News and views

Well spring seems to be arriving and the Centenary Year of MG started well with MG Spares day back at Stoneleigh last month. It was just like old times and the three halls seem better laid out although those of us attending in an MG missed the designated indoor parking of previous years!

A great turnout from the continentals who, I’m sure, outnumbered the English at the unofficial midday meet at the Triple M Register stand. Many events have been organised for the rest of the year. we listed some in Dispatch 77 and more can be found on the MGCC and Triple M Websites with details of dates and times. We’re hoping PreWar Prescott on the 15th July in particular will have a bumper turnout of D Types, the entry list is already showing a few! But we are promised some Triple M and T type racing at MG live this year on 10th/11th June so should be worth a visit.

In the cars for sale piece in Dispatch 76 Tony Mowbray’s D0353 has found a new home with an enthusiastic Huw Davies in Northamptonshire and pictured here in his garage, the J1 body tub was added during an earlier restoration.

At the time of writing the other car for sale in Dispatch 76, D0377 is still for sale. A probable non-survivor was recently shown on Facebook pictured in a scrap yard presumably from the sixties or seventies.

If it rings a bell with anyone I would love to hear from you! Another interesting recent picture on Facebook was this one from Japan of UG 4653 (see Dispatch 47).

We thought then this was D0442 because it had that guarantee plate but we know now it is definitely not. What we need is someone to visit the Yorkshire Archives, the ‘UG’ records are in the Wakefield branch, to see which car UG 4653 was assigned to at the beginning!

Bits and Pieces

Firstly has anyone a set, top and bottom, both sides, of D/J1/F1 windscreen supports? We have a D owner rebuilding a J1 in the States in urgent need. I can post from here; email me if you can help.

Haydon Edwards is being pressed to do another batch of the steering column stalks that take the horn and/or dip switch as per this picture:

These were an aftermarket accessory for M’s and D’s and other cars and they take the Lucas HD77 switch and others. See Dispatch 23. Let me know in the first instance if of interest.

I have another 6 bonnet catches for the D (and J1/F1):
They need tidying or re-chroming, not forgetting that originally, certainly on the D, I’m sure these were painted bonnet colour. Just £7 each plus p&p.

Also I have for sale this interesting oil gauge. This is a barrel roll type which changes from red to white when oil is up to pressure. I used this on D0311 till I found an original ‘Shutter’ type.

It comes complete with retaining clip and pipe adapter and is the correct size for the instrument panel. See Dispatch 55 for more info.’ £45 plus p&p.

Car for sale

A historic D Type has come on the market – this is D0252 the oldest surviving D and the second production one.

Owner Mike Goodwin tells me it has an electric radiator fan, hydraulic brakes just re-lined and new wheel cylinders all round; 4 speed J type gearbox, larger 9” Lucas headlamps and new alloy fuel tank. It is number 2523 with the Triple M Register. I have a few more pictures I can pass on but Mike can be contacted on (001) 954-319-3245 for more details. The car is in Florida and the asking price is $22,000 (US Dollars).