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Triple M corner

Triple M corner no.327

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Another image this week from the late Tim Harding’s collection of pre-war car photographs. Unfortunately, this almost side-on shot precludes the positive individual identification of this 1929 MG Midget, its vintage being determined by the visible brake rods connected to the cross-shaft, forward opening doors and Morris Minor brake drums.  This one is also equipped with black painted side lights, while mesh stone guards have been fitted to its headlamps. Other amendments from the factory specification include the tail-mounted spare wheel and exposed horn.

Triple M corner no.326

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This is a 1931 Renfrewshire registered MG Midget (HS 6373). The archive holds four photographs of this car which were purchased as a single lot but reflect different periods in the car’s life. This photo looks to have been taken when the car was comparatively new, its well-dressed owner parked up outside of an imposing property. The car has received at least two non-standard modifications, the first being the repositioning of the spare wheel to the bootlid (although this may have been a factory option) while the second is the fitting of dummy ‘knock-on’ hub caps. The car has also sensibly been equipped with front mud flaps. Interestingly, although registered in 1931 the car’s wheel centres are of the early type which were dropped from the Minor range in the autumn of 1930.

Triple M corner no.325

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This is an interesting out of season photograph of Brooklands (LAT plate E7309), probably taken over the winter of 1933-34. It’s clear from this image that the Brooklands authorities ‘let’ their pits area either to private owners or a caravan manufacturer as a covered storage facility. The parked rear end of the MG J2 Midget (JJ 6731), a 1933 London registered car, may well have been the photographer’s mode of transport. (Photo courtesy Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.324

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

PG 2596 is a late 1929 Surrey registered MG M Type Midget. At some point in its existance (probably the 50s or early 60’s) it was fitted with a homebuilt aluminium or steel panelled body. It doesn’t look as if this photo was taken in the U.K., the vegetation, clothes and background vehicles would indicate that the location is  somewhere on the West Coast of the USA or Canada during the late 60s or early 70s. (The photo has been AI edited)

Triple M corner no.323

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This photo of MG P Type Midget (MG 5000) was taken on a beautiful spring day (31st March 1934) during the running of that year’s MCC London-Land’s End Trial. With H.G. Symmons at the wheel the P Type was photographed crossing a ford on an observed section deep in the West Country. ‘Cowbourne’ records that car and driver did not feature in the awards at that event. (LATplate c2882 – Courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.322

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This is the third image of 1930 MG Midget WM 5228 to appear in this spot, following on from TMC nos. 311 and 321. Here, a young couple occupy the car’s bench seat together with their ‘bitza’ dog. The Midget is showing signs of age with fabric coming away from both the bottom of the scuttle and the nearside door, while the occupants should be commended for using the open car in what looks to be the winter.

Triple M corner no.321

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

MG Midget (WM 5228, 2/M 1702) is a survivor according to the Triple M Register and was built on 22nd May 1930. The Network has acquired six images of the car all displaying the same modified body as shown here. Two shots of the car could have been taken in the pre-war years, while the remaining four (including this one) show the car in a run-down state and appear to have been taken in the early period of the Second World War. (Note the headlamp shroud)

Triple M Corner no.320

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Although it appears to be a 1930 season car, GW 6470 is a late 1931 London registered MG M Type Midget which should be displaying a second bonnet catch and angular hooded wings. It’s location is also an interesting puzzle. Does anyone recognise those beautiful three-storey medieval buildings?

Triple M corner no.319

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This looks like an in-period image of a fairly new looking late 1931 (32 season) Brighton registered MG Midget (UF 7909). It is certainly unusual to see a photo of an M Type with its all-weather gear in place and illustrates perfectly why many chose to drive the car in all weathers with the hood down.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.87

By Triple M corner

Following on from last week’s Hornet Specials image is another shot of the same car (EPO 192) taking part at what we now know was a Firle Hill hillclimb, thanks to the local knowledge of Network member, Keith Durston. In response to last week’s photo Keith writes: “…It looks to me very like the Firle Hillclimb about halfway up. The old track went up Firle Bostal from the village up to the top of the downs. Today the verges have become adorned with low scrub bushes which blocks the view of the weald below but there is a corner I have found on Google street map that seems to correspond to your photo shot. Having been up there fairly recently the view above the bushes is pretty much identical. Firle itself is only a short drive out of Brtighton so I think it all links together.”

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.86

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EPO 192 is a 1932 Wolseley Hornet Special which is carrying a 1938 West Sussex registration. All that is known about this post-war image is that it was taken in the South Downs at a trial organised by the Brighton & Hove Motor Club probably in the late forties or early fifties.

Triple M corner no.318

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This is a much travelled 1930 Cumberland registered MG Midget (RM 7401). In Triple M corner no. 151 it was photographed in Queensland, Australia sometime in 1934. On this occasion (image undated, although probably earlier) it is pictured on its way to the Great St. Bernard Pass in the Swiss Alps. There is much to discover behind this car’s story…

Triple M corner no.317

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The presence of the post-war Morris Minor convertible helps date this image as being taken sometime in the very late fifties or early sixties. It looks like one of the cars featured, a 1931 East Sussex MG Midget (PN 9544) has not survived as it is not recorded on the current DVLA database. However, OY 1932, a late 1931 Croydon registered car has survived and has been in the same ownership for over a decade. If this photo was taken prior to the introduction of the 10-year-test then its likely that PN 9544 became a victim of that new legislation.  The clothes worn by the two young men in what looks like a middle-class suburban setting may strike a familiar chord with one or two forumists.

Triple M corner no.316

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

For a short period in the mid-thirties the village of Chalfont-St-Peter in Buckinghamshire hosted a hill climb event organised by the Bugatti Owners’ Club. Noted photographer Bill Brunell attended at least one of these events and in 1935 took a sequence of photographs of the competing cars, including the closer image of 1930 MG M Type Midget (RX 7455) seen here. The course was set out on an area known as Chalfont Heights which today is a private estate of upmarket houses. On that day in 1935 the car was driven by E.G. Wardrop while earlier in its competition career (which included the 1930 MCC London-Land’s End) it had been driven by C.A. Shelbourne. (More distant photo appears here courtesy of Motorsport Images. Their reference being: LAT Plate C0240)

Triple M corner no.315

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This eclectic gathering of early thirties cars includes an Oxford registered MG Midget (WL 8418). Strangely, it carries a late 1929 Oxford CBC registration, yet according to records 2M/1167 (the car associated with that registration) wasn’t built until 5th March 1930? Was this gathering a car club meeting or simply a photograph of the occupants of a pub car park? The manner in which the vehicles are parked and that the setting was considered worthy of a photograph, suggests the former.

Triple M corner no.314

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

GH 1733 was first registered in South West London in July 1930, and was probably supplied by Jarvis of Wimbledon who were the main MG agent in that area. There are only a few personal touches to be seen on this car, the Stadium Autoscope drivers mirror, the front mud flaps and the positioning of the tax-disk holder. Other than that, the car looks absolutely standard with not even a badge adorning the front cross-member. The driver’s flat cap was also de rigueur at that time.

Triple M corner no.313

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

KJ 1592 is a 1931 season MG M Type Midget (2M-2111). It was built in September 1930 although not registered in Kent until the middle of 1931. As can be seen, the photo was taken on a very wet late autumn or winters day, the marquee suggesting that an event was taking place. That the car had been driven over muddy terrain is also evident and the lack of a hood in place may indicate its participation in a trial.  (This is one of a number of recently acquired photographs that were originally collected by the late Tim Harding)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.85

By Triple M corner

This shot was taken on May 15th 1937 during the running of the MCC London-Edinburgh Trial.  While the location can only be guessed at, the car and its driver can be positively identified thanks to Donald Cowbourne’s book, British Trial Drivers – Their Cars and Awards 1929-1939. The 1932  Eustace Watkins Wolseley Hornet Daytona Special (AKE 691) was being driven that day by L.B.B. Baker who went on to win a Silver Award. (This LAT collection photograph C11525, appears here courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.312

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Throughout the twenties and thirties Capt. G.E.T. Eyston was an inveterate circuit and road racing competitor and also a three-times world landspeed record breaker. In 1933 he commissioned the building of a special bodied MG K3 Magnette in which he successfully competed for two years. The K3 Magnette was nicknamed the ‘Humbug’ due to its contrasting horizontal lines and it was in this car that he broke twelve endurance speed records at the French Montlhery circuit. The under-the-skin photo was taken during the construction of the car, while the at speed shot was taken during a record breaking attempt. (Lower image is an LAT photoscan courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.311

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

WM 5228 is a 1930 Southport, Lancs registered MG Midget . It certainly survived the war and has been allocated a Triple M Register number but is currently not listed by the DVLA. Perhaps it now resides overseas. Here the owner is seated on the boot of his car on a hillside. In his hand he is holding binoculars, either taking in the views afforded by his lofty position or maybe simply watching the wildlife. The large headlamps and spotlight do nothing to enhance the car’s front-on appearance.

Triple M corner no.310

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Yet another eBay sourced snapshot of MG Midget PG 8994 (2/M 1535). This late spring 1930 registered car was built on 26th April that year. It’s difficult to discern any interesting detail due to the poor image quality of the print although there is a badge attached to the front cross member. The car appears on the current DVLA database and last changed hands in September 2005.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.84

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This 1934 Wolseley Hornet special (30-183) appears to have a truncated homebuilt competition body. Despite its unglamorous looks, the car was obviously a successful competition mount, the two trophies testament to the skill of the driver and the car’s agility. The photograph was accompanied by a letter from British Leyland Inc., in New Jersey. U.S.A. dated 21st October 1977 to a newspaper in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania advising the editor that it is unable to provide any information about the car’s driver or the trophies he had won.

Triple M corner no.309

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Although not a Triple M car this eBay sourced snapshot image of a 1927 MG 14/28 Super Sports four-seater is worthy of inclusion here in view of what was to follow in the shape of the Midget just 12 months later. The Oxford built Super Sports was eventually made in four versions with Two and Four-seater open models followed later by two and four-seat Salonettes. Apparently capable of 70 MPH their prices ranged from £340 upto £475, considerably more than the £175 cost of a new MG Midget.  Just 150 of the lavishly equipped Four-seat version (seen here) were manufactured.

Wolseley Hornet specials no.84

By Triple M corner

This 1934 Wolseley Hornet DHC four-seat special was constructed by Swiss coachbuilder, Robert Braunschweig of Zurich. While European coachbuilt bodies for British built rolling chassis were not a particularly unusual occurrence, it was rare to find one fitted with a body to which the Hornet chassis was unsuited. The original image from which this  LAT photoscan was taken, first appeared in the 13th July 1934 edition of The Autocar. (Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.308

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The caption on the rear of this LAT photoscan reads as follows; “Twin Camshaft 750 CC M.G. Engine which K.D. Evans will use in his car which he will drive in the British Empire Trophy Race at Donington Park on April 4th. The engine is seen on test at the Bellevue Garage 20th March 1936.” Beneath this in pencil is written, “McEvoy – Pomeroy Twin-cam R Type MG engine on Test bed.” (Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.307

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This fabulous view was taken by an Autocar staff photographer in mid-May 1933 in the highlands of Scotland while covering the Edinburgh & District Motor Club’s Scottish Six Days Trial event. The 1933 season MG J2 Midget (FS 5757)  in the foreground was being driven by Miss M. Dixon who won a host of awards including Best Performance by a lady competitor, overall 847 cc class winner and a Silver Cup, the top individual award at the event. Additionally, she was a member of the MG Car Club team (Scottish Section) that won the Club Team prize. (LAT plate C329 appears here courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.307

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

It’s not often that a Magna model is featured here. This one is a 1932 East Sussex registered car (PN 9482) was  photographed taking part in the 1933 MCC ‘Exeter’ which was held on 30th December that year. Driven by G.H. Harrington, the car appears to be making a lively ascent of Simms Hill with the nearside door wide open. Harrington was later awarded a Silver Medal. (LATplate C2359 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M Corner no.306

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This image was taken outside the premises of Chelsea based coachbuilders Whittingham and Mitchell, the business being wholly owned at that time (late 1932) by Eustace Watkins Ltd., the London main dealer for the Wolseley marque. However, the car seen here is an MG Magna with a special four-seat body built for the Maharaja of Kashmir and was awaiting shipment to the sub-continent. (LATplate E3873 Courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.83

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1931 McEvoy Hornet special (CH 9869) is seen here taking part in the October 1931 running of the Reliance Cup Trial with (it’s believed) Squillario at the wheel accompanied by his wife ‘Johnnie’ Johnson. The car was used extensively that autumn and was driven on other occasions by Michael McEvoy (the car’s designer and tuner) and J. M. Suggs among others. The McEvoy Hornet was available in three versions, an 1100 cc two-seater at £265, a 1271 cc Two-seater at £240 and a 1271 cc four-seater at £255. McEvoy’s advertising material claimed that the model could achieve 80 mph. (LATplate B7323 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.82

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AYF 239 is a March 1934 London registered Eustace Watkins Wolseley Hornet Special.  It’s seen here in September 1937 as learner plates are attached by 69 year old Sir Walter Windham who was about to undertake his driving test. The compulsory driving test was introduced in the U.K. in 1935 as just one of the measures taken to reduce the carnage on Britains road’s at that time. Sir Walter Windham was an aviation pioneer who introduced the first GB airmail services. His Wiki entry can be found here.

Wolseley Hornet specials no.81

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TJ 3906 is an early 1934 Lancashire registered E.W. Wolseley Hornet International used by the Lancashire Constabulary to catch “dangerous drivers”, this image being taken in February 1936. The driver and the photographer worked as a team according to the caption, although it’s not clear if the camera wielding constable sat in the car to take the photographs or was left at the roadside to gather the photographic evidence. Apart from what looks to be an illuminated ‘Police’ sign attached to the car’s front valance, no bells, lights or sirens are apparent.

Triple M corner no.305

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Bill Brunell was a prolific freelance photographer of sporting car events throughout the thirties. His images were invariably well-composed, although many involving people were contrived and overly posed. His daughter Kitty is featured in plenty of these but not in the two photos above, although they do serve to illustrate that point. It’s clear that the photos were taken at Brooklands on a race day or test day, presumably with the white overall-clad young woman about to drive the 1931 MG M Type Midget (MV 12), while members of her family were present to support her.

Triple M corner no.304

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Date: 4th July 1931 Venue: Brooklands Event: J.C.C. Members Day. Three MG M Type Midgets line up on the grid front row for a handicap race at the JCC Members Day meeting. Car no. 74 is a Sportsman’s Coupe about to be driven by M.V. Jellicoe, while Miss J. Bowman’s MG 12/12 (it could either be an 8/45 model or one of the original 1930 race cars) sits alongside Widman’s Triumph Super Seven. The third M Type, carrying its spare wheel on its scuttle, is registered TP 9650 and is wearing racing no. 28. A Riley Brooklands and an unidentified car beyond the Sportsman’s Coupe make up the remainder of the front row. (Image – Bill Brunell)

Triple M corner no.303

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six-cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marque’s identity.

The 1933 SUNBAC Colmore Cup Trial took place in snowy conditions on the 18th February that year. The unidentified MG J Type no. 23 was driven by Kenneth Evans of Belleview Garage, Wandsworth who went on to collect a First Class award. (LAT Plate B9471 Courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.302

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The M.G. F1 Magna was the company’s first six-cylinder car to use the Wolseley Hornet’s 1271 cc OHC engine. It was introduced in September 1931 and looked almost identical to the smaller-engined (847 cc) D-Type in that there was space for four occupants. The F1 was to be followed 12 months later by the F2, a two-seater model. This car (RX 9538) was M.G.’s press demonstrator and was first registered in Berkshire in the autumn of 1931, this image taken by an Iliffe Press photographer. (LAT plate E1996 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.301

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

June 6th 1931 was a very wet day in Dublin as can be seen from this photograph (LAT Plate B6219) taken at the Irish Grand Prix which was held in the city’s Phoenix Park. There were eleven MG Midgets entered that day with C Type car number 32 driven by Norman Black eventually taking the chequered flag. The Motor Sport magazine website carries a four-page report on proceedings in their July 1931 edition which is available to view FOC online. (Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.300

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

By the summer of 1931, Harold Connolly had been producing advertising artwork for the M.G. Car Company since the autumn of 1928. His work was stylish and distinctive as seen in this drawing of a 1932 MG 8/33 Midget Mark One Two-Seater Coupe.  As pointed out previously, this  Coupe model unashamedly targeted potential female buyers, presumably as the car offered a sporting performance with complete weather protection guaranteed. As seen in much of the advertising material of the period, the car’s occupants were either under age or particularly petite.

Triple M corner no.299

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This small snapshot image of a late 1930 Derbyshire registered MG M Type Midget (RB 2951) is currently available to purchase on eBay with a starting price of £22.  Note the small dog astride the bonnet.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no. 80

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Date: 24th March 1934 Venue: Donington Park

H.C. Laird‘s bored-out (1454 cc) McEvoy Hornet special (RC 450) carrying competition number 19 is seen here duelling with T.A.W. Thorpe‘s Fraser Nash in the meeting’s fourth race for up to 1500 cc unsupercharged cars. Laird won the race at an average speed of 57.5 mph. (LAT Archive plate C2825, courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.79

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This uncaptioned snapshot image (left) of a London registered May 1934 Wolseley Hornet Special (AYR 868) could be of a Windover-bodied coupe. The LAT sourced image (right) of such a car shows off its elegent thirties lines which the snapshot head-on view hints at. If someone can positively identify the l/h photo then please contact info@prewarminor.com (Windover Special shot courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.298

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This image of member Bob Howden’s beautifully presented  1930 (31 season) M.G. Midget (JY 8840) is available online both as a plain photographic print along with a framed version. (It should be added that Bob is not the vendor) The registration carried by Bob’s car was first issued in Plymouth, Devon in the autumn of 1936 although his car first left Abingdon in November 1930, which begs the question as to what happened in the intervening period.

Triple M corner no.297

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This LAT photograph (C1055) was taken on 12th July 1933 on Queen’s Promenade, Douglas, I.O.M. It was on this date that the Mannin Beg motor race took place around the streets of the island’s capital. Among the 19 competitors taking part were a trio of supercharged M.G. ‘C’ Type Montlhery Midgets at least one of which can be seen in this atmospheric pre-race photograph. Also among the field that day was Billy Sullivan’s Morris Minor which started from the back of the grid. (Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.78

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Here is another internet sourced photo of an unidentified, although London registered 1933 E.W. Wolseley Hornet Special. There are other photographs of this car in the same location with different individuals seated at the wheel, perhaps indicating that the car was new, or new to the family, therefore requiring photographs for posterity and the family album.

Triple M corner no.296

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The 25th running of the London-Gloucester trial took place on 7th December 1935. Of the 107 starters, no fewer than 34 were MGs and among that number was a P-Type Midget driven by W.H. Haden, seen here in this LAT image, plate reference C7761.  The car’s registration is partly obscured, although it is likely to be DG 9539. Haden collected a Second Class award that day. (Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M Corner no.295

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Throughout the thirties, The Autocar magazine organised and sponsored an annual caravan rally. In 1932 that event was centred upon the Somerset seaside town of Minehead. This extract from LAT plate B8947 shows a 1929 MG Midget (MY 1212) alongside a small caravan which had evidently been towed to the site behind the Midget. The tow bar can be seen just forward of the Midget’s spare wheel, although how it is attached to the car is not clearly visible in this image. (Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Wolseley Hornet specials no. 77

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This retouched photograph of a 1931 CMS DHC Wolseley Hornet Special was a recent discovery in the LAT Collection’s vaults. The only other image of the model held in the Network’s archive is a scan of a Light Car & Cyclecar magazine shot which is of very poor quality.  Far more detail is revealed about this CF3 model than can be seen in the magazine scan. The car looks to have a capacious boot as the lock can be seen towards the top third of the tail’s arc. The manual advance/retard lever is visible above the door top while the Minor Saloon-based opening windscreen brackets, wheels and front bumper confirm the model’s roots. Other coachbuilders would have utilised the bonnet that came with the chassis, CMS haven’t. They have fitted a far longer custom bonnet with distinctive horizontal louvres. The aerofoil-shaped cabin entry steps, although not unique were another unusual feature. (LAT photoscan courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.294

By Triple M corner

The 1935 Mannin Beg was run on Friday 31st May around the streets of Douglas, Isle-of-Man. Just thirteen cars started the race, seven of which were M.G.’s. This image was taken in the pits just before the start of the race. The three R Type M.G.s in the foreground in this LATphoto (C6220) were to be driven by Eyston (bending over car no. 16), Handley and Black. In what was almost a repeat of the 1933 event just two cars finished the race. The winning car was an ERA driven by Fairfield, while Dixon’s Riley was classified second. The Motor Sport magazine’s correspondent blamed the poor condition of the road surface on the decimation of the field. (Courtesy Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no. 293

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The NWLMC’s 1933 London to Gloucester trial took place on 9th December and was a highly attritional affair according to contemporary reports. The weather was the main factor contributing to the majority of failures, as a heavy downpour during the day meant that grip was minimal on most of the hills, despite the competition tyres worn by many of the cars entered. Here, W.E.C. Watkins pilots his MG Magna (JB 2269) steadily up Iles Lane while a team of horses are standing by to assist those who fail on this very sharp gradient.  Watkinson went on to win a silver cup. (LATplate C2295 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.292

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The May 1934 running of the Mannin Beg race around the streets of Douglas, I.O.M. was a momentous one for the M.G. Car Company. Of the eight classified finishers, no less than seven were M.G.s with the first five places all being filled by Magnettes. This was in total contrast to the 1933 event when just one M.G. finished the race from the twelve cars entered. Here, G.E.T. Eyston pilots Magnette no. 8 along the promenade on his way to a 3rd-place finish. (LATplate C3683 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.291

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The LAT collection at Motorsport Images while containing many pre-war images is primarily made up of photographs that were taken in the post-war era. This image featured in a Haymarket publication from around April 1989 (date of the photo) although the title of the magazine is unknown. The 1932 metal panelled MG M Type Midget (RLG 479) is carrying a March 1953 County Council of Chester registration and looks to be in immaculate condition. It was last taxed in the UK in 1997 and has either been exported or is tucked away in a garage somewhere. There are several other photographs of the car held by the archive. (Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.290

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

1931 MG C Type Midget (RX 8306) has an illustrious sporting history. Campaigned today by Chris Cadman, back in December 1931 (12th) it was the editor of The Autocar, H. S. Linfield who was behind the wheel and pushing hard in this shot. He was competing in that year’s NWLMC London- Gloucester Trial and is seen here storming one of the observed hills (perhaps Ferriscourt). His efforts didn’t go unrewarded as he came away with a Silver Cup. (LATplate B7386 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.289

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This is KF 498, a 1930 Liverpool-registered MG Midget. Seen here in what looks to be a moorland setting with a young woman at the wheel sporting suitable open-air motoring attire, which includes very fashionable (for the period) trousers. Perhaps the only variations from the standard factory specification to be noted on the car are the fitment of a windscreen wiper along with that of a rearview mirror attached to either the scuttle side or screen support.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.76

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Meredith Coachcraft of Castle Bromwich, Birmingham designed and built these three-purpose bodies for the Wolseley Hornet Special chassis. (RD 4648 is a 1933 example) Known as the ‘Trinity’ the bodies were designed to adapt from a ‘foursome’ coupe to an open four-seater tourer in a matter of seconds, while the final option of open two-seat sports could also be achieved with speed and a minimum of effort. They were quite pricey at £289 when compared with other Hornet two or four-seat specials but their adaptability meant that they eventually sold nine Wolseley Hornet versions, seventeen Rileys, five BSAs and a solitary MG J1. (These production figures are from Nick Walker’s A-Z of British Coachbuilders book). Currently a surviving Hornet Trinity Special is being auctioned on the carandclassis website here.

Triple M corner no.288

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

R. A. MacDermid gained a formidable reputation as a very successful trials driver for the Cream Cracker and Musketeer M.G. teams from the mid-thirties onward. Here he is seen in his 1934 ‘P’ Type (JB 3639) while taking part in the MCC London – Gloucester Trial on December 05, 1936. That year’s ‘Gloucester’ wasn’t a sparkling success for MacDermid in that he managed to roll his car (see TMC no.235) before going on to claim a Silver award. (LATplate C10358 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.287

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This scene was photographed at the Donington 12-Hour Race held on 24th July 1937. It features the M.G. of D. Powell leading the Stapleton/Morris-Goodall Aston-Martin Ulster and the 1.5-litre HRG of Scott/Halford. All three cars completed the race but in the reverse order to that pictured here. The HRG was 10th, the Aston Martin 13th and Powell’s M.G. came home 22nd overall and 8th and last in its class.

Triple M corner no.286

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

VN 2189 is a 1930 MG M Type Midget first registered in the North Riding of Yorkshire. This eBay screengrab shows the car parked up outside the gates of an unidentified towerless church, presumably somewhere in that county. Does anyone recognise the location?

Long-term MG M Type owner Keith Durston points out that this M Type appears to be all one colour, much like his own all-red version of the model. This would make VN 2189 quite a rare ‘animal’ in that very few period images exist of these single-colour cars, the vast majority of early Midgets sporting contrasting black wings and wheels against the fabric-covered body colour of choice.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no. 75

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This 1931 Eustace Watkins Wolseley Hornet special (GP 7826) was first registered in London in May of that year. Just over five years later (June 1936) and 400 miles north of London, this photo was taken while the car was parked up alongside the Pass of Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.73

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Of all the specialist coachbuilders that survived through to the Thirties, The New Avon Body Co. Ltd built arguably some of the prettiest bodies of the period. Perhaps ‘pretty’ is the wrong word and should be replaced by ‘handsome’,  this 1931 Swan DHC body on a Standard chassis deserving the use of that adjective. The Jensen brothers worked with Avon during the early thirties and their design skills are much in evidence here. Without a doubt, this is one of the better-looking bodies to adorn a Wolseley Hornet chassis.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no. 72

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AXX 288 was first registered in London in April 1934. This Hornet special looks to be a Eustace Watkins Daytona model, its cut-away doors and swept wings being a model hallmark.  The image was taken on a beach and probably features a mother with her daughter at the wheel.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.71

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A. B. C. Hands (now there’s a name to conjure with) was a competitor in the very first RAC Rally which took place from 1st – 5th March 1932, the destination for all competitors being the Devon resort of Torquay. Hand’s car was a spring 1931 Wolverhampton registered Eustace Watkins Wolseley Hornet Special (JW 686) wearing competition no. 241, its likely starting point being Leamington Spa. From Leamington Hands would have been required to cover a 1000 mile route while keeping strictly to a timed schedule and reporting into ‘controls’ at set times. How he fared is not known.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.70

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GW 181 is a December 1931 London registered Swallow Wolseley Hornet Two-seater. This model was reported to have ” …the prettiest rear-end seen on a light car to date”. Unfortunately this shot doesn’t show off that feature but does display the clean lines of Swallow’s distinctive design which continued to be produced long after the company launched its own range of SS cars in October 1931.

Triple M corner no.285

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The 1935 Mannin Beg race around the streets of Douglas on the Isle of Man was an attritional affair. Of the thirteen starters, only two cars were classified as finishers, the race being won by P. Fairfield in an ERA with Freddie Dixon’s Riley in second place. Here two of the non-finishers battle for position, with G.E.T. Eyston’s MG R Type (no.16) heading an ERA driven by Raymond Mays (no.8) as they turn off the promenade. Mays was forced to retire with a cracked oil pipe, while Eyston’s MG sheared a magneto drive.  (LAT photoscan from The Autocar 31-5-35 P 971. Image courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.284

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Following on from TMC no.283 is this F. Gordon Crosby cartoon which first appeared on page 703 of the 19th April 1935 edition of  The Autocar. This famous K3 Magic Magnette was owned and driven by G.E.T. Eyston from 1933 through to 1935 and was liveried for part of that time in cream and brown horizontal stripes. As a result it was popularly nicknamed ‘The Humbug’ and took part in both race events and record attemps during that period. (LAT photoscan courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M Corner no.283

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

M.G.’s EX135 (Magic Magnette) at speed with G.E.T. Eyston at the wheel, as seen in the 12th April 1935 edition of The Autocar (LATphotoscan’s courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.282

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The Bellevue Garage in Wandsworth, London SW was owned by the famous racing Evans family. This photo of  the interior of their workshop appeared in the 28th June 1935 edition of The Autocar and shows an array of MG racing cars undergoing maintenance at the hands of a team of mechanics, their names (D.N. Letts, J.R. Hodge & R.E. Tongue) appearing beneath their wall mounted lockers. The notice on the workshop wall reads as follows: Customer’s cars are garaged and driven at their owners risk. The Bellevue Garage & Service Station Ltd., while taking every reasonable precaution will not hold themselves liable for any damage or loss, however caused. (This LAT photoscan appears here courtesy of Motorsport Images Ltd.)

Triple M Corner no.281

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The 1935 Le Mans 24 Hour Race famously featured the three-car ladies team entered by George Eyston, with Barbara Skinner sharing  one of the M.G. P Types with Doreen Evans. However, they are not to be found in this image taken at the start of the race. The interest here centres upon car no.39, an M.G. K3 Magnette entered and driven by Maurice Baumer and his co-driver, Ford. Here, he competes for position with two Alfas and a Talbot Saloon. Sadly he didn’t finish the race, retiring on lap 99 with a serious engine problem. Of the remaining three cars only Guy Don in Alfa Romeo no.21 lasted the full 24 hours, coming home in 6th place. (LAT photoscan from Autocar 28th June 1935 – Courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.69

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The Scottish Sports Car Club were hosts to the The Edinburgh Half Day Trial held at the tail end of April 1935. This heavily retouched image of 1934 E.W. Hornet Special (US 4663) appeared in the 5th May 1935’s edition of The Autocar (P593) and is captioned on its reverse as “…entering the watersplash”. The driver’s name was not provided. (LATphotoscan courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.280

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

1932 MG J2 Midget (J2625 – WD 4642) was first registered in Warwickshire having been initially supplied by Morris Garages. It was owned from new by A.R. Taylor who competed in the car for three years winning a number of awards during that period. He is seen here taking part in difficult conditions on 18th February 1933 in that year’s SUNBAC Colmore Trial where he gained a 1st Class award. (Latplate B9470 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.279

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Yet another great LAT image from the 1931 RAC International Tourist Trophy race held on the Ards Circuit on 22nd August 1931. Here third place finisher S.A. Crabtree in his MG C Type Midget fends off B.O. Davis in his Mercedes-Benz SS. While Davis did not finish the race, his car being involved in an accident on lap 12, Crabtree crossed the finishing line just five seconds behind second placed Borzacchini in his Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 LM. (LATplate B7006 courtesy of Motorsport Images.)

Triple M corner no.278

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Denis Evans successfully campaigned MG NA Magnette (BLL 493) throughout 1935. This evocative photo was taken on 20th April that year during the MCC London-Land’s End Trial (hill unknown) in which Denis gained a Premier Award. (LAT photo C5786 from the LAT Collection – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.277

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This photograph was taken on a very cold 18th February 1933 and features a late 1931 Staffordshire registered Jarvis bodied MG Midget (RF 9229) driven by Miss M.H. Lund who took a 1st Class award that day. The event was SUNBAC’s Colmore Cup trial. (LATplate B9468 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.276

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Date: August 22nd 1931: Venue: Ards Circuit: Event: R.A.C. Tourist Trophy

Robin (R.R.) Jackson, MG C Type Midget, leads Giuseppe Campari, Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 LM, and C. W. Fiennes, MG MG C Type Midget at the Dundonald hairpin during the Tourist Trophy on August 22, 1931. Camapari went on to finish 6th in his Alfa with Jackson four places further back. Fiennes completed 27 laps before retiring in a race famously won by Norman Black in another MG C Type Midget. (LATplate B6970 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.275

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This is one of eleven MG Midgets that were entered for the 1933 RAC Hastings Rally. This particular car (1932 MG J2 XJ 4210) is seen here undergoing braking tests on the streets of the East Sussex holiday resort on 18th August 1933, the event’s final day. Unfortunately, the Midget’s competition number is unknown, as is its driver. (Latplate B9732 – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.68

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Throughout the thirties Eustace Watkins were the London main dealer for the Wolseley brand and were located in affluent Chelsea. After the launch of Wolesley’s Hornet model in April 1930, the prospect of a lightweight six-cylinder sports car based upon the Hornet chassis proved to be irrisistible. Eustace Watkins turned to coachbuilder Whittingham and Mitchel who were based close-by in the New Kings Road. The result of that collaboration was this car (photo appeared in The Autocar in April 1931), the first in a long line of Wolseley Hornet E.W. Daytona Specials. The body styling of these handsome early E.W. cycle wing cars became a visual template adopted by many other coachbuilders when bodying  both Hornets and chassis’ from other marques.

Triple M corner no.274

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

1929 MG Midget (FG 5585) was originally registered in Fife in the latter half of that year. It survived at least until January 1945 when it was the subject of one of The Autocar’s ‘Talking of Sportscars’ series of articles, these being published in the magazine throughout the wartime period. The editor’s pre-amble to the article casts doubt over the cubic capacity of its power unit but it makes for an interesting read none-the-less. The scan of FG 5585 as seen here is one of three original prints submitted to the magazine for consideration. The editor decided to publish all three of them as can be seen in the attached PDF of the article.  Sadly it doesn’t look as if FG 5585 has survived, as the registration draws a blank when entered into the DVLA database’s search engine.

Minor specials no.3

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Philippe Prigente in Brittany, France purchased this 1930 Minor Special (U41367 ex SV 4010) in the U.K. in 2005. Over the next ten years he built a sporting tubular framed boat-tailed body in which he now regularly takes part in recreation events at the Montlhery circuit outside Paris, and elsewhere. These images tell their own story. (Use the arrows to view all four photos)

Celebrating the special – no.2

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The Huntingdon based Maddox coachbuilding business, in at least two differing quises, flourished throughout the twenties before running into difficulties in the early thirties, eventually ceasing to trade in early 1935.  Their stand at the annual Olympia Motor Show featured Morris Minors on three occasions. Seen here is their exhibit at the October 1931 show. The rolling chassis upon which the firm’s four-seat tourer body sits is of a 1932 S.V. Morris Minor (EW 7273). Some of the features of this model were: All over dark grey paintwork, Dark blue leather upholstery and trim, Moseley ‘Float-on-air’ seat cushions, thick carpets, eight day clock on dash, Brooklands steering wheel, a fold flat windscreen and steeply cut-away doors. Full all-weather gear was also included. No price was mentioned in the 1931 Motor Show catalogue, but it was likely to have been around the £185 mark.

Celebrating the special – no.1

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This week sees the start of a series in which we celebrate the Morris Minor Special in all its various guises. These include homebuilts, factory prototypes and of course those that emerged from the workshops of Britain’s coachbuilding businesses throughout the late twenties and early thirties. It will also encompass composite images of specials that were known to have been built but for which no photographs survive, these images created by Network members to whom many thanks.

Our first image is of a 1932 Jensen Minor Special EC 9783. These beautiful 2+2 models, designed by the Jensen brothers in West Bromwich were built bearing both Jensen and McEvoy enscriptions. This particular car wears a 1932 Westmorland registration and is currently owned by Network member, Simon Hodgins in Surrey. This photo pre-dates Simon’s ownership and EC 9783 was subsequently rebuilt. Sadly it has not seen much action for about ten years.

Triple M corner no.273

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The Lancs & Cheshire Car Club ran a popular annual trial in the Pennine foothills. This photo (LATplate C3033) was taken at the 1934 event and depicts a 1932 Manchester registered MG J2 (XJ 4561) being helped up a gravelly incline by a band of spectators; this despite its fitment with rear knobbly tyres, a newish and controversial innovation at that time. The names of the crew members are unknown. (Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.67

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BLE 585 was registered in London during late October 1934. The car, a 1935 Hornet Daytona Special model, was almost certainly supplied by London (Chelsea) Wolseley dealer Eustace Watkins. This Motor plate 520-7 image from the LAT archive, appears here courtesy of Motorsport Images.

Triple M corner no.272

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

While the big national trials run by organisations such as the Motor Cycle Club attracted huge crowds, the best drivers and the attention of the weekly motoring magazines, many other small club events took place all over the U.K. each weekend. This photo was taken at one such trial run by the Lancs & Cheshire Car Club on 7th April 1934. Neither the location of the hill, nor the name of the driver of MG J2  Midget (XJ 5251) is known, although he is likely to be a local man as his car was registered in Manchester in the early months of 1933. (LATplate C3025 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.271

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

While road racing was banned from the U.K. mainland, that wasn’t the case in Northern Ireland. The RAC held their Tourist Trophy races over the Ards circuit attracting many of the big name drivers and manufacturers to County Down each August. This photo, taken at the 1932 event, depicts Goldie Gardiner’s team of MG Midgets along with their crew members, including Paul and Hendy before the start of what was to become a disastrous race for the marque. A Riley won the event in a little under five hours, while just two of the nine MGs to start eventually made it to the finish.

Triple M corner no.270

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

R.A. MacDermid was a renown driver of MG competition cars from 1933 onwards. Here he is seen in one of the Magnette Musketeer team cars, ‘Athos’ (JB 6865) taking part in the SUNBAC Inter Team Trial in April 1936, where the MGCC ‘B’ team (of which he was a part) finished well down the rankings, while the club’s ‘A’ team of PB’s won the event outright. (LATphotoscan courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M Corner no.269

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The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

A. J. Bastock was a well known driver of competition MG’s in the years running up to the Second World War. Here he is seen in a late 1932 Birmingham registered MG J2 Midget (OJ 3305), beginning a timed section of the 1933 Liverpool £100 Trial which was ran on 15th July that year. How he fared that day is not known. (LATplate C1192 – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.268

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The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This photo of MG EX 135 was taken over the 1938 August Bank Holiday alongside the Test Hill at the Brooklands Circuit in Surrey. The streamlined experimental K3 engined car had recently been acquired from George Eyston by Goldie Gardner and was destined to break class records during two visits to Dessau in Germany, in November 1938 and May 1939. Over six years later, following the end of hostilities, the car continued its record breaking exploits with Capt. Gardner at the wheel. (Photo appears here courtesy of Motorsport Images Ltd.)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.66

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Boyd-Carpenter launched the ultra modern looking “B-C Special Austin Seven” in August 1928. It went on to successfully feature in many clubman events at Brooklands, also taking part in the major trials of the period. By the autumn of 1930 the body style remained in vogue and Boyd-Carpenter began bodying the newly launched Wolseley Hornet with a scaled up version of their all aluminium Austin special body. This image is one of several taken for the B-C Hornet’s official launch early in 1931.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.65

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OK, these are NOT images of a Wolseley Hornet Special but a compilation of chassis photographs taken for The Autocar magazine at the time of the Hornet’s launch in April 1930. They illustrate the Hornet chassis’s many similarities with that of the OHC Morris Minor as well as enabling the key differences to be pinpointed. Apart from the longer six-cylinder engine, the Luvax hydraulic shock absorbers and Lockheed hydraulic braking system components also stand out along with the model’s lengthened chassis. (LAT photoscans courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.267

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The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to find and buy images of pre-war MG cars as they are much sought after by that community. This eBay image of a 1929 Oxfordshire C.C. registered MG Midget (WL 6564) was, according to the caption on its rear, taken in Wales during 1929. This must be a very early production car as one of the MG press cars as tested by the Light Car magazine in May 1929 was registered as WL 6556, Midget production not commencing until February 1929.

Triple M corner no.266

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

It’s unusual to see an MG Magnette variant in this slot but this 1934 NA  (JB 41??) was photographed in France. The car may well have been a factory demonstrator on a publicity visit to that country. (JB is a Berkshire registration prefix and of course home to the MG factory at Abingdom). The photo is from the LAT archive and appears here courtesy of Motorsport Images,

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.64

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ALC 480 is a June 1933 London registered E.W. Hornet Special. This image was among a number of shots of the same car recently being sold by a specialist eBay vendor. All appear to have been taken on the same holiday trip to what could be the English Lake District, Snowdonia or the Scottish Highlands.

Triple M corner no.264

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Following its launch in August 1932, the MG J2 Midget was a brisk seller. The example seen here  competing in the August 1933 London-Barnstable Trial (APB 92) was first registered in December 1932 in the county of Surrey. This great action shot can be found in the LAT archive and carries plate reference C1374. The names of the crew are not known to the writer. (Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images).

Triple M corner no.263

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

A.W.F. Smith was an early purchaser of the MG J2 Midget, buying YY 4 in September 1932. He went on to compete in the car until late into the decade winning many awards along the way.  This edited extract from LATplate C24 was taken during the March 1933 running of the MCC’s London-Land’s End Trial, where Smith gained a Premier Award. (Image courtesy Motorsport Images)

Triple M Corner no.262

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The Mike Hawk book 75 years of the J2 MG reveals that a Mr. Humphris was the driver of NV 1754, a late 1932 registered MG J2, which is seen here competing at the Chiltern C. C. Trial on 19th February 1939. According to Hawke, the car was fitted with a 746 cc engine. (LAT ‘Motor’ 35 mm film – Courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.63

By Triple M corner

Two Wolseley Hornet Specials collected awards at the 1934 Ramsgate (Kent) Concours event. Both cars were Kent residents, AKO 516 being first registered in 1933 while AKT 734 followed in March or April 1934, the unknown female owner of AKT is seen here collecting her 1st prize from a local dignatory. The Kent constabulary were out in force along with an AA patrol man, presumably to keep the crowds and competing vehicles in order. (LATplate C4250 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M Corner no.261

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

MY 1212 is a Middlesex registered 1929 MG Midget captured on film at the 1932 Autocar sponsored Caravan Rally which was being held that year in Minehead, Somerset. This is one of two images of the car clearly displaying its 1929 origins with its rod-operated front brakes on view. Other modifications and accessories include the tail mounted spare wheel and dummy spinners. (LATplate B8955 – Courtesy of Motorsport Images) See also IOTW no.624.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.62

By Triple M corner

Throughout the Twenties and Thirties seaside resorts along the south coast of the UK held annual ‘beauty contests’ for cars under the concours d’elegance banner. They attracted huge crowds to coastal towns such as Eastbourne, Ramsgate, Bexhill and in this case Weymouth. On the 12th September 1934 a 1932 Wolseley Hornet Eustace Watkins Special (UF 8870) sits in a long line of vehicles on the Weymouth Esplanade or ‘prom’, which is where the cars were viewed by the judges and public alike, while the proud owners stood alongside in their finery. (LATplate C4776 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple-M corner no.260

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The C Type Montlhéry Midget was M.G.’s racing car successor to the 1930 Double Twelve and Le Mans Midgets. Introdued for the 1931 racing season, the C Types went on to outshine allcomers at the 1931 (and last) Brooklands Double Twelve event with the top five places going to the model while another two cars finished further down the field. Throughout the remainder of 1931 and 1932 the 746 cc supercharged cars achieved outstanding success where ever they raced, establishing M.G.’s racing pedigree in the process. This official M.G. photograph has been severely doctored by Autocar’s graphic artists, the resulting profile appearing in the 7th April 1933 edition on page 573. (LAT photoscan courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M Corner no.259

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The 1934 Mannin Beg, a race around the streets of Douglas, Isle of Man took place on 31st May that year. The 19 car field was made up of 11 MG Magnettes, 5 Rileys, an MG C Type, a McEvoy Hornet and a Singer. It was to be an attritional race with just 8 finishers, all bar one of these being an MG. Here Roy Eccles is pictured in his MG Magnette descending Summer Hill onto the promenade. Eccles was to finish fifth at an average speed of 66.78 mph, behind the Magnettes of Black, Dodson, Eyston and Martin. (A photo from the LAT collection, courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.258

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Date: 12th May 1934 Venue: Donington Park

The third race at this May 34 Donington meeting was for blown or unblown cars up to 1100cc over five laps. A field of nine took part with Rayson’s Riley the runaway winner, 49 seconds ahead of C.E. Martin in his MG L Type Magna (37). Here Martin is seen battling with H.L. Maddick in a similar Magna (20) who ended up in fourth position after being passed on the last lap by A.J. Cormack in his Alta. (LATplate C3412A courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.257

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Abingdon’s one-off 1930 MG Midget High-speed Service Van (RX 7784) is rarely written about. Compared to its Morris 5-cwt van counterpart it looked positively futuristic with its long bonnet and scuttle, low-slung body and lowered roofline as a result. It was presumably used to ferry urgent spare-parts to the key MG dealerships in the home-counties and London and was also recorded as being used to support sponsored entries at Brooklands.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.61

By Triple M corner

No mistaking the venue for this photograph, taken in 1933. The event was the Junior Car Club’s first meeting of the year at Brooklands (note the snow!), where some of the cars taking part are lined-up along the Start/Finish straight. At the head of the queue is a late 1932 Wolseley Hornet Special (PJ 6010). Running towards the Hornet is its driver N.E. Bracey who extensively and successfully campaigned this car throughout 1933 and 1934, taking part in the majority of the well known national trials during that period. From 1935 until 1938 Bracey switched allegiances, selling his Hornet and purchasing an M.G. (LATplate B9557 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.256

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This May 1930 Oxford registered MG M Type Midget (JO 1) is seen here taking part in the MCC’s Sporting Trial (“…around Buxton, Derbyshire”) on 25th October 1930. At the wheel is H.E. Symons who went on to gain a Silver award. The registration mark JO 1 currently adorns a 2015 Volkswagen.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.60

By Triple M corner

Miss P.D. Goodban was a very active trialist during the opening years of the thirties decade. Her chosen mount was a 1931 Wolseley Hornet Arrow Special (JD 1953), a West Ham, London registered vehicle. She is seen here on 10th December 1932 “somewhere in the Cotswolds” at the start of an observed hill section. The event, the 1932 running of the MCC’s London-Gloucester Trial was heavily  oversubscribed.  Exactly 150 cars, motor cycles and three-wheelers took part, meaning that fifty others were disappointed and were to have their entry fees returned. This was yet another successful event for Miss Goodban, as she finished the day being awarded a Silver Cup.

Triple M Corner no.255

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The image of the two Edinburgh policeman in their 1930 MG Midget patrol car (SC 9111) is well known and almost certainly provided the inspiration for this model police M Type, currently passing through eBay Unfortunately, the model is damaged, although the missing parts are included in the eBay sale. In the meantime the model M Type has acquired a Londonderry registration (UL 3250) despite being described as a Met Police vehicle. The eBay listing has a £50 start along with an £8-50 postage charge. (Edinburgh Police Car photoscan courtesy of Motorsport Images)

 

 

Triple M corner no.254

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The Southport Sand Races was a very popular fixture on the motor sporting calendar throughout the twenties and thirties. It always attracted plenty of entries and the August 1932 running was no exception as is clearly evident via this short British Pathe clip. The still image above depicts a Stiles bodied MG F Type Magna special (WM 7730) negotiating a sharp bend on a circuit that just a few hours later may well have been underwater as the incoming tide engulfed the sands.

Triple M corner no.253

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Neil Harlam contacted the Network in an attempt to find his late father’s 1930 MG M Type Midget (VK 1552). The car, which was first registered in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the spring of 1930, is unfortunately not listed on the DVLA database and nothing further is known here.

Triple M corner no.252

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The 1933 RAC International Tourist Trophy Race at the Ards circuit in Northern Ireland is deservedly remembered for Tazio Nuvolari’s exciting victory in an MG Magnette. Just 24 cars started the 35 lap (478 mile) race and at the flag only half the field remained running. One of those cars was H.R. Attwood’s MG C Type Midget (27), although he was officially a non-classified finisher, completing 34 of the 35 laps at an average speed of 63.93 mph. Here Attwood is seen behind Whitcroft’s Riley (who was officially classified 8th) as they pass through a village where the hillside and front gardens perform the role of grandstands for the watching throng. (LATphotoscan courtesy of Motorsport Images) NB H.R. Attwood was the father of post-war sports car racing driver Richard (Dickie) Attwood.

Triple M corner no.251

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

For TMC no.251 we have another image from the 1932 RAC International Tourist Trophy  Race which took place on 20th August 1932. Here Eddie Hall’s MG C Type Midget is seen running alongside Dundonald Station as passengers leave the train. Although a bad day for the MG Midgets (just two finishers from the nine cars that started the race), Hall went on to finish 3rd overall behind Whitcroft’s and Eyston’s Rileys. (LATplate B8910 – Courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M Corner no.250

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

1932 London registered MG J2 Midget (YY 4) has featured here on at least three ocassions. J.W.F. Smith successfully took part in numerous events in this car between 1933 and 1937. Here he is seen in the Highlands of Scotland about to ascend a steep unmetalled military track while competing in the 1933 Scottish Six Day Trial (SSDT) with spectators present, even in this remote location. His efforts over the six days gained him a Silver Medal award. (LATplate C325 – Courtesy of Motorsport Images) 

Triple M Corner no.249

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Venue: Brooklands Date: 3rd March 1933 Event: JCC Brooklands Rally

Motor Sport magazine records that the weather for the JCC Rally was “…appalling, there being heavy snow in the morning which thawed into floods, and left a water splash at the foot of the Test Hill.” It’s then safe to assume that this photo was taken in the morning although the footprints and newly created tyre tracks on the banking indicate that the thaw is already underway. Here 1933 MG J2 Midget (OY 3988) along with 1932 Wolseley Hornet Special (GX 8792) attempt to circulate on The Member’s Banking, presumably to test the conditions which are clearly unsuitable for racing. Neither driver’s name is mentioned on the caption which appears on the reverse of this LATphotoscan. (Courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.59

By Triple M corner

At the time this photograph was taken (February 25th 1939) this Wolseley Hornet (OG 7528) was already nine years old and competing against far more advanced machinery. The car was being driven by C.C. Evans at the SUNBAC Colemore Trial and was universally known as ‘Ophelia’. It was also a regular entry at this event which was located not too far away from its place of manufacture and first registration in the City of Birmingham. (LATplate C16570 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M Corner no.248

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Venue: Shelsley Walsh Date: 18th May 1935

Eddie Hall’s quad rear-wheeled MG K3 Magnette sets a cracking pace on the lower reaches of the hill on the day the venue celebrated its 30th anniversary. By all accounts the weather was extremely cold  for May with the prospect of snow. The only hint to be seen of that in this photo is the unseasonal clothing worn by the few spectators on view. (LAT photoscan courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M Corner no.247

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

On a cold 18th May 1935, Doreen Evans broke the Women’s record at Shelsley Walsh by almost a full second while competing in her Bellevue Garage M.G. single-seat R Type. She snatched that title from none other than Barbara Skinner who in 1934 had taken her supercharged White Minor up the famous hill in a record breaking 46 seconds. The Autocar magazine,  on page 915 of its 24th May 1935 edition, shows an edited extract of this LATplate (C6157) with the following caption: “Miss D.B.M. Evans starting off on her run, when with an R Type M.G., she broke the womens’s record.” (Photo courtesy Motorsport Images)

Triple M Corner no.246

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

OD 6791 is a 1933 MG J3 Midget, the J3 being a supercharged 746 cc version of the famous J2 while using a similar engine to its predecessor, the Montlhery C Type. This one was originally ordered by a Miss E.V. Watson who competed extensively in the car during the thirties and was the last of the 22 examples of the model to be built. A little internet research indicates that the car has been sold at least twice in the last twenty years. However, the undated photo seen above is from the LAT archive and has a caption that reveals that it may have also been sold by the Brooks auction house at ‘Motorfair’, the name given to the Earls Court London Motor Show in October 1991. (LATphotoscan – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.245

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Date: 19th August 1933 Venue: Donington Park

The year 1933 saw the Donington circuit in Leicestershire open as a new venue for motor racing in the U.K. The event held on 19th August that year was organised by the Derby & District Motor Club and was the third in a series of four such meetings to take place in that inaugural season. The circuit was to undergo some serious changes over the coming months as there were a number of ‘pinch-points’ on the track where overtaking was extremely dangerous, in fact ‘no overtaking’ signs were erected to underline to drivers the danger involved. Here H.C. Hamilton in his MG Magnette (28) passes through such an obstacle on his way to victory in the last 5 lap race of the day, taking just 10 minutes and 36 seconds in doing so, while averaging 61.8 mph. (LATplate C1589 courtesy of Motorsport Images) 

Triple M corner no.244

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Date: 12th December 1931, Event: MCC London-Gloucester Trial

With the light failing, H.S. Linfield pilots his MG C Type Midget (RX 8606) around a sharp bend watched by a crowd of onlookers. Linfield was at that time a journalist for The Autocar and rose to the position of editor, a post he held for many years. He won a Silver Cup award for his efforts that day. The Midget survives and is regularly raced by current custodian, Chris Cadman. (Extract from LATplate B7389 – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.243

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Whenever Doreen Evans appeared in a motor sporting photograph during her short pre-war career, the camara’s lens was invariably drawn to her and not the car she was driving, or in this case pushing! She is seen here at Chalfont Heights in South Bucks during a Bugatti Owners Club meeting held on 25th May 1935, where her Belle Vue Garage supercharged MG single-seater plays second fiddle to her sparkling persona. This LAT photoscan (courtesy Motorsport Images) is captioned “Doreen and Wilkie at the same meeting.”

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.58

By Triple M corner

GO 8812 is a March 1931 London registration. The car is a Swallow Hornet Special and is seen parked-up in a suburb with its owner at the wheel. The Swallow coachbuilding firm of Coventry were a very early adopter of the Hornet chassis for their bodies, the first such special appearing in August 1930, just four months after the model’s launch in April that year. Unlike many coachbuilders at that time, Swallow discarded the factory supplied wings and wheels, providing the buyer with a car, that apart from the radiator looked entirely different to those models offered by the chassis supplier.

Triple M corner no.242

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Here is a further image from the 1931 RAC International Tourist Trophy race which was run over the Ards circuit in Northern Ireland on 22nd August that year. This photo shows the Crabtree/Dobson MG C Type Midget (no.40) and an identical car driven by Hall/Smith (no.48) battling alongside each other towards the front of the field. Motor Sport magazine wrote that the pair were “…in a duel that was to last for many laps until Hall was forced to retire”. Crabtree was eventually to bring his 746 cc supercharged Midget home in 3rd place. (LATplate B6977 courtesy Motorsport Images)

Triple M Corner no. 241

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Date 22nd August 1931: A hectic scene from the early stages of the 1931 RAC International Tourist Trophy race (T.T.) run on the Ards circuit in Northern Ireland. Here Two Austin Ulsters in the shape of cars driven by Charles Goodacre (37) and Donald Barnes (36) fend off the attention of a whole gaggle of MG C Type Midgets, led by Dan Higgin (52), R.R. Jackson (46), Stan Hailwood (47) and R.T. Horton (45). Although Norman Black in a C Type famously won this race, the MG’s of Hailwood, Higgin and Horton recorded DNFs while Jackson’s car finished in 10th place, ahead of the Austins of Barnes in 12th, and Goodacre in 17th. (LATplate B7016 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M Corner no. 240

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

A team of MG C Type Montlhéry Midgets was entered for the 1931 running of the Junior Car Club’s ‘Double Twelve‘ race held on the 8th & 9th May at Brooklands. The winning car on handicap was that driven by Freddie (Earl of) March and Chris Staniland. Their 746 cc Midget covering a total distance of 2441 kilometres over the 24 hour period. It is seen here about to negotiate the Members Banking with March at the wheel. The first five placings went to  C Type Midgets, an amazing feat. However, the Motor Sport magazine correspondent reported  that he found the race “uninteresting”, which may have been part of the reason behind a JCC decision to drop the event from their annual schedule from then on. (LAT photoscan courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.57

By Triple M corner

These Light Car images from the LAT Collection depict a factory model and not a special that emanated from one of the specialist coachbuilding firms of the period. However, there is every possibility that the Wolseley Hornet Semi-Sports body was constructed by a contractor, the most likely candidate for that task being Carbodies of Coventry. The similarities between this body and that of the MG Midget are clearly apparent and as the model was likely to sell in low numbers such an arrangement would likely make economic sense. The model (which was fabric skinned) was only available for the 1931 season, much like the Morris Minor that shared the same model name. (Photoscans courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.239

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Taken at a very wet Brighton Speed Trials in September 1933, this unidentified and stripped down MG J2 Midget raises spray along Madeira Drive while passing a row of bathing machines. (Extract from LATplate C1954 – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.238

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Date: 17th July 1937 Venue: Crystal Palace, London Event: London Grand Prix

The first running of the London Grand Prix was primarily a British affair although the eventual winner Prince Bira, driving an ERA, was a member of the Siamese royal family. This photo shows ‘Goldie’ Gardner circulating around the recently opened circuit in his streamlined MG Magnette (EX135), although his laps were for demonstration purposes only. He later reported by ‘Tannoy’ that the car was difficult to maneuver around the tight track. Just 14 cars started the race including a late invitee in the shape of  John Bolster in his special. Motor Sport magazine reported that his surprise inclusion was greeted with delight by the crowd, although he held up the start of the race as a magneto required changing on the starting line. (LATplate C12494 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.237

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

May 1930 London registered MG Midget (GJ 406) is seen here competing in the Sunbeam Club’s Speed Trials at Gatwick, Surrey in the late summer of 1931. As can be seen, the rear of the car has been heavily modified, perhaps deliberately or possibly due to an earlier accident, as images of this car competing at that years JCC Member’s Day at Brooklands exist, the body then as originally built. The name of the driver is unknown. (Image extract from LATplate B7171 – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.236

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Date: 4th April 1931. Event: MCC ‘Land’s End’ Trial

March 1930, London registered MG Midget (GF 5384) is seen about to start an observed section on one of the eight hills featured in that years event. The driver is J.H. Illingworth, his Midget equipped with a spotlamp to aid the meagre lighting on the fast overnight run from Virginia Water to the West Country undertaken the previous evening. The windscreen glass is also non-standard and would have provided marginally more protection from the on-rushing slipstream than the glass normally fitted. Parked-up and awaiting his turn, is A.L. Mason in his 1929 Morris Minor Tourer (RY 7890). His car has been fitted with a radiator blind, the moveable louvres aiding control of the engine coolant temperature. Illingworth went on to win a Gold Award while Mason collected a Bronze. (LATPlate courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.56

By Triple M corner

Date: 3rd June 1932 Venue Brooklands. Event: JCC 1000 Mile Race

Here we see a 1931 E.W. Hornet Special being frantically worked upon in the pits during the first half of the JCC 1000 Mile Race on Saturday 3rd June. One of the two white overalled drivers of car no. 31 was  25 year old James Robertson-Justice who later went on to star in many British films of the fifties and early sixties, remembered particularly for his role as Sir Lancelot Spratt in the ‘Doctor’ series. His co-driver that day was the mysterious ‘H.H. Wanborough’; the mystery being that none of the motoring writers of the day knew who was hiding behind this pseudonym, or if they did, were not telling! The race was held in two 500 mile segments over the course of the weekend. Car no.31 however didn’t make it through to Sunday, retiring late on Saturday afternoon after completing 397 miles. (LATplate B8284 coutesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.235

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for the Cream Cracker and Musketeer MG teams in the thirties. Here R.A. (Mac) MacDermid manages to roll his P Type MG (JB 3639) whilst competing in the 1936 London-Gloucester Trial. (LAT Motor 35 mm scan courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.234

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The Monte-des-Mules Hillclimb section of the Monte Carlo Rally takes place on the steep inclines surrounding the principality of Monaco. This LAT photo (B7488) was taken at the 1932 event and depicts W. Keppel in his MG ‘F’ Type Magna (RX 9413) rounding a hairpin bend above Monte Carlo. He went on to come second in his class behind Norman Black in another MG.  (Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.233

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The MG J3 Midget was a two-seater, 746 cc, supercharged version of the J2. This car, registered as MG 2348 was one of just 22 J3’s built and is seen here on an observed hill while taking part in the 1933 MCC London-Edinburgh trial. Driving the car that day was L. Castleton-Knight taking part for the first and last time in that event. Sadly, he failed to finish. (LATplate C613 – Courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M Corner no.232

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Doreen Evans is seen here at the wheel of the Bellevue Garage MG R Type while competing at the March 1935 Inter-Varsity Speed Trials at Syston Park. (LATplate C8069 – Courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M Corner no. 231

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

WL 7171 is an Oxford built 1929 MG Midget which at one point was the factory press car. Many photos of this car survive, depicting it competing at Brooklands and at various MCC trials. The Bill Brunell photo seen here was taken on 6th June 1930 with L.A. Welch at the wheel showing the car ascending Park Rash while taking part in that year’s London-Edinburgh Trial. Welch however appears to be dressed for a day at the bowls club and not an arduous dusty trial, wearing a white Panama hat for the occasion. His attire did not seem to hinder him as he went on to gain a Gold award.

Wolseley Hornet specials no.55

By Triple M corner

This snapshot image of London registered 1932 E.W. Hornet Special (YY 6360) shows the car beginning to look a little tired and frayed around the edges. Even the 1936 season Hillman Minx Saloon has seen better days, indicating the the photo was probably taken in the latter years of that decade, or maybe even post-war. Note the three almost completely bald tyres on view!

Triple M corner no.230

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Venue : Donington Park Event: Nuffield Trophy Meeting Date:  4th July 1936. D.S. Hanley sits on the grid in his supercharged 746 cc MG prior to the start of the 10 lap (25 mile) Junior Handicap race. Hanley finished in third place behind Else (MG) and McLure (Riley) at an average speed of 54.31 mph. However, he did finish ahead of two very accomplished drivers in Ken Wharton (Austin) and Richard Bolster (Bolster Special) who finished fourth and fifth respectively. (LATplate C9382 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.229

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The 1935 MG PB has an engine that represents the zenith of pre-war development of the original 1928, wolseley designed and built 19 bhp Minor unit. While the MG PA engine retained it’s 847 cc, it did gain a three bearing crankshaft. This carried over to the PB model which now had an increased capacity, gained by enlarging the bore from the original 57mm to 60mm. This then enabled the twin SU unit to produce 43 bhp. Just 526 MG PBs were built. (LAT collection Autocar photoscan – Courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.228

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

On 5th July 1931 the Bugatti Owners Club held a motoring gymkhana for their members. Here 1930 MG Midget (MG 709) is seen taking part in one of the events although it’s not easy to establish what is going-on from this photo. The kneeling passenger in MG 709 looks to be holding a piece of ribbon which is atteched to the Morris Oxford’s calormeter. Alongside the MG  a Bugatti saloon has a similiar attachment, this time connected to the Aston Martin at its rear. Are there any suggestions as to what may be taking place? (Bill Brunell photo)

Triple M corner no.227

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Date: 4th July 1936 Venue: Donington Park Occasion: BRDC Nuffield Trophy Meeting. Standing alongside the Bellevue Garage entered MG ‘R’ Type (no.2) are Doreen Evans, Goldie Gardner (right), Kenneth Evans and (presumably), the partly obscured Denis Evans. Just 19 days later Doreen was married to American Allan Phipps. To discover much more about Doreen Evans, read Geoff Broadhead’s fascinating article in the just released 2020 edition of the Triple M Yearbook, which can be ordered via this link. (LATplate C9400 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.226

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

KJ 6175 (2/M 3178) is a 1932 Kent registered metal panelled MG Midget. It was acquired by Richard Hyde in the late 1960’s as this photo portrays. As with so many things, life got in the way of the car’s restoration until earlier this year when Richard decided to part with it. It has now been purchased by forum member ‘Essexboyjim’ and its long awaited journey back to roadworthiness has begun at last.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.54

By Triple M corner

This photo was taken on Saturday 7th February 1931 at the SUNBAC Colmore Trial. PL 2698 is a 1930 Surrey registered Hoyal Hornet Special driven by C.H. Livesey. He was an accomplished performer and took part in many trials during the early thirties driving predominantly Hornets and Minors. A particularly well known photo of Livesey shows him at the wheel of a 1930 Hoyal Minor Two-seater being hauled up an incline in Bluehills Mine while taking part in the 1930 MCC Land’s End event. Here he appears to be in trouble once again as Bridgman-Metchim in an Austin Seven catches up with him while ascending one of the hills that afternoon. Despite this Livesey won a 1st class award at this event. Later that same year he took PL 2698 to a clubmans meeting at Brooklands and achieved fastest time of the day for an ascent of the famous test hill. (LATplate B5429 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.53

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Here is the prototype Wolseley Hornet McEvoy Special (CH 9869) with its creator at the wheel. Michael McEvoy entered his car for the 21st running of the MCC London-Gloucester Trial which was held on Saturday 12th December 1931. It was a successful outing for both car and driver as they picked up a top Silver Cup award, one of only 8 (of 86) entrants to do so.  (LATplate B7405 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.225

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This photograph was taken during the 1936 running of the MCC London-Lands End Trial. The car in shot is K.W. Mahoney‘s 1933 J Type MG Midget (HH 6753) seen here ascending one of the eight observed hills en route. Mahoney was to compete in the ‘Lands End’ on four occasions in the run-up to the Second World War, although this was his only outing in an MG. He was to gain a Premier Award for his drive in 1936. (LATplate C8315 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.224

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

MG Midget GF 6779 was first registered in London in the early spring of 1930. There is little of note to differentiate this car from the many other M Type Midgets that appeared on the roads that year apart from the electric windscreen wiper and an MG Car Club octagonal badge of a design not seen previously by the writer. (The MG Car Club was founded on 12th October 1930 at The Roebuck Hotel in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.) Was the badge an early club issue, or was it perhaps just the brainchild of GF 6779’s owner?

Triple M corner no.223

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

These two artistic impressions of the MG Midget were created by James Dugdale in 1980. They show both the standard Midget (top) and Randall’s racing Brooklands Double Twelve version beneath. They first appeared on the reverse of  poster which also artistically depicted an MG M Type Midget competing in a trial.

Triple M corner no.222

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

RX 5974, a 1931 season MG 8/33 Midget Sportsman’s Coupe was the subject of a publicity photoshoot of which at least four images survive. This internet sourced shot shows the car in a summer setting adjacent to an idyllic English cottage, which was also the location for another of the surviving photographs taken that day.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.52

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Eustace Watkins were the London main dealers for Wolseley cars and were quick to spot the sporting potential in the Wolseley Hornet six cylinder engine. Although not the first to market an open sports body on the Hornet chassis they were not too far behind the Surrey coachbuilder, Hoyal. This model first appeared in the autumn of 1930 and was priced at £225.

Triple M corner no.221

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This Light Car & Cyclecar cover shows an MG Midget on Hustyn Hill possibly taking part in the 1931 MCC London-Lands End Trial. As can be seen in the magazine’s trhc, this edition is from March 25th 1932 and the cover is serving to advertise the 1932 event which was to take place on 3rd/4th April that year. If, as is probable the photo was taken at the previous years event, the Midget carrying competition number 202 is being driven by R.H. Day-Dewdney. While the car’s  registration plate is partially concealed, it is likely to be that of FJ 6110, a March or April 1929 Exeter registered car – thus making the Midget a very early production example indeed. The Donald Cowbourne archive lists the car among the MG contingent, although it is described as an 847 cc special, further muddying the waters.

Triple M corner no.220

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The ‘Musketeers’ and ‘Crackers‘ teams were effectively MG factory supported, although the cars were notionally owned by their drivers. They successfully competed in the trials and rallies of the period, their drivers becoming well known, even outside of motor sporting circles. JB 3639 was a 1934 Berkshire registered ‘P Type’ and was owned by R.A. MacDermid. Car and crew are seen here taking part in the first of two special tests on the promenade at the Blackpool Rally, held over 12th-14th June 1936 where MacDermid and JB 3639 went on to earn a First Class award. (LATplate C9118 – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.219

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

LAT image (B3485) has featured here previously. This edited extract however concentrates on the two MG Midgets at the head of a long line of parked cars, all of which had stopped for breakfast while taking part in the 1930 MCC London-Lands End Trial. The lead 1929 Midget (being refuelled) can be identified from its competition number as being the mount of T.G. Clark who went on to win a Gold award. His car had sensibly been fitted with sidescreens for it’s overnight journey from Slough, the Launceston stop being scheduled for 9-45AM. The second Midget is a 1930 model, RP 8266 (competition no. 221). This one, driven by D. M. Dorr, did not feature among the awards and was retired later that day. (Information courtesy of Donald Cowbourne, photo courtesy of Motorsport Images.)

Triple M corner no.218

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Throughout the thirties, the Scottish Motor Transport Company ran a fleet of buses across Scotland and also published the SMT Magazine in conjunction with the LNER and LMS railway companies. Each edition of the magazine was effectively a travelogue, full of articles relating to places of interest and holiday destinations across the United  Kingdom, its purpose to encourage would be holiday-makers to use their services. Strangely perhaps, the magazine’s pages are also populated with advertisements from car manufacturers and motor traders encouraging the readership to buy cars, effectively dissuading them to use the facilities offered by the magazine’s publishers. However, SMT had this base covered as they also owned a car dealership in Scotland’s capitol city, Edinburgh. This very late SMT MG Midget advertisement appears in the January 1932 edition and depicts a metal panelled model illustrated by Harold Connolly. Does anyone know of a later dated MG ‘M’ Type Midget advertisement?

Triple M corner no.217

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This Bill Brunell image of MG Midget UF 5796 seen here competing in the 1930 Brighton-Beer trial with E. Tebbs at the wheel was first published in the Auto Motor Journal. (see left-hand magazine snippet) The original plate survived and is now part of the Brunell image collection held by the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu.

Triple M corner no.216

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The Spring Shelsley event, held on 27th May 1933, was a damp and dreary affair according to contemporary reports. Surviving photographs confirm this with umbrellas raised and a wet track surface clear to see.  Three MG K3 Magnettes took part, including two of the Mille Miglia machines, one driven by Count Lurani, the second by Fay Taylour, a mount she shared with G.E.T. Eyston. The third Magnette was driven by E.R. Hall, who easily won his class, ascending the hill in 48.00 seconds. This photo is of Miss Taylour’s MG K3 awaiting the signal to start an ascent of the famous 1000 yard course. (LATplate C487 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.215

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

RX 9153 (2M/3150) was a 1932 season metal panelled MG Midget, built towards the end of the model’s production life, being subsequently replaced by the MG J2 later in the year. The panelled M Types were roomier than the earlier fabric skinned versions and this supercharged model was a full 10 MPH quicker, the addition of a blower adding £65 to the asking price over its predecessor. (It sold for £250) This photograph was one of a sequence taken to illustrate an Autocar road test, published 12th February 1932, a copy of which can be found on the MG Midget page, under ‘The cars’ in the open area of the website. (LAT plate E1921, courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.214

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

(LATplate C5789) This shot of MG Magnette BLP 484 was, according to the markings on the plate, taken on Hustyn during the 1935 MCC London-Land’s End Trial. Car and crew (driver: J.H. Hibbitt) appear to be taking a leisurely passage through the ford watched by the customary large crowds at this traditional spring event. (Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.213

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This photo (LATplate C8716) was taken in May 1936 during the running of that year’s MGCC’s Abingdon to Abingdon trial. The Autocar photographer carefully chose his moment to take this photograph of Cecil Kimber who appears to be spectating, although his car is wearing a competition plate. A picnic basket lies open on the hillside adjacent to his female companion.  An enlargement of the image also reveals that Kimber is carrying a 35mm Leica camera – what price a peak at some of his images? The MG Car Club’s official history records this solitary paragraph concerning the event:

June 1936: The Annual Abingdon-Abingdon Trial took place in May, starting as usual from the Factory with a running buffet provided by the company. A novelty this year was a special driving test held in the works grounds before the 110 competitors set off on a 45-mile run before the first of the trials hills. (Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Postscript: Garry Waiting has pointed out that the car, alongside of which Kimber is standing, is a Singer Le Mans and therefore unlikely to be the vehicle he drove to the event!

Triple M corner no.212

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Very little is know about this atmospheric Brooklands image. Its reference number indicates that it was taken in 1932 but the LAT plate number (B9038) is not specifically catalogued by Motorsport Images. The photographer was positioned at the top of the Member’s Banking adjacent to the Member’s Bridge when he took this shot, perfectly capturing the long Railway Straight in the background. The use of the short (1.1 mile) clockwise Mountain Circuit and the lack of spectators might indicate that this was taken at a club meeting while the participants racing numbers may provide clues should a reader have access to the appropriate Brooklands program or race card. The identity of MG Midget no.17 and its driver are of particular interest. (Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images) POSTSCRIPT: Knowledgeable MG historian Cathelijne Spoelstra writes;  ” …it was the BARC Meeting of April 17 1933. The entry list for that event says Mr. W.G. Everitt carried no. 17 in the 8th race of the day, the Third Addlestone Mountain Handicap. According to Mike Hawke’s ’75 Years’, the car is J2120, not heard of since about 1952.”

 

 

Triple M corner no.211

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Following on from last week’s TMC image, here is a close up shot of the same MG J3 Midget (JB 2268) photographed en route during the 1933 Alpine Rally. W.E. Belgrave and his co-driver look remarkably refreshed and under-dressed for imminent competition, which might indicate that the driving for the day had yet to be undertaken. (LATplate C1518 – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.210

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This great photograph of W.E. Belgrave’s MG J3 Midget (JB 2268) speeding through an alpine village was taken at the July 1933 La Coupe Internationale des Alpes rally or Alpine Rally. The event was effectively a trial, although Motor Sport magazine reported that many drivers treated the 2000 kilometre event as a road race. The Alpine route took the cars through France, Switzerland and Italy along some treacherous mountain roads and passes. Belgrave and his 746 cc supercharged Midget won the Group V Coupe des Glaciers award, just pipping Donald Healey in his Riley.  (LATplate C1454 – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.209

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

On the 9th May 1930 The Autocar published a road test of the development car for the racing M.G. Double Twelve models, which were later to be known in production form as MG Midget 8/45s. It was of course no coincidence that the JCC Double Twelve Race commenced at Brooklands that very day, continuing for a further twelve hours on Saturday 10th May. This car, featured above, was named ‘Shinio’ by H.N. Charles, M.G.’s Chief Engineer “…in honour of the large quantities of metal polish which had been expended on the engine’s internals.” Here the car was used in the header photo for the Autocar test report while a scanned copy of the original artwork from the LAT archive can be seen by way of a comparison. (Lower scan courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no. 208

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

20th April 1935: This photograph was taken on the observed Station Hill section of the 1935 MCC London-Land’s End Trial. Here, A. G. Douglas-Clease pilots his 1934 MG N Type Magnette (JB 3850) up the steep incline, to the delight of the spectators lining the route and his female passenger. (LATplate C5798 – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.207

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

For the second consecutive week C.A.N. May’s ‘Cream Cracker’ MG PB JB 7521 appears in the TMC spot. Like TMC no.206, this photo (LATplate C10653 extract) was also taken at the 1937 SUNBAC Colmore Trial. (Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.206

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This superb action shot of the C.A.N. May Cream Cracker MG PB (JB 7521) was taken at the 1937 running of the SUNBAC Colmore Trial held on 27th February that year. The car is seen storming one of the hill sections, its knobbly tyres hurling debris from the rough surface skywards. (LATplate C10665 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M Corner no.205

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The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

There were a record number of starters for the 1934 MCC London-Land’s End Trial with 343 cars leaving Virginia Water during the evening of 30th March. Upon arrival in Devon the following morning they were to be confronted with eight observed hill sections. This photo of MG Magna (MG 2500) was perhaps taken on ‘Lynmouth’, large crowds lining the route from the village below. The Magna was driven by G.M. MacGregor who collected a silver award that day. (LATplate C2905 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.204

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

ALP 363 was a 1933 MG J2 Midget registered in London during August that year. It is seen here taking part in the 1936 MCC ‘Edinburgh’ Trial and is being driven by A.P. Squire, who went on to collect a Premier Award. It’s not known upon which of the observed hills that this photograph was taken. (LATplate C8912 – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.203

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

MG J2 Midget YY 4 was first registered in London in September 1932 and was owned by A.W.F. Smith (Alan) into the 1960s. This photo of the car was taken somewhere in the Chilterns during the 1935 MG Car Club’s Abingdon to Abingdon Trial. Smith competed in many national trials driving YY 4, from late 1932 until 1937, picking up plenty of awards in the process.  (LATplate C6033 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.202

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

By the 12th December 1931 (the date of that years MCC London-Gloucester trial) MG Midget RX 7206 had been converted from a normally aspirated car and was now supercharged. It’s not clear if the car was converted at the MG factory in Abingdon or by its unknown owner, but many images of it survive in both pre and post conversion mode. By February 1932 MG had officially announced the arrival of a supercharged M Type and The Autocar road tested RX 9153 in that guise. The price premium over the standard model was a whopping £65, customers paying £250 for the privilege. It’s not known how many were sold. Unfortnately, who was driving RX 7206 at that year’s ‘Gloucester’ is unknown, the car’s competition number is presumably attached to the front of the car thus rendering Cowbourne’s book of little help in identifying the driver. (LATplate B7404 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.51

By Triple M corner

Cynthia Labouchere‘s name can be found on many rally and concours event entry lists during the early thirties. Although she drove a Singer Nine in 1934, she very actively campaigned a 1932 E.W. Hornet Special throughout the latter half of the 1932 and 1933 driving seasons. Her first recorded event in 1933 was the Monte Carlo Rally, where she started from John o’ Groats’, although sadly failing to finish. This LAT Autocar photoscan shows her Hornet, GY 3131 being inspected prior to the start of the rally, possibly at the Eustace Watkins premises in Chelsea, SW3. (Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images).

Triple M corner no.201

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

During the 1950’s and early 60’s Sunday lunchtime on the BBC’s Light Programme featured a 30 minute music hall spot entitled the ‘Billy Cotton Band Show’.  The band’s popularity went back to the late twenties and continued thereafter, although in the thirties Billy Cotton’s skill behind the wheel of racing cars threatened to eclipse his light entertainment career. This photo of Cotton was taken on 4th July 1936 where he is seen seated behind the wheel of his supercharged MG awaiting the start of a race at Donington Park. (LATplate C9389 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.200

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This photograph was scanned from the pages of a November 1930 SMT Magazine – SMT being an abbreviation for the words,  Scottish Motor Traction, which as its name suggests was a Scottish bus company. Their magazines are packed full of travelogues and details of interesting places to visit around Scotland and the rest of the U.K. https://www.flickr.com/photos/36844288@N00/sets/72157618355483278/ as well as plenty of fascinating motoring advertisements. Here an unidentified MG Midget travels alongside a river or small loch, the caption writer giving very little away.

Triple M corner no.199

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

At the time this photo was taken in July 1937, the MG Midget WX 6937 was already six years old, having first been registered in the West Riding of Yorkshire in 1931. The occasion was the driving test element of the Welsh Rally, which was held over four days (30th June – 3rd July). Here K.G. Settle negotiates a gate under the watching eyes of the adjudicators. The photo was taken by noted photographer Bill Brunell.

Triple M corner no.198

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The later MG Magnette models rarely feature here. To partly correct that anomoly, here is a November 1935 London County Council registered Magnette (CGP 878) being driven by D.E. Harris whilst taking part in the 1937 Colmore Trophy Trial. An intrepid marshall with clipboard in hand closely watches the Magnette’s progress up a long green lane incline. Harris collected a second class award for his efforts that day. (Image scanned from an uncatalogued ‘Motor’ 35mm negative courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.197

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

1932 MG J2 Midget (YY 4) appeared in four of the eight RSAC Scottish Rallies held in the thirties and was driven on each occasion by Alan W.F. Smith. This Motor photo, was taken at a checkpoint during the running of the 1937 ‘Coronation Scottish Rally’ which commenced just five days after the investiture of King Geoge VI on 17th May, the rally concluding on the 21st. Smith was a member of the Motor Cycle Club’s no. 2 team, although Donald Cowbourne’s book British Rally Drivers Their Cars And Awards 1925-1939 doesn’t record if the team were successful or otherwise. (LAT Motor 35mm negative – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M Corner no.196

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This LAT Collection image (C952) was taken on ‘Doverhay’  on 24th June 1933 during the BHMC’s Brighton-Beer Trial. Unfortunately, Cowbourne can not help identify the driver and passenger of MG no. 34 (ACD 134). Perhaps a Triple M enthusiast can oblige? (Courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Trople M corner no.195

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The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This scan of LATplate E9340 depicts an MG P Type Midget. A view from the front would help indicate if this is a PA version or the later PB type with the increased capacity engine. The PA was fitted with a honeycombe radiator while the PB version adopted the vertical slats as favoured by the stylists at that time. Perhaps an MG expert can positively identify the model from this profile view? (Photo courtesy Motorsport Images.)

Triple M corner no.194

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The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Brooklands was the venue for the 1932 JCC Annual Rally and High Speed Trial which took place on a very wet April day. Here an unidentified MG M Type Midget is followed by an Amilcar and a C Type Midget around a barrel marking an extremity of the makeshift course. The crews of all three cars are hunkered down in their cockpits in order to protect themselves from the worst of a torrential downpour. (LATplate B7596 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.193

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The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Brooklands played host to the BRDC 500 Mile Race on Saturday 24th September 1932. An open event, the race was run in the form of a handicap, with the smaller machines starting first, followed at differing intervals by the larger engine capacity classes. This artistic image from the race was created by Bryan de Grineau who produced similar representations on a weekly basis for The Motor magazine. Here two 746 cc MG Midgets, the red machine driven by R.T. Horton (see also TMC no.189), the light green car by Captain G.E.T. Eyston, are seen dicing high on the famous circuit’s raised banking. Horton’s car went on to win the race outright. (The plate was scanned from the Barre Lyndon book Combat, first published by Heinemann in 1933)

Triple M corner no.192

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The Abbey Coachworks in Merton, Surrey constructed some very stylish bodies during the early thirties, including this two-seater fixed-head sports coupe built upon a 1932 MG Magna chassis. (LATplate E2285 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.191

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This single seat MG C Type special, pictured in the Brooklands pits, was something of a sensation at the 1932 BRDC 500 Miles Race held in September that year. The car was driven R.T. Horton and J.H. Bartlett who eventually won this prestigious race, fighting off challenges from the likes of G.E.T. Eyston (MG), B. Lewis (Talbot) and Malcolm Campbell (Riley). The car covered the 500 miles in a time of 5 hours 42 minutes and 13 seconds at an average speed of 96.29 mph. Sadly the event is chiefly remembered for Clive Dunfee’s fatal crash in an 8 litre Bentley. (LATplate B9118 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.190

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Another TMC photo in a ten image sequence featuring 1931 MG Midget DG 2327. These photos were taken to illustrate an Autocar article on the virtues of the Isle-of-Man as a touring holiday destination for the mainland motorist. This photo, taken on the promenade in Douglas, features two of the horse drawn trams that were used to transport tourists and locals alike along that famous stretch of coastline.(LATplate E3920 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.189

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

EX 127

On 8th February 1932 Capt. G.E.T. Eyston along with Magic Midget EX 127 was at Pendine Sands on the Welsh south coast in an attempt to raise the Goup H ‘flying mile’ record to 120 mph. This, despite the fact that the weather and the condition of the sands were marginal, while Eyston himself was still recovering from serious burns suffered in an earlier record attempt. The target wasn’t achieved that day as the average speed over the each-way attempt was 118.39 mph, although EX127 did reach just over 120 mph on the outward leg. This image has been scanned from the book ‘Combat’, written by Barre Lyndon and published by William Heinemann in 1933. The aircraft seen in the image and mentioned in the caption is a DH 85 Leopard Moth.

Triple M corner no.188

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Sir Francis (F.B.H.) Samuelson was an enthusiastic MG campaigner in the early thirties competing in both Le Mans and Montlhery Midgets. His exploits in a Double-Twelve Le Mans Midget at the la Sarthe and Spa circuits in June 1930 are legendary. The photo seen here of Sir Francis and Freddie Kindell in car no. 29 is very well known and was taken on the eve of the 1930 Le Mans race, as was that of Murton Neale and Hicks in an identical car. (no. 28) Unfortunately, neither car featured among those finishing the race, with even a hint of shenanigans surrounding the failure of Samuelson’s car after just five hours. The Light Car’s report on the race can be found here. (LAT Autocar photoscan – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.187

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The 1931 JCC Brooklands Double Twelve race held on the 8th & 9th May was an amazing success for the MG factory, although none of the cars entered carried official factory sponsorship! MG C Type Montlhery Midgets occupied the first five places in the overall standings (under a handicap system), while the the three Midgets entered by the Earl of March collected the team prize. Here another C Type (no.72) driven by R.R. Jackson receives frantic servicing attention in the Brooklands pits. Unfortunately, Jackson’s car failed to finish the race. Silent Pathe News film footage of  the race can be seen here. (LAT Autocar photoscan courtesy of Motor Sport Images)

Triple M corner no.186

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Images from the 1932 RAC Ards T.T. race feature here regularly as almost a third of the 34 car field were built in Abingdon. However, just two of the ten cars classified as finishing the race were MG Midgets – Hall in third place with Low in tenth. Here the MG C Type Midget no. 29 driven by Barnes is about to be passed by the Rose-Richards Talbot 105 along a straight stretch of the road circuit. Barnes failed to finish the race after his blower ceased to function. (LATplate B 8897 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.185

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The September 1934 Shelsley Walsh ‘Autumn Hill Climb’ was a damp affair as this re-touched photo of Samuels’s MG Midget testifies. The roosters of spray and the raised brollies held by many spectators in the large crowd are further confirmation if it were needed. Samuels wasn’t among the awards that day. (LAT photoscan – courtesy of Motorsport Images. Photo published on page 631 of 5th October 1934 edition of The Autocar)

Triple M corner no.184

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

In the years running up to the Second World War, Max Millar was perhaps the best known exponent of the art of the automotive cut-away drawing. Here, he has taken on the task of drawing the MG P Type Midget in four-seat form. (LAT collection photo – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.183

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

1932 Stiles MG F Type Magna ‘Threesome’ special. Arguably the prettiest of the special bodies to be fitted to any MG chassis during the thirties. It was built by Stiles Ltd. their business address being 3, Baker Street, London W.1  See also TMC no.46 (LATplate E2088 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.182

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

JCC Double-Twelve Race Brookland 8th & 9th May 1931

The 1931 ‘Double-Twelve’ race is famous for its top-five clean sweep by a quintet of 746 cc MG C Type Midgets, with the three C Types competing under the Earl of March’s banner also taking the team prize. The 750 cc class represented almost half of the field of 50 cars that year with 10 Austin Sevens competing alongside the 14 MG Montlhery Midgets. Endurance racing is tough on both man and machine and it’s therefore no surprise to find that just 29 cars were still running at the conclusion of the gruelling 24 hour race. Unfortunately, the photographer who took this shot unluckily managed to select three cars that didn’t make it to the finishing line. Here, E. Martin‘s Riley can be seen passing the very smart supercharged MG C Type of the Honourable Mrs Chetwynd, with A.T.G. Gardiner‘s car (70) bringing up the rear. (LATplate B5901 – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.181

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Yet another heavily retouched photograph from The Autocar magazine, this one from February 1933. The car seen here is the second prototype MG K3 Magnette (JB 1269) which has been fitted with a revised radiator nascelle, that according to a caption (of this same image) in a post-war publication was an “unsightly addittion”. According to the same source, this car was used as a test vehicle for the 1933 Mille Miglia cars. (Photoscan from the LAT collection – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.180

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This heavily retouched Autocar photo is of an MG C Type Midget being driven by Mrs T.H. (Bill) Wisdom at the Craigantlet Hill Climb, (near Belfast, Northern Ireland) on 14th August 1932. Mrs Wisdom went on to win class III at the event. The photograph appeared in the 19th August 1932 edition of the magazine. (LAT Archive – Autocar photoscan – Courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.50

By Triple M corner

1931 Swallow Wolseley Hornet special Two-seater (RB 3136) was last taxed in the UK in 2007. These four images are all from a carandclassic car listing dating from the spring of 2012 when the car was advertised for sale by a dealer Italy. It looks very much like the car has remained on the continent. The Swallow company were among the first coachbuilders to body the (then) new Hornet chassis.

Triple M corner no. 179

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Yet another photograph from the 1933 RAC TT held at the Ards circuit in Northern Ireland on 2nd September that year. Here, no.19 E.R. Hall in his MG Magnette is seen dicing with W.R. Baird (Riley) at an unknown point on the 13.6 mile road circuit. Hall went on to finish 4th overall and second in his class (behind eventual winner Tazio Nuvolari ) while Baird finished 6th overall and 3rd in his class. (A Motor plate reference 802-42 from the LAT Collection. Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.178

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

F. Gordon Crosby (The Autocar) and Bryan De Grineau (The Motor) were artistic contributors to their respective motoring magazines from the first decade of the twentieth century through to the latter part of the thirties  (De Grineau) and until the commencement of WWII (Crosby). Their work was invariably produced against tight deadlines as they attempted to capture (primarily) sporting action that the camera had missed. Here, in a rare colour image, Crosby records a moment from the 1933 RAC TT as Nuvolari passes the pits in his K3 MG Magnette on his way to a famous victory. The image is a scan of a colour plate from the book Circuit Dust written bt Barre Lyndon and first published by John Miles in 1934.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.49

By Triple M corner

This snapshot of HY 9201, a mid-1933 Bristol registered Wolseley Hornet Trinity DHC Special, was purchased recently on eBay. It’s likely that the photograph was taken either later on in the thirties or even post war, if the poor condition of the hood material is an indicator. Meredith Coachcraft of Castle Bromwich built the Trinity models and period images of their cars are difficult to find. However, evidence from more recent photographs indicate that at least two of this particular model survive.

Triple M corner no.177

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The racing legend that was Tazio Nuvolari is pictured here on his way to a famous win in his MG Magnette at the 1933 RAC TT, held at the Ards circuit in Northern Ireland. (LATplate Motor 802-39 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.176

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This image is the frontpiece to the Barre Lyndon book Grand Prix, first published by John Miles in 1935. The artwork is unattributed and depicts Sir Malcolm Campbell at the wheel of an MG R Type racing car on the banking at Brooklands.

Triple M corner no.175

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This is H.L. Wardle‘s 1931 Jarvis bodied MG Midget special, the winner of its class prize and third overall at the 1932 Eastbourne Concours event. Jarvis marketed two bodies of similar design for the early Midget, a fabric skinned version as seen here and a metal clad type. The earlier fabric skinned models were distinguishable by their lack of louvered side valances. (LATplate E3899 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.174

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This is the MG K3 Magnette (K3003) that was driven by Capt. George Eyston at the 1933 Mannin Beg race held in Douglas, Isle-of-Man. This race was not the K3’s finest hour with all six cars entered being forced to retire, three with differential failure. Eyston’s K3 retired with vertical drive failure although it was later test driven by S.C.H. Davis for an August 1933 Autocar magazine feature. (LATplates L5870 & 5871 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.173

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The six-cylinder MG K3 enjoys legendary status among aficionados. These two scans from a sequence of five re-touched photographs display the model’s classic lines. (LAT Autocar photoscans courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.172

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

WL 7180 was an early 1929 season MG Midget built in Oxford, prior to the company’s move to Abingdon later that year. It was also something of a celebrity vehicle, appearing on the cover of the Light Car & Cycle Car’s February 21st 1930 edition, while also featuring in a number of other magazine photos and snippets. Throughout 1929 and early 1930, J.V. Hay used it to compete in trials and circuit racing making extensive use of WL 7180’s capabilities. The first of the two photographs to be seen here (LATplate B2257) shows the car taking part in a July 1929 JCC High Speed Trial event at Brooklands, catching an Alvis on a bend of the Mountain Circuit. The second image (LATplate B2981) was taken during the running of the 1929 MCC London-Exeter Trial with WL 7180 climbing ‘Ibberton’ in what look to be dreadful conditions. (Both photos courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.171

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This is a LAT Collection Autocar Photoscan from a May 1936 edition of the magazine, showing 1931 MG C Type (VD 30) taking part in that year’s Abingdon Trial. The car survives and continues to compete in the capable hands of Triple M guru Barry Foster.  (Photo: courtesy Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no. 170

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Only 26 cars entered the 1931 Le Mans 24 hour race and just seven finished. As mentioned in earlier TMCs posts, one of those seven finishers was the MG C type of Sir Francis Samuelson and Freddie Kindell who were left ‘unclassified’ as their final lap took in excess of 30 minutes, contravening a race regulation. The second MG C Type to take part that weekend (Car number 32) was privately entered by the Honourable Mrs Joan Chetwynd who co-drove her car with Henry Stisted. Unfortunately, her Midget was forced to retire on lap 30 with an engine related problem. Neither of the other two cars to be seen in this LAT Collection photo (B6272), BNC no. 27 (Duverne & Girod) or the 4.5 litre Bentley no.7 (Bevan & Couper) made it the finish. (Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.169

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This MG C Type Midget was ‘first-in-class’ and finished 6th overall in the 1933 Le Mans 24 hour race. Here, John Ludovic Ford and Maurice Baumer both of whom shared the driving duties that weekend are feted by the locals, including a gendarme and a race official. (LATplate C869 appears here courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.168

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This well executed action shot of an airborn MG Q Type driven by Tim Davies, appeared on page 524 of the 29th March 1935 edition of The Autocar and was taken at Syston Park during the Inter Varsity Speed Trials. Davies eventually wrested the FTD from K.D. Evans (also Q Type) recording a time of 28.0 seconds over the half mile course. (This LAT photoscan appears here courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.167

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Just two MGs’ were entered for the 1931 Le Mans 24 hour endurance race, car no 31 driven by the Samuelson/Kindell pairing, along with car no. 32 that of the Hon. Mrs Chetwynd and Stisted. Both cars were C Type Midgets. Sadly neither car recorded a ‘finish’, Mrs Chetwynd’s Midget failing on lap 30 with timing gear issues, while the Samuelson/Stisted car completed the race only for the result to be expunged, as the car didn’t complete the last lap in under 30 minutes. Above, Mrs Chetwynd’s C Type is seen passing the 1.5 litre Aston Martin driven by Newsome/Peacock as that car leaves the pits. (LAT Motor Sport film – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.166

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This photograph was taken at the 1933 running of the Le Mans 24 hour race showing the Hendy-Parker MG J3 leading the Singer Nine of Barnes & Langley somewhere on the Circuit de la Sarthe. Unfortunately, the J3 was among the many DNFs’ that day while just one MG Midget, that of Ford and Baumer took the chequered flag, finishing sixth overall. The Singer however did finish, albeit in thirteenth and last place, covering 1900.9 miles in the process. (LATplate C863 – courtesy of Motorsport Images) 

Wolseley Hornet specials no.48

By Triple M corner

This is an interesting late thirties or early post-war snapshot of a Standard Eight (prepared for re-painting) and what could be a 1930 or 31 Abbey Wolseley Hornet special. The age of the car can be determined by the pre-Magna wheels which were only fitted to 1930 and 31 season models. Why the ‘could be’? This car has a single set of louvres and a cheek-line on its bonnet side, while all other Hornet bonnets of this period had three individual groups of louvres without further decoration. Of course by this time in the car’s life, perhaps eight or nine years after it was built, the original bonnet could have been replaced but there is just a chance that there isn’t a Wolseley badge adorning the radiator on this car.

Triple M corner no.165

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s (Midget, Magna & Magnette) all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The Varsity Speed Trials was an annual event, taking place each spring between teams representing Oxford and Cambridge Universities. In 1930 the event venue was a private estate near Newmarket, Suffolk. Here an unnamed undergraduate heads towards the photographer as he pilots a stripped-down MG Midget, devoid of headlamps, wings, valances and windscreen, yet carrying a passenger? (LATplate B3184 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.47

By Triple M corner

This is another eBay snapshot purchase, although on this occasion in negative form.  The car is a 1932 or 1933 Wolseley Hornet Drophead Coupe Special which was bodied by Eustace Watkins. Unfortunately, the registration number is indistinct (possibly KX – a  Buckinghamshire plate). It’s likely that the photograph was taken toward the latter end of the thirties decade in view of the age of the other vehicles in shot.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.46

By Triple M corner

The coachbuilding firm of R.E.A.L. was located in Ealing, London W.5 and in the early to mid-thirties the business designed and constructed some extremeley good looking light car bodies, including this 2+2 fixed-head coupe type (seen above) fitted to a 1932 Wolseley Hornet Special chassis. Motor Sport magazine provided a comprehensive description of the model (known as the ‘Patrician’) in its August 1932 edition (page 474) and the car’s art deco interior styling and opulent finish is very apparent in this publicity photograph.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.45

By Triple M corner

Over the weekend of 14th-18th March 1933 The RAC ‘Hastings’ Rally took place, only the second such running of the event following its inauguration in 1932. In all, 327 cars took part, starting from 9 different venues across the UK, and included among them were 23 Wolseley Hornets. Just three  of these were described as Hornet Coupes, like this 1932 Eustace Watkins example. One of that number was an Arrow Coupe (see Wolseley Hornet Specials no.41),  therefore without a sight of this car’s competition number, (carried on the front) it leaves two possible drivers for this entry, surprisingly both female. So it’s either Mrs M. Vaughn or Miss H. Astbury who is driving *X 9036 on the Stop/Restart test seen taking place here in a Hastings back street. (LATplate B9749 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.164

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The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

In 1934 MG introduced their Q Type racing car. Apparently, just eight were built and all were powered by the zoller-supercharged OHC 746 cc engine, a development of the Minor’s engine from 1928. While the original Minor engine developed just 20 bhp at 3500 rpm, it’s claimed that the Q Type unit could better 110bhp at 7200 rpm. These cars have lapped the outer circuit at Brooklands at 122 mph, a truly remarkable achievement. Here can be seen an example owned by the Bellvue Garage racing team from Wandsworth, S.W London and driven by Kenneth Evans. The photo was taken at Donington Park on 11th May 1935 by Bill Brunell.

( An apology – It has been pointed out that the second cutaway image that initially appeared here was of a 6-cylinder K3 and Not a Q Type. The caption editor has been fired!)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.44

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1933 Windover Hornet fixed-head-coupe

The Windover coachbuilding concern were renown for the quality of their car bodies, the majority of their customers owning opulent up-market vehicles. The fixed-head-coupe body on a 1933 Wolseley Hornet Special chassis as seen here, perfectly illustrates this, particularly the well appointed interior of the car. While the body styling is unadventourous, its clean lines are pleasing on the eye. (Both images from The LAT Collection, courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.163

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This unidentified (perhaps VB 98**) MG Midget Sportsman’s Coupe is seen taking part in the 1931 running of the MG Car Club Trial. The driver was AS Curtis while the photographer was none other than the prolific Bill Brunell. What is interesting about this photo is that the coupe’s neatly designed sunshine roof is in the open position, the only such image in the archive. The front bumper was a non-standard fitment and does nothing for the looks of the car, while the trafficators and spotlight affixed to the ‘A’ pillar are further visual distractions. The large calormeter and wings coupled with the full-length sunvisor might indicate that Mr. Curtis enjoys embellishing his car. What is evident is the effectiveness of the rear-wing mud shield. This is simply an extention of the door. While mud and road dirt collect here, when the door is opened, it swings clear of the clothes of those entering or leaving the vehicle. (Is that a bird on the scuttle?)

Triple M corner no.162

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Despite its recent arrival on the scene, by the time this photo was taken (17th August 1935) the Donington circuit was already an established motor sport venue, having staged it’s first meeting race meeting just 30 months earlier. Its central location meant enthusiasts from the Midlands and North of England could now see the top drivers in action without the need to travel to the south-west of London and the Brooklands circuit to do so. The cars lined-up in this LAT collection photo (C7225) are taking part in the first event of the day, a five lap handicap. Eight cars were entered, just six made it to the start line and Ken Wharton’s  Austin Seven (no.33) rolled on the first corner, fortunately without injury to the driver. After this incident the race was won easily by D.S. Handley in his MGC’ Type Midget (no.30). A full report on the race and the rest of the meeting can be found on page 501 of the September 1935 edition of Motor Sport magazine. (Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.161

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

These two recently acquired images depict a mid-1930 Carlisle registered MG M Type Midget (HH 5340). The photo was possibly taken in the late forties or fifties, the Midget having undergone a skin transplant at some point, losing its original fabric covering and being reclad in steel or aluminium, while the owner’s garments also hark back to that period. The car’s scuttle provides the clue to its re-skinning , where a neat row of rivet heads can be seen joining the scuttle top to the side. (The factory produced, metal clad car did not make its debut until the 1931 season). As to why the Union flag is being displayed on the property opposite is open to conjecture, perhaps to celebrate the coronation of 1953, or the end of WWII ?

Triple M corner no.160

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Donington Park 12th May 1934: A hectic start to one of the feature races that day showing a solitary Ford Eight Special, driven by T.C. Harrison, leading a smoking pack of six MGs away from the line. The three Midgets with visible competition numbers were driven by; 19 J.R. Grice, 21 W.G. Everitt and 26 P.H. Lim. (LATplate C3411 – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.159

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

On Friday 8th and Saturday 9th May 1930 the Junior Car Club hosted the ‘British Double Twelve Hour Race’ at the Brooklands circuit. At this event a five-car MG Midget team created a considerable stir by winning the team prize, following a fierce battle with the much fancied Austin Seven team. The team Midgets that took part that day were all identical adaptations of the standard production versions, their team victory boosting sales of the model. Following this event, the five cars went on to compete throughout 1930 and beyond. One of these team cars can be seen here, taking part and in the thick of the action at the JCC ‘Member’s Day’ event on Saturday 5th July 1930. The question is, which of the five is it? (Edited extract from LATplate B4388 – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.158

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

A.P. Squire‘s 1933 MG J2 Midget (ALP 363) is seen here competing in the 1936  MCC London-Edinburgh Trial (29th & 30th May) on one of the four ‘observed’ hills, these being, Park Rash, Summer Lodge, Wrynose Pass and Hard Knott Pass. He gained a Premier Award. (LATplate C8912 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.157

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This is a Bill Brunell image of RX 8306, a 1931 MG C Type. A present day survivor, RX 8306 had an extremely varied competition career during the early thirties. Here the car is taking part in  what is believed to to be the 1932 running of the Inter Varsity Trial, driven by H.S. Linfield, the editor of the Autocar magazine. It also took part in circuit racing at Brooklands, hill climbing at Shelsley, speed trials at Lewes, and was driven on Pendine sands by G.E.T. Eyston in a class H ‘Flying Mile’ record attempt on 4th January 1932. It’s currently owned by Chris Cadman who continues to race the car in VSCC and other historic events.

Triple M corner no.156

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Date: 13th May 1933 Venue: Donington Park – Second Donington Meeting. E.R. ‘Eddie’ Hall’s C Type Midget leads R.F. Turner’s Austin Seven Sports in the 3rd event of the day at the recently opened Donington circuit. The  5-lap race lasted just 11 minutes & 28 seconds with Hall comfortably beating Turner’s Austin Seven, which finished 2nd. Later that afternoon, Hall won the 5th event, another 5-lapper, in 11minutes 24 seconds,  4 seconds quicker than in event 3. Consistency personified. (LAT ‘Motor’ plate 807-12 courtesy Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.155

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

On 13th July 1934, in bright mid-summer sunshine, R.L. Doble was taking part in the Llandudno Trial aboard MG J2 GV 2183 (J4231). He is seen here passing a public house on “Badfort” on his way to collecting a Premier Award. (LAT Autocar photoscan – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no. 154

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

There are at least six surviving Autocar and Temple Press images of YY 4, a September 1932 London registered MG J2 Midget. In all cases the car is taking part in one of the major trials of the day and is being driven by A. W. F. Smith. Smith presumably purchased the car new from University Motors or Jarvis of Wimbledon, the two major suppliers of MG cars in London. This photo was taken during the 1933 MCC London-Lands End Trial where Smith gained a Premier Award. The event took place in glorious weather and attracted huge crowds who lined either side of the test hill routes “ten deep in places”, according to contemporary reports. (While ‘Cowbourne’ records Smith’s first initial as ‘A’, elsewhere he is referred to as J.W.F Smith) (LATPlate C0003 – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.153

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The 1934 Mannin Beg race, held on an ‘around-the-houses’ course in Douglas, Isle-of-Man was an MG Magnette tour de force. with the top five places all being filled by the model. It could have been a very different story had Freddie Dixon (Riley) not ran out of fuel while leading the race just a few miles from the chequered flag. Norman Black went on to win, while George Eyston (single-seat Magnette), seen here on Douglas Promenade leading Dixon very early in the race, eventually finished third. (LAT Autocar photoscan – courtesy Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.152

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

W.S. Whittard was behind the wheel of this MG J2 Midget (DG 5458), while taking part in the Sunbac Colmore Trial on 24th February 1934, the photo being taken on Gypsy Lane. Whittard was also to take part in all five remaining Colmore Trials prior to the outbreak of WWII, on each occasion driving an MG. Unfortunately, in the year this photograph was taken he failed to collect an award. (LAT Autocar photoscan – courtesy of Motorsport Images.)

Wolseley Hornet Specials No.43

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Wolseley Hornet Specials no.41 featured a full-frontal photograph of a 1933 Arrow Foursome Coupe. This artist’s impression of that model was extracted from an Arrow Coachworks advertisement, (scanned from a March 1933 Motor magazine) and provides a side-on profile view of the car. Its design has some similarities to the 1930 two-seat Arrow Hornet Coupe (also seen here) and carries over the louvered wing valances to be seen on the earlier vehicle. The complete March 1933 Motor item featuring this model has been added to the Wolseley Hornet Sports & Specials page within the members area of the website.

Triple M corner no.151

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

What is a 1930 Cumberland registered MG Midget (RM 7401) doing on a dirt road somewhere in Queensland? The answer will undoubtedly be found on page 627 of the 13th April 1934 edition of The Autocar as the reverse of this heavily retouched Motorsport Images photoscan reveals that this photo accompanied a letter from Gerald Garden on the Correspondence page.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.42

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The London based Corsica coachbuilding concern produced many stunning bodies for predominantly upmarket customer’s cars, including examples from Bentley, Alfas Romeo, Mercedes-Benz and Rolls Royce. They also produced at least three body styles for the Wolseley Hornet chassis. The first of these was a beautiful futuristic looking open two-seater featuring a large well proportioned hinged tail inside of which was kept the spare wheel. The second such body was the 2+2 Sports Drop-head Coupe as seen here. (LAT Autocar photoscan January 1933) Of more traditional design than its stablemate, its swept front wings and louvered side-valances hinted at a sporty performance while the wheel discs and P100 style headlamps added a touch of opulence perhaps more associated with the marques mentioned earlier. It wasn’t cheap and sold at £297-10s but was very well equipped. A four-seater touring version was also built, this featuring a traditional hood and cut-away doors. (Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.150

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

J. B. Carver was a young Oxford undergraduate who took part in a series of national trials* between 1930 and 1932. His car of choice was a 1930 London registered MG Midget GC 5505. This Bill Brunell photo was taken on 12th December 1931 during the MCC’s London-Gloucester Trial. Despite requiring assistance on this hill(?) Carver gained a Silver Medal.

(*Carver took part in the 1930 & 31 MCC London Gloucester, the 1932 Sunbac ‘Colmore’, and the 1930 & 31 Inter Varsity Trials)

Triple M corner no.149

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

LATplate B8920 was taken at the conclusion of the 1932 RAC Ulster TT at the Ards circuit. Here the Managing Director of the MG Car Company, Mr. Cecil Kimber is seen photographed alongside the MG C Type Midget which was driven by E.R. Hall into third position overall, behind the two Riley Nines of Whitcroft and Eyston. (Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.148

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This shot was taken at the 1932 running of the RAC T.T. on the Ards circuit in Northern Ireland. Here, two MG C Type Midgets, driven by S.A. Crabtree (No.28) and F.S. Barnes (No.29) hurtle across a town square (perhaps Comber?) towards a bank of totally unprotected spectators. The tail of another C type (No.32) driven by Goldie Gardner, can just be seen exiting the square to the right. (LAT collection B8869 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.147

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Captain F.H.B. Samuelson and his wife took part in the 1931 Monte Carlo Rally driving a 1931 season metal paneled MG Midget Sportman’s Coupe (RX 7429), covering just over 1000 miles following departure from the John 0′ Groats rally control point. Upon arrival, they were classified 8th in the under 1100 cc class but picked-up first prize in the under 1100 cc ‘Closed Car’ Comfort Competition. The car is seen here (centre background) in a queue of competition winners awaiting presentation of their awards by the  principalities dignataries. This previously unpublished image is from the LAT collection (Plate B5387) and appears here courtesy of Motorsport Images.

Wolseley Hornet specials no.41

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While coachbuilders’ A.P. Compton had built Arrow Coupe bodies for the Wolseley Hornet, by the time this car was registered (early 1933) Compton’s original company had been sold. The new concern remained at the old Hanwell tram depot base and continued to body Wolseley Hornets, among others. The Hornet Coupe featured here was bodied by Compton’s successors, Arrow Coachworks Ltd and was of a design not seen previously. Unfortunately, there are no profile shots available and their period advertisements don’t illustrate this version. This LAT image B9721 of Hornet AHX 415 was taken during the 1933 RAC ‘Hastings’ Rally and shows entry no. 145, driven by D.W. Thompson negotiating traffic in the town centre of Hastings. (Photo courtesy Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.146

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Two images, both taken at Donington Park prior to the start of a ladies race in 1935 show Doreen Evans in the cockpit of her Q Type MG. (LATfilm Motor L197-18 & L197-20 courtesy Motorsport Images)

Triple M Corner no.145

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This scan from a newly discovered Motor magazine 35 mm negative shows MG Midget EX135 at speed on an autobahn near Dessau, Germany, where in May 1939 the car broke a series of records. Below, can be found the National Archives potted biography of the driver, which tells of an exciting life both in the motoring record breaking realm and also away from it.

Alfred Thomas Goldie Gardner was born on May 31st 1890 in Essex, his mother’s maiden name being Goldie. His early motoring interest lay in motorcycles but the First World War interrupted his ambition to race them, and on the outbreak he joined the army, becoming the youngest Major in the British Forces. In 1917 his reconnaissance plane was brought down by enemy fire and he sustained leg and hip injuries that were to hospitalise him for two years and leave him disabled for the rest of his life. In this condition he began motor racing in 1924 and in 1930 he came to the attention of Cecil Kimber the managing director of M.G. and subsequently raced various of these cars with considerable success. In 1934 he bought a streamlined K3 Magnette and after accompanying Sir Malcolm Campbell to Daytona Beach to set a new Land Speed Record, his appetite was whetted for record-breaking, starting with a class record at Brooklands. In 1937 he went to Dessau in Germany where he created a new Flying Mile Record at 148.5mph.. He went on to set further records at Montlhery in France and returned to Germany later in the year to set new records. He now had in mind achieving 200mph for which purpose George Eyston’s Magic Magnette Ex 135 was acquired and modified to produce 196bhp. In November 1938 he returned to Germany and raised the record to 186mph. With the 200mph target still eluding him, in May 1939 he returned yet again to take the 1100cc record to 203mph, and with the engine rebored overnight he also took three 1500cc Class ‘F’ records. Further attempts at the 750cc records were stymied by the outbreak of war, and he first of all joined with Sir Malcolm Campbell in setting up the Mobile Special Constabulary (The Blue Birds) and then helped reorganise civilian transport in liberated Europe. Once the war had ended new Class ‘H’ (750cc) records were achieved in Italy and at Jabbeke, Belgium and then in 1947 Class ‘I’ (500cc) records were set, and in 1948 a Jaguar 2-litre experimental engine was borrowed to set Class ‘E’ (2000cc) records. This allowed him to claim records in 50% of the World International Classes. Further record-breaking continued at Jabbeke and in the USA through 1950-2 but in 1952 he suffered a cerebral haemorrhage and was forced to retire. He was holder of the OBE and received three BRDG Gold Stars. He died in 1958.

Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images

Triple M corner no.144

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

G.W. Wright took part in the 1932 Monte Carlo Rally in this MG C Type Midget (GP 2913). The photograph was taken in low light somewhere in London prior to car and crew setting off for France where they finished 12th in their class. They fared significantly better in the post rally Mont des Mules hill climb where they topped the listing in the 750 cc class. Just 14 months after this photograph was taken, Wright’s C Type was to dramatically catch fire at Brooklands. (see Triple M corner no.83 in the archive) Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images

Triple M corner no.143

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The 1933 JCC Iternational Trophy Race took place on Saturday 6th May at Brooklands and was held in glorious sunshine in front of a large crowd. The racing did not disappoint with household names such as Malcolm Campbell, Lord Howe and Kaye Don taking part along with G.E.T Eyston who was driving the Magic Midget. Here, The Autocar’s talented artist Gordon Crosby captures the moment Eyston’s Midget looses its rear wheel along the start/finish straight just three laps into the race. (Click on the arrows in the trhc to read Motor Sport’s account of the incident.) (LAT photoscan from Autocar 12th May 1933 – courtesy Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.142

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Donington Park 19th August 1933: Taken at McClean’s, this LAT archive image (C1597) shows a gaggle of MG’s including the dicing J2 Midgets of C.H. Masters (no.3) and J.R. Grice (no.15) as they round the bend. Following a short distance behind is a 1933 McEvoy Minor Special (no.12) being driven by Richard Jenson, the car’s body having been built by the Jenson brothers in Wolverhampton to a Michael McEvoy specification. Jenson finished 5th, in this the opening event of the day. (Ed. This image is something of a discovery in that it’s the first such identifiable image of a McEvoy Minor being driven by either of the Jenson brothers to be found by the author.) Photo courtesy of Motor Sport Images. More about the Jenson Brothers here.

Triple M corner no.141

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This heavily doctored image first appeared on page 364 of the 1st September 1933 edition of The Autocar magazine. It depicts a 1934 season MG Magnette pillarless saloon (JB 550) which, as can be seen from the neatly handwritten caption sold for £445 or the equivalent of three lwb Minor Saloons (at £150 each) and £50 more than Morris Motors top-of-the-range Morris 25 Saloon, these cars selling for £395. Despite the MG’s elegance, many of the comparatively few that were built were later converted to open cars. (LAT Autocar photoscan coutesy of Motorsport Images) JB 550 survives to this day and is listed on the DVLA database as a 1932 ‘green’ MG, although the body type is not detailed.

Triple M corner no.140

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

On what was a beautiful mid-April day in 1933 the all female crew of this MG Magna MG 1452 climb an unknown hill while taking part in that year’s WASA Cotswold Trial. (LAT Autocar Photoscan 14th April 1933 – courtesy Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.139

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Dennis Evans, sibling to Doreen and Kenneth, also both active competitors in motor sport, is seen here in his MG N Type Magnette (BLL 493) competing at the 1936 Inter-Varsity speed trials at Syston Park in Lincolnshire. The family’s cars were all maintained by the Bellvue Garage Racing Dept. in Wandsworth, London

Triple M corner no.138

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The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The 1933 RAC Ulster TT is considered as being something of an epic in the annals of road-racing motorsport. It was of course the race in which the Italian ace Tazio Nuvolari took his maiden victory in an MG K3 Magnette but not without a terrific duel with Hugh Hamilton who was driving a supercharged 746cc MG Midget. Hamilton pushed Nuvolari all the way, a ‘splash and dash’ five laps fom the finish perhaps costing him victory. Here, Hamilton is seen passing Comber Station almost two thirds of the way around the 13.6 mile circuit, his race average speed being a remarkable 73.46 mph. (Photo: courtesy LAT collection – Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.137

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s (Midget, Magna & Magnette) all belong to a family of models that commenced with the introduction in 1929 of the MG (M Type) Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The Donington Park race circuit was host to just its third motor race meeting on Saturday 19th August 1933. Entries were significantly up on the two earlier events, held in March and May that year, while the beautiful summer weather attracted a large crowd to the new venue. This photo shows the MG J2 of Tom Simister leading a similar car driven by C. H. Masters in the very early stages of the first race that day, Simister being required to retire his car after just three laps into the five lap race. Masters went on to finish second behind W.G. Everett, also in a J2, while another Midget driven by Grice, finished third. (LATplate C1601 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.136

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Italian racing driver Tazio Nuvolari had never driven an MG K3 Magnette until the eve of the 1933 RAC Ulster TT race. While 29 cars started the 478 mile race just 12 finished with Nuvolari beating all comers, including  fourth placed Eric Hall, who was piloting an identical car.  The race lasted for almost six hours and was not without tragedy when the passenger in Balmain’s MG Midget was killed having been thrown from the car as a result of an accident. It’s reported that over 500,000 people lined the Ards course that day, many no doubt coming to watch local man Billy Sullivan driving his Sullivan Minor Special. Unfortunately, Sullivan was forced to retire after just 191 miles or 14 laps of the circuit. Nuvolari is seen here at the end of the race casually eating an apple just prior to the presentation ceremony. (Image from the LAT collection, Motor plate 802-37 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.135

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

JB 552 is a late 1932 Berkshire registered MG J2 this photo being taken on 10th December that year, during the course of the London – Gloucester Trial.  The almost new car is about to enter a section under the watchful eyes of the marshalls’ while being driven by A.C. Hess, who wasn’t among the awards that day. (LAT Autocar photoscan – courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.40

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Trinity‘ specials were constructed by Meredith Coachcraft of Birmingham and were thus named as all their cars had three-in-one bodies: open four- or two-seater with disappearing head, or closed four-seater. The model illustrated here is seen in closed four-seater form and is one of just nine Wolseley Hornets so converted, this one from late 1932. (LAT photoscan Autocar 9th December 1932 edition – courtesy Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.134

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

MG J2 Midget RX 9980 was the factory’s press car, featuring in most of the material to be seen at the car’s launch in early August 1932.  This image was taken some four month later on December 10th. On this occasion it was being driven by A.W.F. Smith in the London-Gloucester Trial where Smith picked up a Silver Cup award. This certainly wasn’t the car’s only competitive outing as images exist of it taking part in the following year’s (Feb 33) Colmore Trial, this time being driven by J. Temple. (LAT Autocar photoscan courtesy of Motorsport Images.)

Triple M corner no.133

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This great photo of an unidentified MG C Type Montlhery Midget was taken at a damp Donington Park on 24th March 1934. This was the first meeting on the newly extended course, its length now being 2 miles 1000 yards. (LATplate C2828 courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.132

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This MG K3 Magnette (K3004) is photographed outside of the Squire Motors works in Henley-upon-Thames, Berks. Those standing behind are Jock Manby-Colegrave (left) and Adrian Squire, the owner of the business. The car was to be used in competition driven by Manby-Colegrave. Squire manufactured expensive sportscars for a short period in the mid-thirties, just seven being produced, before going to the wall in 1936. (Main image, LAT collection Motor Sport magazine. Squire photo, scanned from re-touched Autocar print dated May 1936 Both photos courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M Corner no.131

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The Isle of Man hosted the ‘Mannin’ races between 1933 and 1935 on what was a street circuit around the island’s capital, Douglas. The races were intended to replicate the thrills of the Monaco Grand Prix, which had been introduced to the calendar in 1929. The very first of this new series of races, The Mannin Beg, took place on 12th July 1933, the field consisting primarily of MGs’ and Rileys’, although ‘Billy’ Sullivan’s Morris Minor also took part. The race was dominated by a duel for the lead between Kaye Don and H.C. Hamilton, both driving MG Magnettes with Don becoming one of the 13 retirees from the 16 car field. Hamilton was also also a casualty, when on lap 40 of 50 he was forced to retire from leading the race with rear axle problems. This LAT photo C1058 shows Hamilton at speed, only a few feet away from an unprotected throng of spectators. (Just 13 months later, on August 26th 1934, Hamilton was killed whilst competing in a Maserati at the Swiss Grand Prix in Bern.)

Triple M corner no. 130

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

G.E.T. Eyston was a prolific motoring record-breaker throughout the thirties decade, included among which was the World Land Speed Record, held on three separate occasions in ‘Thunderbolt’. He set many other records in MGs’ and here he is seen on Pendine Sands on 4th January 1932 about to undertake an attempt on the ‘flying mile’. His vehicle of choice for this attempt was RX 8306, a 1931 MG C Type Midget. The car survives and is now in the custodianship of Chris Cadman, who continues to use it in competition, but not as far as it is known, for record-breaking attempts. (Re-touched image courtesy of LAT – Autocar photoscan)

Triple M corner no.129

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Liverpool registered 1931 MG ‘C’ Type Midget (KF 5114) has featured here previously (see Triple M corner no. 32) and this second profile image was taken at that same photo-shoot. The beautifully proportioned 750 cc ‘C’ Type was an extremely successful competion car and was developed from Eyston’s record breaker EX 120. The short stroke supercharged engine was eventually tuned to develop 52.4 bhp @ 6500 rpm.

Triple M corner no.128

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The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The 1931 MAC Shelsley Walsh Open Meeting was held on July 11th, just a few short weeks after the final Double-Twelve event was held at Brooklands. It was at that Brooklands event that the team of 750 cc supercharged MG ‘C’ Type Montlhery Midgets swept all before them, as well as providing the outright winner. To capitalise on this success, two cars from that all-conquering team were demonstrated to the large Shelsley crowd that day and can be seen here ascending the hill together, driven by Hall and Eyston, hence ‘H’ and ‘E’. A cropped version of this image first appeared in the August 1931 edition of Motor Sport magazine on page 470. (Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.127

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This Motor Sport magazine image was taken at the MAC ‘Open’ meeting at Shelsley Walsh in 1932. The MG C Type Midget is seen approaching the Crossing and could either be RX 8306 or RX 8586, its competition number obscuring part of the number plate. The photo is from the LAT collection and appears here courtesy of Motorsport Images.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.39

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GX 8765 is a 1932 London registered Wolseley Hornet EW Daytona Special. The car is being driven here by F.S. Hutchens who at that time was the Sales Manager for Eustace Watkins (as well as being secretary of the Hornet Car Club) and who had seen plenty of competitive success at Brooklands and elsewhere driving his employer’s products.  Here, he is seen competing at the Brighton Speed Trials of 1932 and was to follow this up in January of 1933 by taking part in the Monte Carlo Rally, also in GX 8765. (Photo courtesy Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.126

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The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

On 13th May 1933 a motor race meeting was held at Donington Park for just the second time, the 2.25 mile circuit’s inaugural meeting having taken place on 25th March that year. Here car no. 25, Eric Hall’s MG C Type Midget passes under a narrow ornamental bridge at one of the circuits ‘no passing sections’. Mr. Hall went on to win two of the seven events to be held that day, in front of an audience reported by Motor Sport to be in the region of 10,000 souls. Photo courtesy of Motorsport Images – source LAT archive.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.38

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McEvoy Hornet Specials frequently appeared high in the result listings of the well known trials of  the period. This 1931 model GK 4084, driven by A.J.G. Bochaton was one such car. Bochaton used GK 4084 exstensively throughout the period 1934-1937 and appeared in all the major trials excepting the ‘Colemore’, gaining a number of top awards. Here his slightly battered car is being driven through a Devonshire wood during the course of the 1934 Brighton-Beer Trial which was held in excellent weather on the 17th June that year.

Triple M corner no.125

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Following on from the MG PA depicted in Triple M corner no.124 is this MG J3 Midget (JB 1047) which was featured in a  road test article in the May 1933 edition of Motor Sport magazine. (pages 325/326) The 750 cc J3 reputedly had a top speed of 93 mph and was supercharged via a Powerplus 6A unit. A heavier duty crankshaft to that fitted to the J2 was required in order to cope with the forces associated with a power unit that could spin to 5500 rpm. The test was carried out at Brooklands in the early spring of that year in weather conditions that could not be described as ideal, neverless the reporter was fulsome in his praise of the car’s performance. (Photos courtesy of Motorsport Images)

Triple M corner no.124

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The final versions of the pre-war four-cylinder OHC engined MG Midgets were the PA and PB models. The PA model was introduced in late 1933, replacing the J series and now had an improved  three bearing crankshaft enabling the safer use of higher engine revolutions, while the PB of 1935 was endowed with a larger capacity 939 cc OHC engine, a further development of the PA’s unit. The car shown here, MG PA – JB 4157, was first registered in Berkshire in 1934. (Both photographs courtesy of Motor Sport Images)

Triple M corner no.123

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The 1931 Irish Grand Prix at Phoenix Park, Dublin was held over the weekend of 6th and 7th June. On a wet Saturday 6th, cars with an engine capacity of under 1500 cc took part, competing for the Saorstat Cup. The race was to be dominated by the new MG Montlhery C Type Midgets, fresh from their astonishing success at the final running of the Brooklands ‘Double-Twelve’ event which had taken place less than a month earlier. Motor Sport magazine carried an extensive report on the event which was won overall by Norman Black in an Earl of March entered Midget. They also published this photo in their July 1931 edition with the following caption. “Wet going in the first day’s race. Two MG’s in close formation, the drivers are (31) H.D. Parker and (35) R.T. Horton.” This restored photo courtesy Motorsport Images Ltd.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.37

By Triple M corner

The value of tagging and captioning images stored away on your hard-drive, on in the cloud, becomes apparent when something triggers a ‘ringing a bell’ moment. In this case it was the the GX registration of this recently uncovered photograph of a 1932 Abbey Trophy Hornet  Special (GX 1827), found within the Motor Sport magazine images section of the LAT collection. A search of the Network’s archive revealed a later snapshot of the car with its probable owner alongside. Was he the first owner of the car? Did he compete in it? The search also revealed that the car was the subject of a Light Car magazine road test in May 1932, a PDF of which resides in the document archive on the Wolseley Hornet Specials page. This page can be found within the Member’s Area of the website. Sadly, the car is not a survivor but a little of its semi-illustrious early history is now known. (L/H Image courtesy of Motor Sport Images)

Drag the arrows either way to reveal the complete images.

Triple M corner no.122

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Yet another Bill Brunell photograph courtesy of Motorsport Images. This one was taken in the afternoon of 19th June 1932 during the course of that year’s running of the B&HMC’s Brighton – Beer reliability trial. Here Brunell captures T.A.W. Thorpe in his 1930 MG Midget GF 5503 cresting a gradient in a sunken lane near Fingle Bridge on Dartmoor. Thorpe went on to gain a second class award. The photo appeared in the 24th June 1932 edition of The Autocar on page 1055. (LAT photoscan)

Triple M corner no. 121

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

MG 768 was an MG 12/12 Midget owned and driven by Viscount Curzon. This photo was taken by well known motoring photographer Bill Brunell during the course of the 1931 Inter -Varsity Trial, along an unmetalled lane in the Chiltern Hills, near Marlow, Bucks.

Triple M corner no.120

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

1930 MG Midget VR 9032 was first registered in Manchester in 1930. However, establishing just when this photograph was taken is not quite so easy to ascertain. A good bet is the thirties decade, in that the car looks to be in excellent condition and in particular, the Dunlop three stud tyres appear to be almost new. What can be seen of the driver’s clothing doesn’t provide much assistance although the beret is a very sensible choice of headgear, fashionable at that time and which will at least remain on if caught in the car’s slipstream, unlike a peaked cap. The tax disc informs that the photo was taken prior to 1959 when a major design change to that document took place (http://www.britishtaxdiscs.co.uk/tax-disc-history.php) although the rear view mirror appears to be a motorcycle type of a type popular during the fifties and early sixties.

Triple M corner no.119

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This recently discovered re-touched image of a 1930 MG 8/33 Midget Sportsman’s Coupe was first seen on the pages of The Autocar magazine in the spring of that year. Although the detail is not particularly clear it does show the general layout of the cockpit area to good effect. (LAT Autocar photoscan)

Triple M corner no.118

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

A huge crowd congregated in Blue Hills Mine, Cornwall on 4th April 1931 to witness cars and crews negotiating (or otherwise) the twists, turns and climbs of that cavernous man-made arena. All were competing in the 1931 running of the MCC London-Lands End trial. The image to be seen here shows A. G. Murdoch in his 1930 MG Midget MG 644 hitting a bank at one such sharp turn. Murdoch went on to eventually collect a Silver award. (LAT Autocar photoscan – this image first appeared in that magazine’s 10th April 1931 edition)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.36

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Major D.E.M. Douglas-Morris was a prolific rallyist & trialist throughout the thirties decade. He took part in all eleven Monte-Carlo Rallies betwen 1929 and 1939, six of the eight pre-war RAC rallies and over 20 of the major trials of the period. Here his 1931 Wolseley Hornet EW Hornet Coupe De-Luxe is pictured taking first prize at one of the south coast concours events (Eastbourne 1931) while parked alongside another Hornet coupe special, possibly bodied by the Surrey coachbuilder, Hoyal. (Autocar photoscan)

Wolsely Hornet specials no.35

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Throughout the twenties, thirties and beyond, the majority of Britain’s coastal resorts had photographic studios from which street photographers plied their trade, speculatively  capturing holiday makers on celluloid. If they could persuade their subjects to part with some of their holiday money, photoprints would rapidly be produced so that their customers could take the prints home at the end of their stay to show family and friends. Some of these studios included a semi-permanent ‘set’ in which cars and other props were placed against a painted back-drop. The use of parts of genuine cars as props was commonplace as were model vehicles. It’s clear from this photo (taken in Blackpool) that a Swallow Hornet Special is being represented although its small scale ensures the occupants look like giants!

Triple M corner no.117

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This scan from a 1931 Motor Sport film negative shows off this MG factory photo of their ‘C’ Type Montlhery Midget to good effect.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.34

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F. Allott competed in many of the major trials throughout the thirties and for three of those years 1932, ’33  and ’34 his car of choice was a Patrick bodied Wolseley Hornet Special. These images were both taken during the course of the October 1933 running of the MCC Sporting Trial for which Allott collected a Silver Award.  His Hornet (MG 2239) can be seen climbing the Rosedale Chimney gradient in an image that was published (or perhaps re-published) in the June 1944 edition of Light Car, the magazine having moved from a weekly publication to monthly as a result of wartime shortages. The second heavily re-touched Autocar image (LAT photoscan) was taken on Scarborough promenade and shows MG 2239 taking part in the driving tests element of the trial.

CLICK ON AN IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Triple M corner no.116

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This photograph of the Honourable Mrs. Chetwynd and H.H. Stisted‘s MG C Type Midget was taken on Saturday 13th June 1931 at the famous la Sarthe circuit during the course of the 24 Heures du Mans. The Stisted/Chetwyn car completed just 30 laps before being forced into retirement and was one of the 20 cars to be unclassified from among the 26 starters. The lack of spectator and crew protection at the circuit is clear to see, both from this photograph and contemporary images to be found on the internet and elsewhere. (LATplate B6269A)

Triple M corner no.115

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

F. Fsorza took part in the majority of the major trials between 1931 and 1933 competing in either a Lea Francis or, as seen here, his MG Magna (MG 1419). This photograph was taken at the 1932 running of the MCC London-Lands End event held over 25th & 26th March and was published on P249 of the April edition of Motor Sport magazine. The concise caption reads, “F. Fsorsa’s Magna comes to grief on the first bend of Grabhurst” . He failed to collect an award that day. (LAT Motor Sport negative)

Triple M corner no.114

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

There are many talented automotive artists currently practising their skills and Bruce Thomson is up there among the best. This depiction of a 1934 MG PA Midget was discovered on Bruce’s website and was sketched during a brief stay at the Three Horseshoes in Thursley, Surrey. His website is well worth a prolonged look.

Triple M corner no.113

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The MG Car Company’s founder and chief executive throughout the thirties was Mr. Cecil Kimber. His personal transport for a short time during this period was this Corsica bodied, supercharged MG Magnette. The image is a scan of a photograph from an Autocar ‘edition file’ which appears here courtesy of LAT, while the small snippet and caption was found on the internet.

Triple M corner no.112

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

RX 8306 was one of just 44 MG C Type Midgets built between 1931 and 1932. They were manufactured specifically with circuit racing in mind and the model’s design was based around that of the record breaking EX120 ‘Magic Midget’, driven by George Eyston in early 1931 at Brooklands, Montlhery and Pendine. These two images show the layout of the cockpit area of the 743 cc sohc racing car. These photos are two of a sequence of five taken for The Autocar magazine and appear here courtesy of LAT. (references E1334 and E1337)

Drag the blue bar either way to reveal the full extent of each image.

Triple M corner no. 111

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

There were just three Irish International Grand Prix which for a short period were held annually between 1929 until 1931. Competitors were tasked with lapping the four and a quarter mile course 71 times to cover the full 300 mile distance, all of this within the confines of Pheonix Park, Dublin, a huge open space well within the city’s boundaries. This ‘Motor’ plate image (LAT ref 680-2) shows the MG C Type Midget of Mr. H. D. Barker leading D. C. MacLaughlin’s Riley. While Barker finished sixth there were three C Type Midgets ahead of him, nine Midgets finishing in total, ensuring that the team prize went to the Earl of March’s all MG team. MacLaughlin’s Riley failed to finish.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.33

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AEW was the trade name for a north London firm of coachbuilders A.E. Wright Ltd., the business being based in Alexandra Park, N22. Their models (they bodied both Austin Sevens and Hornets) were distinctive in that the rear-ends lacked many curves with angular flat surfaces predominating. This two-seater model from 1932 looks well equipped with a Bluemel’s four spoke ‘Brooklands’ steering wheel, a top opening boot, full instrumentation and scuttle mounted Lucas 1130 side lights.

Triple M corner no.110

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

1929 MG Midget (TM 5050) took part in many events between 1929 and 1931, usually in the capable hands of Miss Schwedler while occassionaly being driven by CGH Dunham. Here Miss Schwedler is seen at the wheel during the course of the 1930 WASA Lands End Trial.  The photograph first appeared in an April 1930 edition of the Autocar while this scan was taken from the heavily retouched print used in that publication. Much of that original retouching has subsequently been removed in Photoshop. TM 5050 survives in California having now been restored. (LAT photoscan)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.33

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Corsica Coachworks produced one of the better looking bodies to adorn the Wolseley Hornet Special chassis. This example (JJ 87) was produced in late 1932 and is seen here in competition mode at the Kent & Sussex Light Car Club’s Speed Trial at Lewes on 12th May 1934. Crew details are not known. Another view of the car can be seen here.

Triple M corner no.109

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This LATplate (E9975) was exposed during the course of the 1935 Monte Carlo Rally the event being held between 19th & 27th January that year. The MG NA Magnette AAD 359 was entered and driven by E. Denyil-Lee and finished 77th in the overall general classification. The Austin Seven seen parked behind the Magnette was driven by W. Harney and finished four places higher than the MG. Unfortunately, the location at which this photograph was taken is unknown. AAD 359 survives and is regularly seen at VSCC events in East Anglia.

Triple M corner no.108

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Triple M corner no.99 was an image of a 1932 Abbey bodied MG Magna Coupe GX 827 which had appeared in a 1939 edition of The Autocar magazine. This recently acquired snapshot (below) is of the same car climbing what could be one of the test hills in the west country, although it is not carrying a competition number. The photograph is also not of professional quality, perhaps lending weight to the thought that it was taken as a holiday memento by one of the car’s occupants.

Triple M corner no.107

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

1931 MG M Type Midget UT 7942 is seen here in a sunken lane while taking part in a combined Inter Varsity/WASA trial in February 1935. No driver details are available although its known that Leicestershire registered UT 7942 carried chassis number 2M/2205. This car was campaigned extensively at WASA events during the period 1933-1935. (LAT Motorsport Film) Addendum: Tom Drewett is the current custodian of UT 7942 and advises that the driver of the car in this photograph is D.B. Tubbs, known as Bunny to his family and friends.

The Womens Automobile and Sports Association (WASA) was founded in 1927 and formally constituted as a club in 1929 to specifically enable women to take part in motor sport and other sporting events. While females could enter the annual national trials at that time some were excluded from certain observed sections of the route, therefore being unable to compete fairly against allcomers. Much more about WASA here.

Triple M Corner no.106

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This Autocar Photoscan from LAT Images shows one of the last production MG M Type Midgets (GX 803) leaving John o’Groats heavily laden with luggage. The car was first registered in London in the spring of 1932 and car and crew were undertaking an extensive Scottish tour for the magazine. The tour took place in the spring of 1933 and an excellent whole page photograph of the car overlooking Loch Broom appeared in the 30th June 1933 edition.

Triple M Corner no. 105

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The first Triple M Corner in this series (published on 2nd December 2015) displays an image of the same model, a 1934 season MG Magna Continental Coupe. The notes provided at that time indicate that just 100 examples of this unusual model found customers. However, The Autocar thought it sufficiently important to carry out a full road test, the results being published in its 13th April 1934 edition. (A copy of that road test can be found as a PDF at the foot of this page http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/history/hs105-l.htm) Two-seater salonettes were fashionable at that time, the Singer version epitomising the genre, this model being a significantly better seller than the MG offering. (LAT ‘Motor’ plate 565-15)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.32

By Triple M corner

1935 Jensen Hornet Special: From being a comparatively lightweight six-cylinder model the factory Hornet Saloon gained weight and bulk throughout its six-year production life. The later ‘Special’ chassis’ supplied to coachbuilders in 1935 and 1936 were by now fitted with a 1604 cc version of the famous OHC power unit that started out in 1930 at 1271 cc. This 1935 Jensen ‘Allweather Sports’ Hornet was one of a long-line of Hornet based specials produced by the West Bromwich concern, this one showing off its sweeping mid-thirties styling to good effect, although the windscreen surround is reminiscent of the earlier Swallow Hornet models. (LATplate Motor 520-10)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.31

By Triple M corner

1932 Eustace Watkins Hornet Special GY 3131 was owned by Miss C. Labouchere and was competitively used throughout 1933. Here her car is in London having been driven the 680 miles from John o’Groats on 21st January 1933, the first leg of the crew’s epic attempt to get to Monaco as competitors in that year’s Monte Carlo Rally. Both driver and co-driver appear weary in this night-time shot while their Hornet is covered in road dirt, testament to the trying conditions. Sadly, they failed to make Monte Carlo and were one of the 58 retirements from among the original 129 car entry. (Autocar photo scan 27/01/33 – courtesy LAT Images)

Triple M corner no.104

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

A trio of MG PA Midgets were entered by Capt. George Eyston for the 1935 Le Mans 24 hour event.  Unusualy, his car’s were to be crewed by an all female team of drivers that came to be known as Eyston’s Dancing Daughters. The three teams all finished the race in 24th, 25th and 26th positions with the Barbara Skinner – Doreen Evans car (no 55) covering 1285 miles over the 24 hour  day/night/day period of 15th and 16th June. Here Doreen Evans is seen at the wheel while the car is routinely serviced by her pit crew. (LATfilm C6558)

Triple M corner no.103

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This 1933 Carlisle registered MG J2 Midget HH 6753 is a long way from home. The car is seen here competing on a crowded Beggar’s Roost in Devon during the 1936 MCC Lands End Trial, while being driven by K W Mahany. This car/driver combination  were to go on and win a Premier award. (LATplate C8315)

Hornet Specials no.30

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Although the majority of Hornet specials were open cars, plenty were constructed as sporting saloons or coupes. This particularly handsome example of a sporting two-door saloon was constructed by Patrick Motors of Bournebrook, Birmingham sometime in 1933 and was photographed in this leafy outer-suburbia setting for The Motor magazine.  (LATplate Motor 519-2)

Triple M corner no.102

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

D. G. Evans is photographed here in his MG ‘N’ Magnette (BLL 493) on Darracott, North Devon during the course of the 1935 MCC London-Lands End Trial held over 19th & 20th of April. With 313 cars starting the event, Evans was one of the 102 who gained a Premier Award that weekend. (LATplate C5776)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.29

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This photo of a 1934 Wolseley Hornet EW Daytona Special was taken on the Whittingham & Mitchell stand at the 1934 Olympia Motor Show in London. W&M were a Chelsea based coachbuilding firm, who under contract from Eustace Watkins, (Wolseley main dealers and also located in Chelsea) constructed bodies for the Hornet Special chassis. According to Nick Walker (author of the A-Z of British Coachbuilders – Bay View Books 2007) W&M were eventually acquired by Eustace Watkins, although not exclusively to build bodies for Wolseley cars, the firm providing bodies for a variety of marques.

Triple M corner no.101

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

A caption is required for this recently discovered LAT image (LATplate L5870) of a 1933 MG Magnette.

(Could this be Eyston’s 1933 Mannin Beg car as it’s carrying the correct racing number?)

Triple M corner no.100

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

DG 2327 is a 1931 Gloucester registered MG M Type Midget, identifiable as such by its angular wings. This photo was taken on the Isle of Man and is one of a sequence of a dozen or more shots, some of which were used for a subsequent Autocar ‘touring’ article. This image was taken in the centre of Douglas and is one of the few where the driver’s face can be seen and the car’s two-tone colour scheme is apparent. The re-positioning of the spare wheel was no doubt made to optimise luggage space in the small boot. The newsagent located immediately behind the car is carrying an advertisement for the latest paperback by Edgar Wallace, priced at 9d. (LATplate E3917) 

Triple M corner no.99

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This atmospheric shot of an  MG Abbey bodied Magna Coupe appeared in a June 1939 edition of The Autocar. GX 827 was first registered in London during the spring of 1932 and was already seven years old at the time this photograph was taken near Kenworth(?), according to the caption on the rear of the photo. (LAT photoscan)

Hornet Specials no.28

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The Arrow body upon the Hornet chassis of JD 1953 was constructed by coachbuilder A. P. Compton in late 1930 at their works in  a former tram depot in Hanwell, West London. Compton’s products at this time were all known as Arrow specials, their cars being identifiable by a stylised arrow attached to the radiator core of the host car. Miss P.D. Goodban was the owner of JD 1953 and she competed extensively in the car throughout the 1933 season. The two images seen here capture her and her car at the 1933 running of the Scottish Six Day Trial which took place between 15th and 20th May whereupon she won a bronze award for her efforts. From 1934 onward Miss Goodban’s name continued to be mentioned on the results pages of motoring magazines, but she was by now driving a Singer Nine. (Images courtesy of LAT – plate numbers C322 and Motor Box X274 476 -2 )

Triple M corner no.88

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Another scene from the 1933 IOM Mannin Beg race around the streets of the island’s capital, Douglas. Here Mansell in MG C Type no.4 leads the Ford-Baumer C Type no.12 along a residential road on the outskirts of the town. (Image courtesy of LAT Images)

Triple M corner no.87

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

An LAT image (LATplate Motor 779-33) depicting a scene from the 1934 RAC Ulster TT. (1st September 1934) The photographer has placed himself in front of Ards Town Hall to capture shots of the competitors crossing the square with the town hall as a backdrop. This surviving image shows two eventual non-finishers, Ashton-Rigby in his MG Magna leading Langley‘s Singer Nine across the square at precisely 12:32 PM according to the town hall clock.

Triple M corner no.86

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

MG C Type Midget RX 8303 is pictured here at Brooklands during the course of the Brighton & Hove Club race meeting in the summer of 1931. The car is stopped adjacent to the pits where the crew can be seen changing a wheel. (LATplate B7078)

Triple M corner no.85

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The 1933 running of the Mannin Beg race around the streets of Douglas, Isle of Man took place on Wednesday 12th July. While 20 cars entered just 14 started, including ‘Billie’ Sullivan’s Morris Minor. Sullivan and ten others failed to finish the gruelling 50 lap, 230 mile race, the eventual winner being Freddie Dixon in his Riley. Two C Types Midgets finished, second place going to car number 4 (Mansell), with the Ford/Baumer car (no.12) finishing third. Here Hamilton’s Magnette (16) trails the Ford/Baumer C Type at St. Andrew’s Church on the corner of Finch Road and Prospect Hill. Although Hamilton set the fastest lap time of the race he was to retire after 35 laps with a back-axle problem. This superb image is available from LAT Images – quote reference LATplate C1044 when enquiring.

NB Why the single front wing on the Ford/Baumer C Type?

Triple M corner no.84

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

A total of 69 cars took part in the Light Car Club’s 1931 inaugural Relay ‘Grand Prix’. The conditions were awful and a large part of the race was run in torrential rain. This photo shows the start of the race with the ‘scratch cars’ from Littlewood-Clarke’s MG Midget team and the Randall led Austin Seven trio about to come under starters orders. A full report on the proceedings can be found on the Austin Harris website here.

(Editors note: This image had always intrigued me, as the head of the crew member in the Austin Seven seen staring straight at the camera, always struck me as looking like a bodyless cardboard cut-out! An opportunity to examine a high-resolution image reveals that he is wearing a white racing overall which against the smoke of his car’s exhaust makes his torso virtually invisible.)

Triple M corner no.83

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

A dramatic scene from the 11th March 1933 BARC meeting at Brooklands. Wright’s ‘C’ Type Midget was taking part in the Weybridge Junior Handicap, a race over a distance of just six miles. According to Motor Sport the Midget had not been running well and was in the process of being retired at the fork when the car caught fire causing much smoke and mayhem. Apparently ‘the Pyrene men’ came to the rescue although two of these individuals look very much like policemen. Meanwhile, Wright looks on. (LATplate B9639)

Hornet Specials no. 27

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The second Light Car Club Relay Grand Prix took place at Brooklands on Saturday 16th July 1932 with 29, three car teams taking part. Among this 87 car strong field was a team entered by Eustace Watkins sales manager Stanley Hutchens. His team consisted of two of the new EW Hornet Daytona Specials (driven by Hutchens and Bertram Wickens) and an earlier 1931 EW Hornet International driven by Edward Erith. A complex handicapping system ensured that racing was close over a full 90 laps of the famous Surrey circuit. Each car was required to finish 30 laps before handing over to a team mate. The Hornets performed impeccably and won the race. This image shows the three drivers (left to right – Hutchens, Erith and Wickens) recieving congratulations from the Earl of March. (LATplate B8744)

Triple M corner no. 81

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

1934 RAC Ulster TT – Ards Circuit. This extract from LATplate C4620 shows Dodson crossing the finishing line at the wheel of Geoge Eyston’s MG NE Magnette, winning the 500 mile race at an average speed of 74.5 mph. For those in the UK the BBC have this excellent newsreel clip to view, while the full results can be found here.

Hornet Specials no.26

By Triple M corner

Yet another image from the 13th May 1933 Donington Park meeting which on this occasion features an MG Magna sandwiched between two EW Hornet specials. The years 1932 and 1933 were particularly successful for the Hornet and the factory made ‘Special’ chassis with a number of notable successes both on the track and in trials and rallies. Here car number 19, driven by J. Tatton-Ridd leads C. C. Martin driving his MG Magna (no.9) with Dr. E. Hawes in another Hornet at the rear of the trio.(LATplate C454)

Triple M corner no.80

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Another image from the 13th May 1933 Donington Hall meeting. Little is known about either of the two cars seen here. The J2 is carrying a registration of AMX 650. Any further information appreciated. Please email info@prewarminor.com This is an edited extract from LATplate C461.

This response from Cathelijne Spoelstra: No. 80 shows Eddy Hall in C0268 at the May meeting at Donington in 1933. There were three 850cc Midgets entered that day which doesn’t really help when trying to allocate the J2. Unfortunately the database has no record of the registration number.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.25

By Triple M corner

The second International Relay Race was held at the Brooklands circuit in 1932. The winning team of three Hornets was made-up of two 1932 Eustace Watkins Daytona Specials and an earlier 1931 Eustace Watkins International model. The International was driven by Edward Erith who is seen here in the same car as he drove that day – GO 6468. In May of that year Erith took his Hornet to Lewes in Sussex having entered the annual speed trials on the downs. Alongside Erith in this paddock shot is a late 1931 Kent registered Swallow Hornet Special while yet more Hornets await their turn behind the leading duo. (LAT Motor Sport negative)

Triple M corner no.79

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

A 1933 Somerset registered 1933 MG J2 Midget (YD 6854) is seen here taking part in the driving test section of the 1935 MCC Torquay Rally & Trial. The details of this rally are not recorded in Donald Cowbourne’s book ‘British Rally Drivers – their cars and awards’ therefore the crew of car number 173 will have to remain unnamed. This is a restored version of LATplate C7066

Triple M corner no.78

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Little is known about the car and crew in this paddock image. It was taken at Donington Hall on the occasion of just the second race meeting to be held at the venue on 13th May 1933. The man standing behind the car has a cardboard tag hanging from his lapel labelled ‘Mechanic’ while both crew members pose for the camera in their crash helmets. The remainder of their attire is more appropriate for a trip to the pub rather than 20 laps around a race circuit. (LATplate C460)

Triple M corner no.77

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This image perfectly illustrates the genetic ties that exist between the pre-war Morris Minor and the first MG Midget. The photo was sent to the Network in early 2009, just a few months after the website was established. The limited information captured at that time included the name of the correspondent, a Mr Norman Edwards and the vehicle’s chassis number 2M/651. This of course identifies and dates the car as a 1929 MG Midget, the vehicle registration confirming this and identifying its place of registration as being Manchester. While the photo is undated and could have been taken at any time during the last thirty years, it’s clear that it has been heavily modified at an earlier stage in its life, someone fitting what looks to be a home-built body while also replacing the original Midget radiator with that from a 1932 Morris Minor. The Minor radiator badge has also been removed and replaced with that from an MG. The much-revised car’s front valance is of later construction and was not an original fitment on either model. Although not listed on the Triple M Register (at least, not with this chassis number) the car is known at the DVLA, their database recording it as being first registered in October 1929. It, therefore, seems likely that it is still out there somewhere. Let’s hope so.

Triple M corner no.76

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This superb cutaway image of a 1932 MG F1 Type Salonette first appeared in the 11th September 1932 edition of The Autocar magazine. There is little else to add other than to say the drawing was authored by noted technical artist, Max Millar.

Triple M corner no.75

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The 1935 RSAC Scottish Rally took place between the 10th and 14th June. Sixteen MG’s took part including Midget BXA 23 which was driven by D.R.B. Duffy who bought it home in eighteenth position of the forty-one cars in his class that made it to the finish. The rally was as much a test of endurance than of skill as the event ran for four days through some of Scotland’s most picturesque but demanding terrain. (LATplate C6404)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.24

By Triple M corner

LAT plate C440 is dated 13th May 1935 in the LAT portfolio but was almost certainly taken on 13th May 1933 as the plate number places it among the May 1933 sequence. This dramatic shot of car no. 19, a 1932/33 Wolseley Hornet Eustace Watkins Daytona Special was taken at Donington Hall at only the second ever car meeting to be held there, the  first such meeting taking place just two months earlier. The outcome of this incident is unknown.

Peter Brock found this reference to the incident in Motor Sport:

Round they came again, and this time J. T. Ridd went onto the grass. Somehow all the cars got round and we waited for the next circuit. Patrick was well in the lead, followed by Briault, who came up to the bend at a great speed. He clapped on his brakes, the tail of the Hornet decided to become the front, and with a screech of tyres the car turned right round. Briault took his bearings, and set off, but not before Doctor Hawes on another Hornet had robbed him of second place. The crowd, with typical British disregard for the niceties of driving, gave Briault a rousing cheer.

Triple M corner no.74

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This photo was taken in July 1935 during the course of the Eastbourne Concours D’Elegance or Coachwork Competition. The event was one of a series of south coast ‘beauty pageants’ held each summer in the resort towns of Brighton, Ramsgate and Eastbourne. They attracted huge crowds and large entries throughout the thirties and it was to these events that the equivalent of today’s motoring exotica gathered. This rather overdressed MG, owned by a Captain Short is being examined by Eastbourne’s Lady Mayoress, while Major Gowen from Fawlty Towers looks on. Can anyone recognise the model hidden behind the plethora of badges? (LATplate C 7041)

Triple M corner no.73

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This atmospheric night shot was taken  in the early hours of 28th December 1935 near Shaftesbury in Dorset. The occasion was the 21st running of the MCC’s London-Exeter Trial, the cars having left the start in Virginia Water, Surrey a few hours earlier. The three recognisable cars here are are the Midgets of N.E. Bracey (‘P’ Type BPL 999)  and J.H. Summerfield (‘P’ Type JB 4611). The Ford V8 3.6 litre behind the two MG’s is that driven by F. Allott. While Allott and Bracey both went on to win Premier Awards, Summerfield retired his car before the finish.  (LATplate C7825)

Hornet Specials no.23

By Triple M corner

JHT 400 is an MG Magna engined Wolseley Hornet Special. Originally registered in Birmingham in 1931 as a Wolseley Hornet Saloon (OG 7528) it was initially rebuilt as a plywood bodied trials special in 1936 by owners T.C.G. Butler and C.C. Evans. The car was then campaigned both before and immediately after the Second World War. Evans named the car ‘Ophelia‘ after hearing a comment by a passenger bouncer “Oh, feel your wheels gripping” following its second conversion when the seats and hence more weight was moved further to the rear.  Ophelia and crew achieved some success and notoriety while taking part in many national reliability trials during this period. The first of the three images to be seen here (competition no. 65) was taken in Gypsy Lane during the course of the 1946 Colmore Trial while the Motor Sport snippet caption tells us that OG 7528 was appearing in the 1937 event of the same name. The venue and date are not known for the third image.

Triple M corner no.72

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Little is known about this LAT plate C7830 except that it was taken in January 1936 and shows The Three Musketeers team, both cars and crews, prior to an event. Please contact the Network if the event or crew members can be identified.

MG enthusiast Mike Bradbury writes: The three MGs in the photo are the 1935/36 Musketeer Magnette/Magna specials. JB 6865 (Athos) usually driven by MacDermid; JB 6866 (Porthos) usually driven by Bastock; JB 6867 (Aramis) usually driven by Langley. These cars were built on L type Magna chassis’s and were a mixture of the best parts of L, N, J and P types.  It seems that only Aramis is known to the Triple M Register and is with John Reid. Their chassis Nos were Comp/N1,2,3 respectively. I’ve no idea where the pic was taken but it is possible that the three drivers mentioned above are the gentlemen in the picture.

Triple M corner no.71

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The 1933 Brighton-Beer Trial was held on 25th June with six observed hill sections. The entry of 102 cars was dominated by MG’s which made-up almost a quarter of the 102 cars that started. Car no. 37 (UF 7254) is a 1931 Brighton registered Jarvis Midget, although the names of the crew are not known. Any further information concerning this LAT image C959 gratefully received.

Triple M corner no.70

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The MG Midget Sportsman’s Coupe was launched in 1929 and provided the template for later MG Coupe versions which were to arrive on the scene from late 1931 onward. RX 6257 is seen here exiting Church Loft in West Wycombe, Bucks before joining the main A40 London to Oxford Road. Apart from the traffic and parked cars, this stretch of the A40 has changed little in the intervening 87 years.

Church Loft was built in the 15th century. It was here that pilgrims stayed as guests of the church. Since then it has been the village jail, stocks, and in more recent years as a venue for events. The building is timber-framed, with later brick in-fill  To the left-hand side is an arch to Church Lane which contains the Village lock-up and whipping post. The building has a bell turret, and a particularly fine clock (dated 1668) overhanging the street. The recently restored clock’s mechanism remains within the Church Loft and now chimes once again. The clock was restored in 2003.  (Summary, courtesy West Wycombe village website.)

Triple M Corner no.69

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Just 44 Montlhery, or ‘C’ Type MG Midgets were built in 1931-32 and a surprising number survive to this day. One such survivor is a 1931 car RX 8306, currently owned and still used competitively by Chris Cadman. This photo may or may not be of Chris’s  car. It was taken at the spring 1932 MAC Shelsley meeting and shows a C Type with its number plate partly obscured.  It’s established that another C Type was registered as RX 8586 and so this photo may be of that car (LATplate B8591)

Thanks to Cathelijne Spoelstra for the additional information to be found below:

 

Wolseley Hornet specials no.22

By Triple M corner

Pictured above is PJ 37, a 1931 Surrey registered Abbey Hornet special. The occasion was the 1932 running of the MCC Sporting Trial which took place on 15th October that year, centered upon Buxton in Derbyshire. In this photograph the car was being driven by J.J. Kennedy who was one of 28 drivers to collect a Premier Award from among the 80 crews that started the event. Compared with other national trials organised by the MCC, the Sporting Trial was a short half-day affair comprising just five observed sections (three of which were covered twice) over a distance of only 46.5 miles. (LAT Motor Sport image)

Hornet Specials no.21

By Triple M corner

1931 Wolseley Hornet Coupe

Rarer than many Wolseley Hornet Specials this factory produced two-seater Coupe was not a big seller despite being competitively priced at £215. (The smaller MG Midget Sportsman’s Coupe sold for £245) LAT Images Photoscan

Hornet Specials no.20

By Triple M corner

1931 McEvoy Hornet Special GK 4084 was owned by A. J. Bochaton and appeared in a series of national trials between 1934 and 1936. In this photo, the car is being enthusiastically driven at the MCC’s London-Gloucester Trial (held on 7th December 1935) while climbing a narrow green lane somewhere in the Cotswolds. The Network’s photo archive holds three further images of this car/driver combination and in each photo, the car is trailing a smokey exhaust, which in view of the car’s age, already four years old at this time and its competition pedigree could indicate the need for imminent engine surgery. If that was the case on 7th December 1935 it didn’t hinder Bochaton as he went on to win a first class award for his efforts.

Triple M corner no.67

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The 1931 MG C Type Midget was a supercharged short stroke 746 cc racing car. Fourteeen examples were built prior to the third and final JCC Brooklands Double Twelve race of 8th and 9th May 1931, five of these cars occupying the top five places at the race’s conclusion. Just a few weeks later two C Types took part in the Le Mans 24 Hour race, neither car being classified as a finisher. The C Type driven by the Hon. Mrs Chetwynd and H.H. Stisted completed just 30 laps while that driven bt Sir Francis Samuelson was disqualified for failing to complete the final lap in under 30 minutes. The car pictured above is that driven by Samuelson. (LAT Motor Sport negative)

Triple M corner no.66

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

With snow on the ground, J. F. Kemp pilots his 1932 Birmingham registered MG J2 Midget (OJ 6978) along a frozen and rutted section of byway. The date is 23rd February 1935 and Kemp is taking part in that years running of the SUNBAC Colmore Cup Trial. He completed the course and gained a Third Class award. (LATplate C5309)

Triple M corner no.65

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

1933 MG J2 Midget JH 4140 is seen here taking part in the 1935 running of the MCC’s ‘Edinburgh’ trial while being driven by O.M. Dixon. The car is negotiating Wrynose Pass on 8th June in the Lake District National Park where gradients of 25% can be expected. In 1935 this pass was an unmetalled road or loose gravel track which proved to be a real test for many of the cars. Dixon won a Bronze Award for his efforts. This seven minute YouTube video shows a ‘modern’ tackling the pass in October 2011.(LATplate C6347)

Triple M corner no.64

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

By January 1936 Essex registered 1931 MG Midget VX 6845 was four and a half years old and some way distant from the model’s competitive heyday in the early years of that decade. However this M Type was far from alone. There were plenty more representatives of the the early Midget taking part in competitive events up and down the country throughout this period – and not just in club competitions such as this one. Cowbourne’s epic tome, British Trial Drivers – Their cars and awards 1929-1939 includes a photograph of Bacon’s 1931 M Type CV 5127 taking part in the 1939 ‘Exeter’. The photograph above (LATplate C7834) was taken at the Kentish Border Trial in January 1936 although the names of the crew are unknown.

Triple M corner no.63

By Triple M corner

Frank Ashby & Sons along with V.W. Derrington, James Grose, Brown Bros, Halfords, Gamages and others sold a vast array of accessories for the pre-war car owner. No one was better catered for than owners of cars with sporting pretensions. This Frank Ashby half-page ad from the 23rd June 1933 edition of the Light Car & Cyclecar was aimed directly at these owners with their ‘Brooklands’ range. It’s interesting to note that their fully-flexible steering wheels were standard equipment on a host of sporting models.

Triple M corner no.62

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The Bugatti Owner’s Club held regular events on Gold Hill Common, Chalfont-St-Peter, Bucks throughout the early thirties. The gravel byway from the village to the top of the hill provided the track, with competitors generating thick clouds of dust as they negotiatiated the bends. Here 1930 MG Midget MG 764 commences the climb with an unknown driver at the wheel.

Hornet Specials no.19

By Triple M corner

1932 Eustace Watkins Daytona Wolseley Hornet Special: Eustace Watkins were the London main dealers for Wolseley cars throughout the thirties decade and significantly contributed to the growth of the Wolseley brand via their ‘special’ bodies fitted to the Hornet chassis.  The majority of these bodies were open sporting types which sold well and in the right hands went on to capture numerous awards at the popular club and national trials then in vogue. The bodies were not constructed by Eustace Watkins and were sub-contracted to the coachbuilding trade, much of the E.W. work going to Abbey Coachworks of Merton and later, Acton. This drawing by ‘Ferguson’ for The Autocar appears on an undated glass plate (LATplate L5613) and depicts a 1932  season model.

Triple M corner no.61

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This is one of two Motor Sport images of this Abbott bodied MG Magna DHC taken at the company’s plant in Farnham, Surrey. E.D. Abbott survived the recession of the early thirties and continued to produce vehicle bodies up to the outbreak of war and for a short period after the cessation of hostilities.

Triple M corner no.60

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Little is known about this LAT plate scan (C2544) other than it was taken at the 1934 running of the WASA Chiltern Trial. The car looks to be an MG F Type Magna (MG 1316) which is seen negotiating a by-way in the Chiltern Hills, almost certainly a section of The Ridgeway. If anyone can provide further information concerning the crew, then please send an email to info@prewarminor.com

Triple M corner no.59

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This sequence of eight images was taken by accomplished automotive photographer W.J. Brunell and are part of a collection of his images held at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu which can now also be viewed on the Getty Images website

The car in question is a 1929 MG Midget registered as MG 1930 and was owned by C. I. Robinson, who used the car to compete in a trio of national trials in 1929 (Exeter/Sporting & Lands End) along with the ‘Lands End’ of 1930.  This car and driver combination featured in a number of photographs taken at these events, with images appearing in both the Light Car and The Autocar. It’s not clear for what purpose this particular series of photograph were taken.

To view each image in turn click upon the grey bars beneath the gallery.

Triple M corner no.58

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

M.F.L. Faulkner’s supercharged 1931 MG Midget is seen here competing at the February 1931 running of the Inter Varsity Speed Trial at Branches Park in South West Suffolk on the Cambs/Essex border. The driveway of Branches Park House was used as the track. The house itself was demolished just 26 years later in 1957. This scan is taken from a Motor Sport negative (Courtesy LAT Images Ltd.) See also Triple M Corner no. 31

Triple M corner no.57

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Four images of the 1931 launched Supercharged MG Midget have appeared hear previously. This fifth LAT plate image (E1922) provides an excellent close-up of part of the cockpit, including the dash panel and instruments. For example, it’s clear that a Smith’s model PN speedometer was used.

Triple M corner no.56

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

J. B. Carver and his 1930 London registered MG Midget GC 5505 featured in many trials during the early thirties. This Motor Sport image shows him about to leave the car park of the Crown Inn, Marlow on a wet November morning prior to competing in the 1932 running of the Inter Varsity Trial between teams from the Oxford and Cambridge universities. His motoring activities could not have left much time for study as the club badges adorning the front of his Midget would indicate that he had a passion for sporting motoring. The r/h LAT sourced scan was taken from a celluloid negative retained in their archive, while the l/h image is a scan taken directly from the December 1932 edition of the magazine. (Page 52)

N.B. To see the respective images in full – drag the arrows to either the right or the left.

Triple M corner no.55

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

During 1930 and 1931 the original MG Midget was entered for many trials and at most events outnumbered other popular models . The 1931 running of the London-Gloucester trial (12th December) was one such event where 13 Midgets took part, including that of N.H. Cole, his car (OU 3146) being registered in Hampshire in 1930.  He is seen here piloting OU 3146 up Ferriscourt which was a timed section on this trial. He finished in the awards winning a Silver Cup for his efforts. (LATplate B5246)

Hornet Specials no.18

By Hornet Specials, Triple M corner

F.H. Boyd-Carpenter made his name  tuning and racing Austin Sevens from the mid-twenties onward. In 1926 he established his own coachbuilding business in Kilburn, N.W. London and from 1928 produced a pointed-tail Austin Seven Special. This was to be followed by the ‘Junior’ model, an unglamourous (and inexpensive) Morris Minor special in 1930. His company were quick off the mark when the Wolseley Hornet was launched in April 1930 when just a few months later this good looking special (based upon his Austin Seven design) took to the streets. By the standards of the day it was an expensive Hornet option with a £232-10s price tag, although surviving images testify that at least three found customers. (LAT Motor Sport nagative)

Triple M corner no.54

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The 1933 running of the MCC London-Gloucester Trial took place on Saturday 9th December with the 149 competitors (a record entry) leaving the car park of the Bridge House Hotel, Staines, Middx from 12:01 AM. The crews were then tasked with completing an all night drive before arriving in Cheltenham for their breakfast stop from 5:00 AM onwards. Competitors were then further obliged to complete the 12 observed test hill sections before finishing a gruelling almost 12 hour drive at Rodborough Common, Glos. The MG J2 Midget JD 2741 seen in this image was driven by T.C. Taylor who went on to collect a Silver Medal, one of only 14 such awards that day. (LATplate Motor X789)

Wolseley Hornet specials no. 17

By Hornet Specials, Triple M corner

GP 8217 was registered in London during 1931 therefore one of the early Swallow built Hornet Two-seater specials. The car is seen here taking part in the 1932 MCC London-Lands End Trial with C. F. Harris at the wheel. This image was shot at an unknown location on 26th March 1932 by a photographer using celluloid film in his camera, the resulting negatives producing far less detail than that seen on glass plates. C.F. Harris failed to collect an award and retired from the event. (An LAT Motor Sport image)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.16

By Hornet Specials, Triple M corner

1932 Wolseley Hornet March Special

Kevill-Davies & March of Bruton Street, London W.1 marketed a number of ‘specials’ from early 1932 onwards. One of their earliest designs was an open two+two body for the Wolseley Hornet chassis as seen in this April 1932 Autocar image, with a body supplied by the coachbuilder John Charles of Kew. There is a strong claim that these Freddie March designed bodies were the first to feature fully swept front wings, a styling cue that was to become a design hallmark of British thirties sports cars. (LATplate E2670)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.15

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Swallow Hornet Special

Arguably one of the prettiest Hornet Specials to leave a coachbuilder’s workshop was also one of the earliest of this variant to be built. The Swallow Hornet two-seater (£225) made its first appearance in November of 1930 to be joined the following October by an open four-seat model. It was sold exclusively by the Henlys concern who heavily advertised the vehicle in The Autocar, The Motor & The Light Car and soon versions were to be found taking part in the major sporting events of the day. Two of the striking features that made the Swallow Hornet two-seater stand out from the crowd were its three-piece raked windscreen and Alvis like beetle-back rear end. The finish on this later (1933) car looks magnificent in this photograph taken immediately outside the Henlys showroom in Great Portland Street, Central London. (LATplate E2071)

Wolseley Hornet specials no.14

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1933 Jensen Hornet four-seat Sports Saloon Special

Such is this car’s shape that a quick glance at its profile could lead the viewer to believe that he was looking at a two seat Hornet Coupe. The stylish back windows provide the clue to the additional rear seats while the vinyl covering to the roof and dummy pram-irons are period fashion items. The opening boot and trafficators indicate that this is a well-equipped version of the genre while its rear-hinged doors hark back to the twenties but none-the-less permit far easier access for rear-seat passengers. Jensen built other Hornet special types including a detachable trunk version of this model. (Image LAT E plate – reference obscured)

Triple M corner no.53

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This 1931 MG Midget (DG 2327) may be familiar to those who view this page regularly as it has previously featured in an IOTW (no.377). As reported there these images were all captured on the Isle of Man and were taken to appear in an as yet undiscovered article in The Autocar magazine. This photo was taken in the centre of Douglas perhaps at the junction of Prospect Hill and Victoria Street and provides an interesting view of the car, resplendent with a full set of badges including that of the Junior Car Club together with a ‘lucky’ horseshoe. The motorcycle combination JW 1656 was almost certainly the property of another island tourist in that it was first registered in Wolverhampton in 1932. (LAT Plate E3928)

Triple M corner no.52

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This 1932 Wolseley Hornet Special (GX 6560), driven by a female, is seen here taking on an MG F Type Magna (GX 430) at the June 1932 running of the BARC’s Inter Club Meeting at Brooklands. There is another LAT image (B8511) of the two cars together on the starting line. If the names of the crews are known please contact the website at info@prewarminor.com (LATplate B8509)

Postscript: Thanks to Dick Serjeantson’s booklet Hornets at Brooklands (Wolseley Hornet Specials Club) it can be revealed that the female driver of the EW Daytona is none other than Kay Petre who was making her Brooklands debut. The driver of the Magna was Doddy Moncrieff.

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.13

By Triple M corner

During the early part of the thirties decade ‘concours d’elegance’ events were an important part of the motoring scene while that held in the south coast town of Eastbourne, Sussex each September was perhaps the most popular of them all. Tens of thousands attended these events which were effectively beauty pageants for cars although some did include a driving test element. This beautiful 1932 Kent registered E.W. Hornet Special KJ 6644 was a prize winner for its owner and his glamorous companion at that years running of the event.  (LAT Plate E3898)

Triple M corner no.51

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This 1933 MG Magna has been fitted with a removeable coupe hard top, built in this workshop probably somewhere in West London,  which at that time was the heart of the coachbuilding trade. The LAT Images Plate (E4470) yields no further clues as to the coupe top’s origins.

Triple M corner no.50

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

RX 8306 is a 750 cc C Type MG Midget and is seen here in post-race condition at the Brooklands circuit in Surrey in 1931. This is one of a sequence of images taken of this car at the circuit that day another of which featured in Triple M Corner no.42 which can be found in the Snippets archive. In this instance the Hornet in the background is of significant interest. OW 275 is a factory built 1931 Hornet Coupe of which very few were constructed and even fewer photographed. (Lat Images Plate E1333)

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.12

By Triple M corner

Yet another Abbey Hornet 2+2 special, this one being a 1932 AS3 model. The close fitting front cycle guards on this model turned with the wheel ensuring that less road dirt decorated the car’s body sides, although the bottom quarter of the rear mudguards have been fitted with an aluminium cover to protect the paintwork. Unlike other Abbey Hornet models this car was not fitted with louvered side valences. (A Motor Sport road test of this model has recently been added to the Wolseley Hornet page here.) LAT Plate E1909

Wolseley Hornet Specials no.11

By Triple M corner

1931 Arrow Hornet Special PL 9592 was built at the A.P. Compton‘s works located in a converted tram depot in Hanwell, West London. The firm offered two further Arrow body styles on the Hornet chassis, these being a fixed-head and a drop-head coupe. All three models were effectively 2+2s and this seating arrangement was a particularly popular style and was adopted by many of the coachbuilders constructing Hornet special bodies at that time. The Arrow model illustrated was fitted with twin wipers, fold-flat windscreen, a fog light, Mosley ‘float-on-air’ seat cushions while the all weather equipment included a rear tonneau. Stone guards have also been fitted to the headlamps and radiator, partially obscuring the Arrow script attached to the honeycomb.  (Plate E1875 courtesy of LAT Images)

Triple M corner no.49

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to 1936 via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The original MG Midget, conceived in the autumn of 1928 by Cecil Kimber, had its ‘last hurrah’ in February 1932 when the supercharged version was launched. A favourable road test report appeared in the February 12th edition of The Autocar and it is from that road test photo-shoot that this unpublished image was taken. The new ‘blown’ variant of the Midget had a top speed of 76mph (as tested by The Autocar) and cost £250, a full £65 more than the standard metal paneled version, which according to the test report now sported a wider body than the fabric skinned model.

This image (E1924) is from a newly discovered batch of plates in the LAT Images archive. As can be seen the clarity and overall quality is extremely high and its hoped to feature more from this cache shortly.

Triple M corner no.48

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

A further scene from the 1933 running of the Scottish Six-Day Trial (SSDT). Here D. Donaldson’s Edinburgh registered 1933 J3 Midget FS 6777 is seen negotiating a very sharp hairpin bend on an unmetaled section of mountain road with spectacular highland views as a backdrop. Just 35 cars entered the event (including the two Minors of Barge & Wagner) while Donaldson’s car was part of the prize winning three car MG team.

Triple M corner no.47

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

1930 MG Midget MG 703 (2M/1910) is seen here taking part in the Royal Scottish Automobile Club’s 1936 (RSAC Rally) which took place over 1st – 5th June that year. The car is being driven by Lt. Cdr. G.M.D. Maltby R.N. a member of the Kent based coachbuilding family. According to the caption on the rear of the photo the car is “awaiting 1st test” – Acceleration up hill at Boness. The Boness hill-climbing test was an innovation at this rally and took place early on the first day, shortly after the rally’s Edinburgh start. The car and crew did get among the awards winning the ‘Old Car’ prize. (The fate of the cyclist is unknown.)

The car is now in the long-term custody of Ian Judd, a member of this website and former Minor owner. A high resolution version of this image will hopefully adorn his office wall soon.

Triple M corner no. 46

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The 1932 MG F Type Magna was powered by a ‘disguised’ Wolseley Hornet six cylinder engine with a displacement of of 1271 cc. The version seen here is bodied by the coachbuilder Stiles and was one of 188 Magna rolling chassis that found their way to the coachbuilding trade. This model was constructed with a dickey-seat covered by a lid that also acted as a back rest for the occupant. Note the ‘dickey’ access step attached to the rear bodywork. This image first appeared in the 18th March 1932 edition of The Autocar. (LAT Images photoscan)

Triple M corner no.45

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This 1932 MG Magna DHC special with a body by Farnham sold for £325 when launched in 1932. The image is a photo-scan of a heavily re-touched print from LAT Images Autocar archive.

Triple M corner no.44

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The last M Type Midgets were built during the first half of 1932 and were lightly tweeked in appearance for that last season. They were the recipients of new angular styled wings as seen on the D and F Type Midgets and on this factory demonstrator/press car example a windscreen wiper had also been fitted. Other interesting features to note are the short notched advance/retard lever as first fitted to the 1931 short season S.V. Minors along with the anti-shake rubbers fitted on the ‘B’ post. The long extended ‘double-bend’ gear lever is plainly visible as is the carpet fitting detail. This is a metal paneled model and the permanently attached hood brackets are just in shot while the shorter boot lid is not. (This is an Autocar photo scan image courtesy of LAT Images)

Triple M corner no. 43

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

A seasonal image to conclude the Triple M corner series for 2016. This heavily re-touched shot of MG P Type Midget (BUV 140) was taken at the MG Car Clubs Chiltern Trial held in January of 1936. According to the caption E.J. Haesdonck is seen ‘crabbing up Maiden’s Grove’. The hamlet of Maidensgrove is located five miles north west of Henley-on-Thames, Oxon. The precise date of the trial was 19th January 1936 and this W.J. Brunell image appeared in the next Autocar edition which was published on 24th January.

Triple M corner no.42

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This MG C Type (RX 8306) features in many period images and was the actual car used by The Autocar at the time of its launch. The C Type was a production development of the Class H record braking Midget driven by George Eyston at Montlhery and Brooklands which was eventually partially destroyed by a fuel fire, Eyston thankfully escaping serious injury.  The cars parked-up in the Brooklands car park are worthy of closer examination with two M Type Midgets visible along with an Aston Martin Le Mans and other notable sporting cars of the period. (LAT  plate E1366)

Triple M corner no.41

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

UD 3166 is a 1929 MG Midget purchased new by a Mr. Michael Collier. The car and driver are seen here on Ranmore Common, near Dorking, Surrey while taking part in the 1930 running of the Junior Car Club’s ‘Half Day Trial’. The event was held during the afternoon of Saturday March 8th and was not without controversy. The Light Car (14th March 1930) reported that police were called as thoroughfares were blocked by queuing competitors resulting in a number of crews receiving official police cautions for causing an obstruction. According to the Triple M Register the car survives and is currently resident in the USA. (A Getty/Brunell image 624162834)

Triple M corner no.40

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

MG J2 Midget RX 9980 has featured earlier in this series (Triple M corner no.7) that photo being taken at the February 1933 running of the Sunbac Colmore Cup Trial as it is in this Brunell/Getty image. The winter of 1932/33 was particularly harsh and conditions for the trial were difficult for competitors. The Midget was being driven by J.R. Temple and was the very same car that The Autocar had used in it’s road test of the type in August of the previous year.

Triple M corner no.39

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This 1930 MG Double Twelve Replica Midget (MG 768) is being driven by Viscount Curzon in the 1931 Inter Varsity Trial which had started from the Crown Inn, Marlow, Bucks on the morning of Saturday 4th November. The trial sections were almost exclusively located among the Chiltern Hills and it’s believed that this photograph was taken on Alms Hill by Bill Brunell. This photo appears on the Getty Images website and carries reference number 615477046.

Triple M corner no.38

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This scene from the 1930 running of the MCC Sporting Trial is one of a series taken by Bill Brunell at that event. Getty Images have now obtained the rights to Brunell’s back catalogue including many historic photographs and are displaying them at a reasonable pixel width on their website. A search of their website is a must for anyone with an interest in pre-war motoring.

This shot was taken at the commencement of an observed section somewhere in the Peak District and shows R.D. Crump’s 1929 Essex registered Midget (VX 2286) about to leave. Car no. 45 is another Midget (RX 7206) driven by L.A. Welch while the MG Six is being driven by C.F. Dobson. Crump went on to collect a bronze award.

Triple M corner no.37

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

An image taken from an adjacent spot featured here as Triple M corner no.35. Both photographs were taken during the course of the Scottish Six Day Trial held in May 1933 and show J Type MG’s at this water course obstacle. Above, J2 FS 5757 is seen creating quite a splash while being driven by Miss M. Dixon who went on to collect a top award of a Silver Cup for her efforts over the course of the trial. (LAT Plate C258)

Triple M corner no.36

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This shot of MG Brooklands Double Twelve Midget (WL 9270) was taken in the immediate aftermath of the 1930 running of the Brooklands Double Twelve race. The car was crewed by Norman Black and H.H. Stisted and finished 14th in the overall standings and was the first of the five racing Midgets to finish the race behind the winning Bentley of Barnato and Clement. Motor Sport then took one of these cars (WL 9273 – Randall & Mongomery’s race car no.76) to the West Country for an extended test where it was reported that the car could cruise at an indicated 70 mph with 75 being attainable on suitable stretches of road. (Motor Sport image – courtesy of LAT Photographic)

Triple M Corner no.35

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Up to 1927 the Edinburgh & District Motor Club regularly invited cars to participate in their internationally well know Scottish Six Days Trial, perhaps the toughest trial in the U.K. for both man and machine. After a six year hiatus when just motorcycles could be entered, the club once again opened-up the event to cars for its May 1933 running. Just 35 entries were received, the largest contingent being M.G.’s. The models represented were J2s and J3s with six of the former and two of the latter taking part. Here the J3 FS 6777 of D. Donaldson is seen gingerly approaching a water hazard, the photographer capturing the point at which the car is about to enter the water, with its reflection perfectly etched upon its surface. Although individual awards are not listed for this event in ‘Cowbourne’, Donaldson did pick up an award as a member of the three-car prize winning team. (Image courtesy of LAT Photographic Plate ref: C261)

Triple M corner no.34

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The MG J2 Midget was fitted with twin SU carburetors and featured a cross-flow cylinder head. This Motor Sport engine bay/firewall area image should aid J2 Midget restorers seeking originality. (Image courtesy LAT Photographic)

Triple M corner no.33

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Throughout the early thirties Charles Wynn wrote a column for The Autocar entitled Touring Topics. The column was invariably headed up by a photograph, which in many cases had been submitted by a reader, and depicted an interesting touring related scene. The LAT archive contains many original pieces of The Autocar artwork which in the case of Touring Topics consisted of a re-touched photo, graphically overwritten in a studio. This is a scan of one such item showing JJ 673, a late 1932 London registered MG J2 Midget on Exmoor, Devon, the photo first appearing in a September 1933 edition of the magazine. (Image courtesy of LAT Photographic)

Triple M Corner no.32

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The supercharged 750 cc ‘C’ Type Midget was MG’s third successful racing car variant after the 12/12 and Le Mans Midgets of 1930. In 1931 a team of ‘C’ Types swept the board at the last running of the Brooklands Double Twelve event, the winning car being driven by the Earl of March and C.S. Staniland who covered 1575 miles at an average speed of 65.63 mph. The first five places went to ‘C’ Type Midgets while three Austin Sevens filled positions seven to nine. This photo is another from the Motor Sport archive and is taken from a poor celluloid negative which has been subject to enhancement in Photoshop. (Image courtesy of LAT Photographic)

Triple M Corner no.31

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

MG K3 Magnette JB 1046 is featured here for a second time, on this occasion by courtesy of an uncaptioned Motor Sport image. The photo looks to have been taken at a pre-war hill-climb event. If anyone has further information they can add, then please contact info@prewarminor.com (Image courtesy of LAT Photographic)

Triple M Corner no.30

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Jensen Motors of West Bromwich were a highly successful coachbuilder at a time when many similar businesses were going to the wall. Apart from building a significant number of bodies for Michael McEvoy, including the the two Minor models (60 & 70), the concern also bodied the Hornet and as can be seen from this Light Car cutting at least one J2 MG Midget OJ 4491.

Triple M Corner no.29

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

1930 Midget KR 4806

R. Littlewood-Clarke owned this Kent registered Midget and is presumably driving the car when it was photographed here taking part in the 1932 MCC Sporting Trial held on 15th October 1932. The trial was centered around the Derbyshire town of Buxton and comprised five observed sections, three of which were covered twice – one of these being the notorious Litton Slack. Littlewood Clarke was one of 28 drivers to collect a Premier Award that day. The viaduct seen in the background may be the clue to provide the answer as to precisely where this Motor Sport sourced image was taken. (Image courtesy LAT Photo)

Triple M Corner no.28

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Another image from the Motor Sport photographic archive. This one shows C. W. M. Wicket’s 1930 MG Midget passing an Austin Seven Ulster during the course of the 1931 MCC London – Land’s End Trial held over Good Friday and Easter Saturday – 3rd & 4th April. The Midget (CV 2027) was first registered in Cornwall in 1930 and local man Wicket went on to collect a Gold award at this event. (Image courtesy of LAT Photographic)

Triple M Corner no.27

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This 1929 Bedfordshire registered MG Midget (TM 5284) is seen here competing in the (7th) December 1935 running of the MCC London-Gloucester Trial with L. Onslow-Bartlett at the wheel. At some point after June 1932 the car had been fitted with a McEvoy body (source Cowbourne) although this head-on view doesn’t permit many of the differences with the standard example to be seen. What the image does reveal is that the front wings are home-made cycle types while the front dumb-iron valance has been removed and the slatted radiator surround is another non-standard addition. The MCC awarded this  car/driver combination a third class award upon completion of the trial.

This image is located in the Motor Sport archive and is reproduced here courtesy of LAT Photographic.

Triple M Corner no.26

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

13th, 14th May 1932 MCC London – Edinburgh Trial

MG Magna TK 7277 was driven by S.W. Cottee and is seen here climbing Park Rash in the Yorkshire Dales during the course of the 1932 running of the event. Cottee won a Premier Award for his (and the car’s) efforts over the two days.

(This image is held in the Motor Sport image archive and is reproduced here by permission of LAT Photographic)

Triple M Corner no.25

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Launched in July 1934 the MG KN Magnette (pillar-less) Saloon was a six cylinder  fast touring car, just 200 of which were built in its short production life which ended in 1935. (Source: Mike Allison ‘The Magic of the Marque’.) The KN Magnette was built upon the 9′ lwb K chassis and weighed in at just under 16 cwt. (LAT ‘Motor’ Plate 525-8)

Triple M Corner no.24

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

By the start of the 1932 season the original MG Midget was fast approaching the end of its production life. Fabric clad bodies were rapidly disappearing from model ranges, the last Minors  to be thus skinned being the 1931 season Semi-Sports, along with the S.V. and O.H.C. Fabric Saloons and these only sold in very low numbers. The ‘M’ Type Midget was about to give-way to the new J2 model on the Abingdon production lines and just 187 original Midgets were made that season, of which all but 37 were metal paneled cars. A distinguishing feature of these metal clad models was the shorter boot lid made to accommodate the permanently attached hood – note the visible hood rails. (LAT Photo Scan)

Triple M Corner no.23

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marque’s identity.

On 6th May 1933 the JCC International Trophy Race took place at the Brooklands circuit in Surrey. The race was held over a distance of 250 miles with 28 cars making it to the starting line. Although the Honourable Brian Lewis won the race in an Alfa Romeo the next three places went to the MG K3 Magnettes of E.R. Hall, Mrs Elsie Wisdom and Earl Howe. Just eight cars finished the race. This photo (LAT Plate C159) shows the MG Car Company chief executive Cecil Kimber standing between the ‘Eddie’ Hall car and that of Mrs ‘Bill’ Wisdom shortly after the end of the three hour race.

Triple M Corner no.22

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

A Midget and a Hornet feature in this LAT image (B5613) which was taken during the course of the 1931 running of the JCC Half Day Trial. The two-tone Hornet Coachbuilt Saloon (GH 6250) seen on the left was first registered in London in the late summer of 1930 and looks as if it is in absolutely standard trim. The metal paneled MG Midget Sportman’s Coupe is registered MG 872 and carries the competition no. 3. If anyone knows more about this car please contact the website.

Triple M Corner no.21

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Competition number 124 adorned the car entered by J.A. Arber to the 1932 MCC London-Land’s End Trial, that took place on the 25th and 26th March. Arber’s Midget (as detailed by Cowbourne) can be seen here being assisted up one of the nine observed hill sections. Despite this he went on to collect a Silver Award. His car looks to be an MG D Type but has rear hanging doors – perhaps an MG specialist can help identify the model? (LAT Plate B7807) Edited to add: Thanks to the help of the Triple M Forum, Sam Christie, Ted Hack & Cathelijne Spoelstra for identifying the car as an MG D Type Jarvis Special Midget DO360, first registered as PJ 3201, which has survived and is now resident in Luxembourg.

Triple M Corner no.20

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

J.A. Berry was a prolific Midget competitor throughout the early thirties. His M Type (MG 704) can be seen in at least three different guises in the surviving images. The first of these from the autumn of 1930 shows his car in standard trim among the competitors at a High Speed Trial event at Brooklands, while the image to be seen here (LAT 5426) reflects some of the changes made over the coming months. Most noticeable of these is the modified windscreen which has been fitted with taller side elements presumably to aid visibility with the hood erected. A modified manifold has also been fitted allowing the exhaust to exit to the bonnet side while the bore of the exhaust pipe is significantly larger than on the standard vehicle. By June 1932 Berry had the first McEvoy designed body fitted to MG 704, a photograph appearing in that months edition of Motor Sport.

Triple M Corner no.19

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

1930 MG Midget RX 6795 (2m/1594) was a demonstrator owned by the M.G. Car Company that achieved great fame when in May 1930 it ascended the famous Beggar’s Roost trials hill in Devon 100 times. This particular image was taken that very same month during the course of that years MCC London- Edinburgh Trial. The snippet that follows is taken from a May 1930 Auto Motor Journal.

RX 6795 Beggars Roost 100 ascents May 1930 Midget Auto Motor Journal ws

Triple M corner no.18

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Another Midget Coupe features this week. TF 3009 was an October  1930 Lancashire registered car which carried the chassis number CM 1982. The car was completed at Abingdon on 28th July 1930 and then took a full two months before it was first registered on 6th October, its new owner being J. M. Toulmin. It is seen here taking part in possibly its first event – the 1931 running of the Reliance Cup Trial also held in October that year. Incidentally Toulmin had driven an Arrow Minor Special at the MCC’s Sporting Trial just a couple of weeks previously and was awarded a Silver Medal. (LAT Plate B7310)

Hornet Specials no.3

By Hornet Specials, Triple M corner

From late 1930 onwards until 1935 the Wolseley Hornet chassis kept many coachbuilding firms in business. Around twenty such concerns built an array of ‘special’ bodies covering the whole gamut of body shapes and sizes. This series of images will attempt to illustrate that rich variety.

Michael McEvoy was quick to spot the sporting potential in the six cylinder Wolseley Hornet chassis when it first appeared in April 1930. By the summer of that year he had designed and built one of the earliest Hornet Specials and commenced selling them through his Leaper Street, Derby and Notting Hill, London premises. This mid-1930 Derby City Council registered car is possibly one of the earliest sold and is seen here taking part in the 1931 running of the Reliance Trial – crew unknown.

Triple M Corner no.17

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This sequence of five MG J2 images have been scanned from half-plate glass negatives only recently re-discovered in the LAT archive. The plate numbers are; L5635 – L5639 inclusive.

Triple M Corner no.16

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The eleventh running of the  MCC Sporting Trial took place on 17th October 1931, starting and finishing in Buxton, Derbyshire. The trial commenced at 10:00 AM with 50 cars taking part all of which were required to make two circuits of the course including the four observed hills. W. W. Whitnall took part in PG 993, a 1929 Surrey registered MG Coupe Special (perhaps a Jarvis model?) collecting a Premier Award. Whitnall entered another four pre-war Sporting Trials exclusively using a Morris Minor as his car of choice on each occasion. (LAT Plate B7289)

Triple M Corner no.15

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The 1934 running of the MCC London-Exeter Trial took place over the 28th and 29th December and S.E.H. Bowyer was competing in the event for just the second time, having taken part in a Wolseley Hornet Coupe in December 1933 and picking up a Bronze Award. He fared better in 1934 taking a Silver Award in his new MG PA Midget ?KL 316, the model having been launched in March of that year. The location of this observed section (one of five such sections) is unknown. (LAT C5176)

Triple M Corner no.14

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

The second RAC Rally took place between 14th and 18th March 1933. There were nine starting points located across the UK mainland, starters from all points having to complete 1000 miles, their final destination being Hastings on the Sussex coast where a coachwork (or concours) competition took place on the fourth day. J2 Midget AKE 212 was driven by H.H. Oak-Rhind and is seen here leaving a ‘control’ although where this image was taken is not evident. The car looks remarkably clean so it’s likely to have been taken at the very start of the rally. Mr. Oak-Rhind did not feature among the prize winners in 1933 although he returned the following year to take part in the RAC  ‘Bournemouth’ rally, once again in an MG. (LAT Plate B9677)

Hornet Specials No.2

By Triple M corner

The Wolseley Hornet chassis was extremely popular with coachbuilders who generally marketed their cars through selected retail dealerships. A number of these same dealers designed their own bodies which were then built by their coachbuilder of choice to be retailed through their own car sales showrooms.  One such car retailer was Fox & Nicholl of Kingston, Surrey who designed this attractive Hornet Two-seater which was built by Abbey Coachworks of Merton in 1932. As can be seen from an article in the ‘From the vault’ series an example of this model went on to win a class prize at the 1932 Eastbourne Concours event.

Triple M Corner no.13

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Earl Howe’s K3 Magnette (JB 1472), second in class to Eyston’s K3 (the outright winner on handicap) in the April 1933 running of the Mille Miglia, is seen here at the Eastbourne Coachwork Competition (or concours) held just a few weeks later in June of that year. The significance of the very tall gentleman is not known and neither is the identity of the man looking directly at the camera and standing immediately behind the car. (LAT Plate C0755)

Triple M Corner no.12

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

J.A. Bastock was a distinguished MG driver throughout the thirties period, taking part in every MCC Lands End Trial from 1931 until 1939. In his first two appearances in ’31 and ’32 he was forced to retire. However in 1933 driving J2 Midget OJ 3305 he earned himself a Premier Award as seen here in this beautiful back-lit shot. (LAT Plate C007)

Early Hornet Specials no.1

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The Wolseley Hornet chassis was a favourite basis upon which the nations coachbuilder’s could apply their craft.  This series will bring just a few of these examples into focus, courtesy of the image quality of the glass plate negatives stored in the LAT archive.

Maltby’s of Folkstone created this four-seat tourer body in early 1932. The design is conservative and mainstream being similar in appearance to a number of  Hornet models that were exiting coachbuilders workshops at this time. Worthy of mention is the small boot inside which sits the fuel filler cap and the spare wheel leaving little room for luggage in the space remaining. (LAT Plate Large 5552)

Triple M Corner no.11

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This photograph was taken in December 1934 at an MG Car Club  – Manchester Section Trial. The car in question (a J2 Midget XJ 7392?) was first registered in Manchester in early 1933 and is seen here climbing a sunken dirt track somewhere in the Pennines. (LAT Plate C5070)

Triple M Corner no.10

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Three factory sponsored MG PA’s entered by George Eyston were co-driven by six women at the 1935 Le Mans event. Dubbed Eyston’s Dancing Daughters by the press in part homage to a well known all female dancing troupe of the period the team performed very well, bringing all three cars home.  Two of the cars can be seen in this LAT image (C6331), car 55 being driven by either Doreen Evans or Barbara Skinner (of White Minor fame) while car 57 had either Coleen Eaton or Margaret Allan at the wheel. The third PA was driven by Joan Richmond and Barbara Simpson.

Triple M Corner no.9

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This image was taken on 8th December 1934 on an observed section of the MCC’s London-Gloucester Trial.  MG J2 Midget no. 57 KV 5437 (a 1933 Coventry registered car) was being driven by Mrs. M.M. Riley who went on to win the Ladies Cup that day, successfully completing all 13 sections of the tough course. Her mud bespattered male crew member looks as if he has deliberately left his arm resting in the wake of the detritus thrown up by the car’s front wheels. LAT Plate C5071

Triple M Corner no.8

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

1932 MG Midget Jarvis Special

UT 9953 was a January 1932 Leicestershire registered Jarvis Midget Special. It’s pictured here taking part in the 1933 MCC London/Edinburgh Trial on 2nd or 3rd June on one of the four observed hill sections. It was driven by M.H. Rowell who collected a Premier Award. (LAT C628)

Triple M Corner no.7

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

1932 MG J2 Midget RX 9980

The J2 Midget succeeded the M Type and was announced to the world via 5th August 1932 editions of both the Light Car and The Autocar. Just a single broadside view of the new car appeared in the Light Car while an array of images greeted The Autocar reader along with a full Road Test report (No.739). On the 18th February 1933 the car that was the subject of that road test, RX 9980 was photographed while taking part in the SUNBAC Colmore Trial on the Warwickshire/Gloucestershire borders. It was driven by J.R. Temple and carried a female passenger. It’s seen here fording a stream in what looks to be very cold conditions with evidence of snow on the ground. The car and crew performed particularly well as they collected a First Class Award for their toils. Could J.R. Temple be associated with Temple Press, the publishers of both the Motor and Light Car magazines? (LAT Plate B9477)

Triple M Corner no.6

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Fingle Bridge, Dartmoor 29th December 1934

Three MGs , two Midgets and a Magna await their turn in a beautiful winter setting before ascending the hill at Fingle Bridge during the course of the 1934 MCC London-Exeter Trial. Leading the way in car number 165 is H.E.F. Maddrell who went on to collect a Silver award as did R.J. Harter in the Magna (166) at the rear. A close examination of this LAT image C5153 reveals that the almost completely concealed competition number of the middle car ends in a 7. If the car’s competition number was 167 then it was driven by J. Shewell-Cooper who also went on to collect a Silver award.

Triple M Corner no.5

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

A.S.R. Payne’s Magna Coupe is seen here competing in the 1935 MCC ‘Lands End’ Trial where the pairing gained a Bronze award. The ‘L’ Magna was powered by a 1086 cc six cylinder OHC engine (a smaller version of the 1271 cc unit) This photo was almost certainly taken by the noted automotive photographer W.J. Brunell and is an LAT ‘Motor’ plate reference 739-8.

Triple M Corner no.4

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This LAT Photo Scan was taken at the 1935 ‘Abingdon’ trial and features one of the three musketeer team cars Aramis (JB 4750) being enthusiastically driven through what looks to be a farm yard, or could this be the rear of the MG Abingdon factory? The car, is a six cylinder MG NE Magnette, but who was driving at this time was not captioned on the reverse of the photo and neither were the details of the location. Hopefully one of the Triple M experts will provide this missing data.

Triple M Corner no.3

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

RX 7429 MG Midget Sportsman’s Coupe: These heavily retouched pre and post event photographs appeared in separate January 1931 editions of The Autocar. The car was entered for the 1931 Monte Carlo Rally by Francis Samuelson who in June of the previous year had competed in the Le Mans 24 hour race in a specially adapted Double Twelve version of the Midget. After Le Mans he took his Midget to Spa, the car having been entered for the Belgium 24 hour race the following weekend. Later in 1931 Samuelson took part once again in the Le Mans 24 hour race, on this occasion in a ‘C’ Type Midget. As is clear from the photographs car and crew successfully reached Monaco.

Triple M Corner no.2

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

This MG K3 Magnette JB 1046 was driven by G W J H Wright in the 1933 Monte Carlo Rally finishing 64th in its class. This image featured in the 27th January 1933 edition of The Autocar. (Retouched photo – LAT Photographic)

Triple M Corner no.1

By Triple M corner

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget and continued through to the mid-thirties via a long string of four and six cylinder OHC engined cars that forged the marques identity.

Seen above is a 1934 season MG L1 Magna Continental Coupe which first appeared in the 1st September 1933 edition of The Autocar. Despite a striking two-tone colour scheme the model was a very slow seller with just 100 finding customers. The six cylinder crossflow head 1086 CC engine produced 41 bhp while the car was stopped by 12″ drum brakes operated by cables. The car cost £350 at launch. (LAT Photo scan)

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