MG Car Club of South Australia

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The MG M-type was produced by the MG Car company from April 1929 to 1932. It was sometimes referred to as the 8/33. Launched at the 1928 London Motor Show when the sales of the larger MG saloons was faultering because of the economic climate, the small car brought MG ownership to a new sector of the market and probably saved the company. Early cars were made in the Cowley factory, but from 1930 production had transferred to Abingdon.

This 2 door sports car used an updated version of the four-cylinder bevel-gear driven overhead camshaft engine used in the 1928 Morris Minor and Wolseley 10 with a single SU carburettor giving 20 bhp (15 kW) at 4000 rpm. Drive was to the rear wheels through a three speed non-synchromesh gearbox. The chassis was based on the one used in the 1928 Morris Minor with lowered suspension using half elliptic springs and Hartford friction shock absorbers with rigid front and rear axles and bolt on wire wheels. The car had a wheelbase of 78 inches (1980 mm) and a track of 42 inches (1067 mm).

1930 brought a series of improvements to the car. The Morris rod brake system, with the handbrake working on the transmission, was replaced a cable system with cross shaft coupled to the handbrake and the transmission brake deleted. Engine output was increased to 27 bhp (20 kW) by improving the camshaft and a four speed gearbox was offered as an option. The doors became front hinged. A supercharged version could be ordered from 1932 raising the top speed to 80 mph (130 km/h).

Early bodies were fabric covered using a wood frame, this changed to all metal in 1931. Most cars had bodies made by Carbodies of Coventry and fitted by MG in either open two seat or closed two door "Sportsmans" coupé versions but some chassis were supplied to external coachbuilders such as Jarvis. The factory even made a van version as a service vehicle. The car could reach 65 mph (105 km/h) and return 40 miles per gallon. The open version cost £175 at launch, soon rising to £185, and the coupé cost £245. The 1932 supercharged car cost £250.

The M-type had considerable sporting success both privately and with official teams winning gold medals in the 1929 Land's End Trial and class wins in the 1930 "Double Twelve" race at Brooklands. An entry was also made in the 1930 Le Mans 24 hour but neither of the two cars finished.

Attention Pre War, T Type, Y Type Owners! If you recognise your cars photograph below please contact / send me a short story about it. If you have a better photo please send that to me as well. The more detail we get the better the web site	Please quote your vehicle number listed beside the photo of your car.
Send your photo's and stories to:	Email Webmaster: mikeg@adam.com.au

	MG Y Type Tourer Whilst driving past MG Sales & Service on Torrens road in April, 2005 I saw this Maroon MGY Tourer in the show room, I said to myself, I have to stop and have a look at this! I went inside had a look, asked a few questions, the car was immaculate, apart from needing a good surface clean, the car was fully restored. So I went home and jumped on the internet and found that the model is quite rare, so after tossing and turning, that night, decided I would go back and buy the Y as a stable mate for the MGA. Malcolm Leahy
	Bill Schapel's MG Y Tourer. Lou passed on his white Y Tourer to Bill around 1990 and the car has seen plenty of action on the track and the road, winning trophies at two Natmeets in speed events, but with a patina rapidly approaching "scruffy" it has not troubled the scorers at Concours! Nevertheless a useful and much-loved old girl, she has carried Bill and Jenny's daughters about in style from childhood to adulthood and continues, with an engine originally prepared for racing in Bob's TC Special, to surprise any unwary MTT buses, even showing a clean pair of heels to most road-going TCs or TFs. Will one day soon be re-painted and upgraded. She deserves it.
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	MG Y Type - Also known as a 1¼ litre, No Y6594. Built about September 1951. Current owner: Michael Lyons – Glenelg, South Australia. Vehicle Details: Chassis Y6594, Body No. 5261/5212, 1.250 Litre MG 5261, Car No 831,SPZ12092, Engine No. XPAGSCX16397, Body is Maroon / Autumn Red, Upholstery is Dark red with Beige piping. The car was restored 1972/1974 by Mr Allen Colmer. A nice article was written about Mr Colmer and the 1¼ Litre in Sport & Classic Car’s September 1991 issue by Mr Dennis Harrison and the photo’s by Mrs Margaret Harrison. This photo is from the 2003 MG National Meeting at Shepparton, Victoria, where it won 1 st Place in the Concours for MG Y Saloon’s and Tourer’s. I purchased the Y from a gentleman who owned a private museum where the car was on display for 6 years. I have driven the car just over 5000 miles in the time that I have owned it. It is an excellent car to drive when you consider that it is almost 60 years old. The car was designed in 1939 just before WW 2 but did not go into production until 1947 because of the outbreak of the war. Michael doing it his Y. Sept 2005.
	This particular YA Type is the oldest one in the club, being # 899 of this type made. The vehicle was purchased new in 1947 by Rendell Kyfin-Thomas a member of the Sporting Car Club. It was then owned by relatives of Stan Shepherd until 1994 when it was purchased by David Pearson and partially restored. I believe that the original colour was black with red upholstery. David changed it to a light green with green upholstery. It is now owned by: Barry & Nancy Softley of Lockleys, who purchased it in May 2003.



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	MG Y Type 1948 Graham & Pat Loader, Chassis No. is 1201. We had sold our Escort ( more competition orientated ) and were looking for a car ( possibly a Magnette ) for use in picnic type runs and were offered this Y Type by another fellow MGCC member. He had owned the car for many years and was in the process of restoring it ( engine had been reconditioned and the body painted ) but didn’t’ think he would have the time to finish as it had mostly sat in a shed for the previous 9 years. We went and had a look not even knowing what a Y looked like, we wiped off the dust, Pat loved the look of it and we purchased it in May 2003. After many hours of work the restoration has been completed and it hit the road in Sept 2005. We are now looking forward to joining in the numerous runs available with the club. See Featured articles for more photos.
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