Vehicle Description
In 1921, a young engineer named Cecil Kimber joined Oxford-based
Morris Garages, a retail dealer founded by William Morris some ten
years earlier. As Kimber grew more familiar with the products in
his role as Sales Manager, his engineer's eye realized the great
potential in Morris' motorcars. Kimber soon began to experiment
with high-performance modifications, the first of which were based
on the humble Morris Cowley. Customers responded positively to
Kimber's efforts and modified cars were soon leaving the Oxford
works to meet customer demand. In approximately 1925, the first
"official" MG was built, affectionately known as "Old Number One",
which was based on a heavily reworked Morris chassis, and powered
by a Hotchkiss engine with an overhead valve cylinder head of
Kimber's design. Old Number One proved quite successful and soon
comprehensively modified customer cars would follow. The cars from
Morris Garages would soon feature unique chassis and bodywork with
heavily reworked Morris engines. By the 1930s, business was booming
for MG and they had a bustling works competition department as well
as strong demand for privateer racing cars and road going sports
cars. In short order, MGs were battling for superiority in the
hotly contested Voiturette racing classes throughout Europe and
Great Britain. Massively competitive, the series were for cars with
engines displacing 750 cc, 1100 cc and 1500 cc respectively, and
were a hotbed of creative engineering. Along with MG, other storied
marques such as Bugatti, Delage, E.R.A. and even Mercedes Benz
contested these championships. One of MG's greatest victories came
in 1933 when a supercharged six-cylinder K3 won the 1100 cc class
of the grueling Mille Miglia. Their successes would have surely
continued into the next decade, but MG had merged completely with
Morris in 1935, and with it the Works racing department was
shuttered, effectively ending MGs world-class racing efforts for
good. Enthusiasts around the globe have kept spirit of early MG
racing cars alive in the form of numerous "specials". Given the
scarcity and value of the factory racers, individual enthusiasts
have built their own tributes using similar road car chassis, often
modified with larger, supercharged engines and lightweight bodies
to mimic that of the giant-slaying works cars. Well-built MG
specials are very much a part of the culture of the marque, and are
widely accepted and welcomed by enthusiasts. Our featured 1933 MG
L-Type special is a fabulous example of the breed and a fine
tribute to the famous Works racing cars from Longwall Street,
Oxford. Recently out of a large private collection, this particular
car was once part of the famous Gene Ponder collection of
significant MG sports cars. In period, the L-Type was a proven
competitor on rallies such as the Monte Carlo and the Tulip, while
the J and K-types did duty on high-speed circuits. Starting with
L-Type chassis, axles, and steering this car was suitably upgraded
with J-Type inspired coachwork that features cycle wings, cut down
cockpit sides and a specially made cowling for the front mounted
supercharger. It is finished in a handsome two-tone black and green
livery, and presents beautifully with very fine quality paintwork
and detailing. A host of period-style accessories highlight the
bodywork, including the high-mount exhaust with Brooklands
silencer, Brooklands aeroscreens, black leather bonnet straps and
proper painted wire wheels (with rear mounted spare) wrapped in
fresh Blockley tires. The two-place cockpit is trimmed in
high-quality green leather, with seats piped in black to mimic the
paint scheme. A black and green canvas boot covers the rear of the
body, while a matching black tonneau cover (also piped in green)
can be fitted for overnight stops or solo driving in cool weather.
As with any proper MG special, the E.N.V preselect gearbox is fully
exposed, with the signature chrome gated gear selector falling
easily to hand. Instrumentation includes a large combination
Tachometer/Speedometer sitting directly in line of the driver's
sight and behind the signature four-spoke Brooklands Bluemels
steering wheel. The purposeful road presence is backed up by a
powerful 1,086 c.c. overhead cam six-cylinder engine. With its
front-mounted Roots-type Magnacharger blower, the �six can punch
well above its weight, with an evocative soundtrack that melds the
whine of the blower, the meshing of gears and a sharp bark from the
semi-flow-through Brooklands exhaust. This MG Special is an
absolute delight to drive; feeling light on its feet, with direct
steering and tremendous power, particularly for a pre-war
automobile displacing under 1,100 cc! Upon its completion in the
late 1980s, the L-Type special was raced in the MG Car Club event
at the storied Silverstone circuit in the UK, and many years later
while in the hands of Mr. Ponder, completed the California Mille.
Thanks to recent attention, it remains a fabulous MG special that
captures the essence of MG's storied competition history in a
captivating well detailed and finely crafted package.
