Topic

Can I be a little pedantic about the assertion in earlier posts that Old Number One was the first MG sports car. According to MG by F Wilson McComb which is regarded as the definitive MG history the first sports MG was the 1923/24 Raworth bodied two seater based on the 11.9hp Morris Cowley chassis.

[attachment=4427]

Sorry about picture quality.

Oh goody goody - Can of worms

Hey Alan - what it is to have books - yes, books available on MG. I have to goggle - sorry, google everything

I've only just bought the third edition of this book although I borrowed it from the library many years ago. I knew it was second hand but was a little surprised to find a stamp "Leeds Libraries discard" in it.

Another photo of the first MG sports car

I would concurr Alan,

this is taken from the MGOC website

...The first cars known MGs were in fact special bodied Morris Cowleys. Old Number One was first seen at the 1925 Lands End Trial. Cecil Kimber had the car specially built to compete in the trial and this was indeed based on a bullnose Morris Cowley chassis.

Which suggests there were previous cars known as MG's, however Old No. 1 was first MG sports car to display the MG Octagonal badge....apparently

Maybe that is a more accurate sentence than it being the first Sports car, although would you actually call those first Morris MG's sports cars????


I know nothing, just read and plagiarise from the Tinternet

Gadget2466 wrote: wrote:

I would concurr Alan,

, however Old No. 1 was first MG sports car to display the MG Octagonal badge....apparently

From the MGCC website

http://www.mgcc.co.uk/about-the-club-topmenu-85/history-of-the-badge.html

"Of course using a stylish logo as part of advertising is one thing: mounting it on the nose of a car is another, and for Cecil Kimber this was arguably something of a risky gamble, for removing all reference to the Morris parentage of these cars could well have led to a clash of egos between Kimber and his patron, Sir William. Perhaps partly for that reason alongside the evolution of the MG sports car species the MG badge did not appear prominently on the nose of a car until 1927."

and the next question is...?

Sorry, I've been a bit busy with work today. Bit of a shock - postdoctoral work is meant to be relaxing.

Anyway, here we go. What is this, and what is particularly special about it?

That is one of the most famous MGA Le Mans racers, SRX 210, owned by Bob West. This is the car registered SRX 210 that Ted Lund raced at Le Mans three years in a row, winning its class in 1961.

Is this SRX210





Modified body MGA fastback coupe Modified Fastback, Twin Cam, Le Mans 1959-61.
MGA Twin Cam SRX 210 competed in the 24 hour Le Mans race three times between 1959 and 1961. In 1960 it finish first in class and 12th overall. Now believed to be a reincarnation of LBL303 EX192 car, probably using a 1955 Le Mans body shell.


EDIT ..... Should have posted quicker when I saw Martin log on

Spot on. I could be pedantic and say that what I was particularly after was the fact this car, while being the only works Twin Cam to go racing, wasn't actually entered by MG, it was entered by the MG Car Club, mainly due to company politics if I recall.

I should have left that fact in as the sites I checked mentioned the MGCC, doh! And the other fact that this was an aluminium bodyshell, too.

Next question, then:
The photo is clearly of an MGB GT. There is just one small clue as to the age of the car that identifies what Mk it is. Can you identify the clue and state the Mk of the GT in the photo?

I can tell it's got a non-OE bumper on it...

But differentiating between MK1 and MK2 is difficult, given the biggest difference the 4 synchro box. Chrome grille and steel wheels were common on both. Not sure about the union flag badge, but I think that was an option for both as well.