc engine, 65bhp, 90 mph - 100246 produced
MG Midget Mk IV 1500 - 1974-1979 - 1493 cc Triumph Spitfire engine, 66bhp, 100mph, black "5mph" bumpers, ride height increased by 2" - 73899 produced
Sprite production ended in 1971 when it was renamed Austin; the Midget series was discontinued in 1979.
Numbers built: Sprite: 130000; Midget Mk I/III: 152528; Mk IV 1500: 73899

For more information go to the MG Midget page.

Magnette Mk III/IV - 1959 to 1969 - one of a set of Farina-styled BMC models (also Austin, Morris, Riley, Wolseley, VandenPlas), 1600cc B-series engine, built at Cowley. Number sold: Mk III 16575; Mk IV 14320

MGB, 1962 to 1980.

MGB - 1962 Roadster, B-Series 1798cc engine, monocoque construction, first MG roadster
with wind up windows, locks on doors and boot lid. Price at launch: UK£ 949.
MGB - 1965 GT Coupe.
MGB MkII Roadster and Coupe - 1967 - improved transmission.
MGB "Rubber Bumper" Roadster and Coupe - 1974 to 1980. Black polyurethane bumpers.
Progressive refinements, but also restrictions to comply with US regulations.
MGB GT V8 August 1973 to 1976, Rover 3528cc aluminium V8 engine,137bhp,125mph.
Price new in 1973: UK£ 2294. Number of GT V8s built: 2591.
The MGB Series was discontinued in October 1980. Number of MGB Roadsters built: 387259; MGB GTs: 125621
For more information go to the MGB page.
MG 1100 - 1962 to 1968, one of a set of BMC models (including Austin, Morris, Vanden Plas Princess). 1098 cc A-series four-cylinder, 55bhp, 85mph, mounted transversely, front wheel drive. Hydrolastic fluid suspension. Built at Cowley. Price at launch: UK£ 949. MG 1300 - 1967 to 1971. 1275cc, 60bhp, 95mph. Options were a two-door body, and automatic transmission. Number of 1100s and 1300s built: 157409
MGC Roadster and GT - 1967 to 1969, 6-cylinder Austin-Healey 2912 cc engine, 150 bhp, 120mph, basically the MGB bodyshell, differentiated by bonnet bulge, torsion bar front suspension, 15-inch wheels, available with automatic transmission or overdrive. Built at Abingdon. Price new in 1967: UK£ 1101. Number of MGC Roadsters built: 4544; GTs built: 4458.
MG RV8 Roadster - 1992 to 1996, the first MG sportscar since the demise of the MGB in 1980. Range Rover V8 3946 cc aluminium engine, 190bhp, 135 mph. Body based on the MGB, restyled by Rover. Launch price: UK£ 25000, an exclusive limited edition. Number built: 1983.
MG Metro - 1982 to 1990, front wheel drive, 1275cc A-series engine, 72bhp, 101mph, three-door hatchback. Turbo version introduced in 1983. Price new in 1982: UK£ 5000. Built at Longbridge. Number built: Metro 1300: 120197, Metro Turbo: 21968, Metro 6R4: 205.
MG Maestro - 1983 to 84, FWD 1598cc R- and S-series engines, 103 bhp.
1984 to 1991 1994cc O-series engine, fuel injected, 115 bhp, 126 mph. Built at Cowley. Turbo version introduced in 1989. Production - Maestro: 47914, Maestro Turbo: 504.
MG Montego - 1984 to 91, FWD, 1994cc, fuel-injected, 102 bhp, 115mph saloon derived from the Maestro. Turbo version introduced in 1985. Production - Montego: 34476, Montego Turbo: 7276.
Together the Metro, Maestro, and Montego were known as the "modern MMMs"
MGF Roadster - 1995 -2001. A completely new design. Modern styling, no longer the distinctive MG grille. K-series 1796cc engine, centrally mounted, 118 bhp, 120 mph rear wheel drive. The model equipped with the VVC (Variable Valve Control) engine delivered 145bhp and 130mph, and had ABS, air bags and power steering. Hydrolastic suspension. Developed before change to BMW ownership, launched a year after. 1.6 litre model introduced in 2001. Production: 77269
MGTF Roadster - 2002 to 2005. Styling and suspension improvements, four models. Production: 39249

MG ZR, ZS and ZT - 2001 to 2005, saloons based on Rover platforms. Production: MG ZR: 74136, MG ZS: 25357, MG ZT and ZT-T: 25279, MGZT 260 V8: 883

MG TF LE500 - 2008 - current, the Launch Edition of the MGTF manufactured by the Nanjing Automobile Corporation in China, and in Longbridge for the UK market. The image is from NAC promotional material.

MG6 - Current, launched in UK in May and in South Africa in Nov 2011. With 1.8 litre Turbo engines, the MG6 is a 4-door sedan and MG6-GT a 5-door hatch. Derived from the Roewe 550, designed in Britain, manufactured in China by Shanghai Autmotive Industry Corporation and in CKD form at Longbridge.

This page written by George Dehlen with acknowledgement to owners for displaying photographs of their cars