Vehicle Description
In the late 1940s, American soldiers serving in Europe had acquired
a taste for the small, light and stylish cars they saw on European
roads, and as they returned stateside, a number of them brought
those cars home with them. Among the most popular of these sporty
new imports were from the tiny English manufacturer MG. Americans
had fallen for the charming little TC, which would lead to sales
that were previously unseen in the marque's history. The T-Series
inspired a new wave of enthusiasts who fully established the marque
in the hearts of American sports car fans. In 1950, the spindly and
decidedly pre-war TC gave way to the much improved TD which was
wider, roomier and offered more stable handling thanks to its
smaller wheels, independent front suspension and rack and pinion
steering. The engine was the same 1,250 c.c. XPAG four-cylinder
carried over from the TC, its 55 horsepower giving leisurely
straight line performance, but returning an enjoyable and sprightly
drive when the road got twisty. With sports cars rapidly gaining in
popularity, cars like the Triumph TR2, Austin Healey 100 and
Corvette made the traditionally-styled TD look rather dated. The
aftermarket industry was growing as owners personalized their cars
to stand out from the crowd. A number of independent designers and
hop-up shops began using fiberglass to make new bodies for a wide
array of chassis. Fiberglass was inexpensive, forgiving to work
with and capable of being formed into virtually any shape possible.
A number of enthusiasts turned to these aftermarket companies to
source stylish new bodywork to keep their sporty cars looking
fresh. A few, such as the young David Hawks of Los Angeles, went so
far as to build their own personal interpretation of the perfect
sports car. Our featured car is David Hawks' creation; the 1955
Hawk-MG Special, a 1952 MG TD wearing a one-off fiberglass body
designed and built by David and his father, the famous Hollywood
director Howard Hawks. The story of this car is nearly as
intriguing as the gorgeous, Ferrari-like styling. It begins with
the 1952 film "Monkey Business" starring Cary Grant, Marilyn
Monroe, Ginger Rogers and Charles Coburn. The film was directed by
Howard Hawks and the MG, then a standard TD, was featured is
several scenes. After filming had wrapped, Howard Hawks acquired
the car and offered it to his son David. But David would have none
of it. He had seen a new Ferrari parked on the showroom floor of a
Beverly Hills sports car dealer, and his heart was set on the
svelte Italian beauty. We can only imagine the conversation that
took place when David refused the offer of a nearly-new car from
his father, but a father-son "compromise" was ultimately reached
and young David took possession of the MG. As part of the deal, a
new body for the TD would be designed fitted to the chassis so
David could have the Ferrari looks without the expense. So, using
resources at the movie studio, a small team consisting of David and
Howard Hawks, one of David's friends and some prop builders got to
work constructing a new body out of fiberglass. Starting with a
drawing, the team made a wood and plaster buck, which they used to
refine the shape. A female mold was built on top of it, and the
body was built up inside that mold using fiberglass cloth. The team
was skilled enough to add additional layers of matting in
high-stress areas, and the body (minus the aluminum hood) was built
in one piece. The finished body was a gorgeous creation - one that
gracefully combined the best elements of the Touring and Vignale
styles of the Ferrari 166 Barchetta. The front end features a
lovely egg-crate grille, while the slab-sided simple flanks are
dotted with Vignale-esque oval port holes. The body has no doors,
which keeps the body very rigid and gives it a clean look - with
flanks that invoke the Touring-built Barchetta. Even special enamel
Hawk badges were made for the front and rear body. David Hawks
enjoyed the car for a while, but just like many of us in our
exuberant youth, he soon tired of it and moved on to something more
modern. But subsequent owners recognized the aesthetic beauty,
remarkably high quality construction, and historical importance of
the car and ensured its story lived on. The most notable of those
enthusiasts was Gene Ponder of Texas, who kept a large collection
of important sports and GT cars from the 1930s through the 1960s.
He had a love for Ferraris as well as for MGs, so he was naturally
attracted to the Hawk MG. Ponder restored the car in 2007,
enlisting the help of David Hawks to fine tune the details. Today,
the Hawk MG remains in beautiful condition. Repainted in Romany Red
as original, the paint is beautiful and the car features many fine
details such as Lucas Tri-Bar headlamps, polished alloy grille and
port-hole vents, and a set of sparkling Borrani wire wheels shod
with period-correct Michelin radials complete the look. The
interior is trimmed in new tan leather, and floors lined in German
squareweave carpet, maintaining a wonderful period feel.
Performance lives up to the looks thanks to the 1,250cc XPAG engine
which was fully rebuilt by Ponder, and fitted with a period
Marshall Rootes-type supercharger. The engine is beautifully
detailed with a polished alloy valve cover, polished and detailed
blower, and period correct fittings. Louvered alloy inner fenders
show the attention to detail given the construction of the Hawk.
The chassis mechanicals are all MG TD, and have been highly
detailed to match the sparkle of the beautiful coachwork. This
unique and stylish special is a fascinating example of what could
be done in period with some desire, a bit of creativity and the
help of a professional Hollywood studio prop department! This
wonderful car is loaded with character and a charming history; sure
to be a welcome sight on any driving event or concours.