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

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

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.

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

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)

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.

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.

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

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.

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