The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget 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.

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.

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget 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)

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.

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget 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.

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget 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.

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget 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.

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget 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.

The Triple M series of MG’s all belong to a family of models that commenced with the 1929 MG Midget 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)

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)