The MG marque is a pillar of Britain’s thriving classic car movement and much adored the world over – not least in the US to where a high percentage of the Abingdon-produced cars were exported. It is therefore alarming to recall that the famous Octagon brand came close to running out of road as recently as 13 years ago, and almost certainly would have done had it not been for the Chinese.
There is ample evidence that the vehicles are being embraced by a new breed of customer, as well those already loyal to the brand.
| Publication Information |
|---|
| Cover Price: Free |
| Page Count: 20 pages |
| Subject: Aviation, Cars, Maritime, Military, Motorsport, People |
| Format: Digital (pdf) |
| Frequency: Quarterly |
| Publisher: British Motor Heritage |
| From Abingdon to Shanghai |
Download British Motor Heritage’s Winter 2018 Motoring Classics Magazine below!
Motoring Classics Winter 2018
The MG marque is a pillar of Britain’s thriving classic car movement and much adored the world over – not least in the US to where a high percentage of the Abingdon-produced cars were exported. It is therefore alarming to recall that the famous Octagon brand came close to running out of road as recently as 13 years ago, and almost certainly would have done had it not been for the Chinese. We decided to bring the story up-to-date and hope you’ll be as encouraged by our findings as we are.
Sadly, another of our great automotive institutions is now in danger, the British Grand Prix. Despite its unrivalled history and immense popularity, it is no longer a financially viable option for its hosts, the Silverstone-based British Racing Drivers’ Club. Incredibly, this means that unless a new mutually acceptable deal can soon be agreed, the 2019 race could be the last – hence our decision to review this much-loved event. Talking of Grands Prix – the saga of the Cuban one of 1958 takes some topping, and will amaze you if you haven’t encountered it before.
Driving is an inherently dangerous pastime, so a 100 percent record in UK road safety is an unobtainable goal. However, it’s incumbent on all of us to help achieve the best result that’s humanly possible on a small island containing almost 40million vehicles. A man who’s devoted most of his working life to this challenge is Paul Ripley, aka ‘God’s Chauffeur’, and his insights are certainly thought-provoking – are you listening Mr Grayling?
This issue’s Missing Moniker concerns the dual purpose Amphicar. There’ve been several attempts to productionise a car that’s as happy in water as on the road, of which this 1960s curiosity is still the most globally recognised.
Our Classic Character this time is Beatrice Shilling, a tiny woman the brainpower and courage of whom has arguably never been sufficiently lauded. Add in the most recent news from BMH and the trials and tribulations of its race team, and that just about covers the last edition of Motoring Classics for another year.
Happy reading and a very merry Christmas!
Gordon Bruce, Editor
For all the latest news, offers and great tips … Motoring Classics
Cuban Kidnap
Sixty years ago this year, five-time World Drivers’ Champion Juan Manuel Fangio was kidnapped at gunpoint by Fidel Castro’s revolutionaries on the eve of the Cuban Grand Prix.
From Abingdon To Shanghai: How The Chinese Are Breathing New Life Into The MG Brand
The history of MG is a tangled web. To this day aficionados debate the origin of the name and even the date the MG Car Company was founded, while between 1924 and 2005 it had no less than eight owners, the last of which, the MG Rover Group, entered receivership in April 2005. At this point, the globally-adored brand seemed destined to join its former stablemates Austin, Austin-Healey, Morris, Riley, Rover, Standard, Triumph and Wolseley in that enormous British automotive graveyard in the sky.
Missing Moniker: Amphicar Model 770
Commander Bond’s ‘swimming’ Lotus from The Spy Who Loved Me is probably still most people’s favourite vision of an amphibious car. Unsurprisingly, so sophisticated amachine remains beyond the scope of affordable mass manufacture. Many attempts have, however, been made to productionise cars that can be driven on (as opposed to under) water, by far the best known being the Amphicar Model 770 – 770 denotes 7 knots on water and 70mph on land.
Classic Character: Beatrice ‘Tilly’ Shilling OBE PhD MSc CEng (1909-1990)
As air warfare between Britain and Germany intensified in 1940, a potentially fatal flaw was found to afflict Britain’s Merlin-powered Spitfire and Hurricane fighters. When placed in a nose dive their carburettors tended to flood, snuffing out the flame – a problem unknown to Luftwaffe pilots, whose Messerschmitt powerplants were fuel injected. Numerous brains were tasked with solving this serious problem, but the one that did so belonged to Beatrice ‘Tilly’ Shilling.
The British Grand Prix: Could 2019 really be the last one?
The first ever race of the FIA Formula One World Championship was the British Grand Prix of 1950, and the British and Italian GPs are the only ones to have been staged every year since that date. The home event has been held at three circuits over the years – Aintree, Brands Hatch and Silverstone – but the vast majority, 52, have occurred at the former WWII bomber airfield of Silverstone, Northamptonshire.
Motoring Classics in Motorsport
British Motor Heritage MD John Yea reports from the cockpit.
Avoid Becoming A Statistic
Road accidents currently claim the lives of c.1.3 million people worldwide every year. With a few minor exceptions, Britain’s record is only bettered by that of Sweden, yet we still managed to kill 1,793 people last year and seriously injure 24,831 more, thereby registering the first rise in casualties since 2011. We counselled ‘God’s Chauffeur’, internationally renowned safe driving expert Paul Ripley, over what we can do to improve the situation.
News From BMH
Managing Director John Yea reveals all.
British Motor Heritage
British Motor Heritage Limited was established in 1975 to support owners and the marketplace by putting genuine components for classic British cars back into manufacture, using original tools wherever possible. Since 2001, when the company was acquired from BMW, it has been successfully run as an independently owned company.
British Motor Heritage is the largest organisation of its type in the world. With access to unparalleled knowledge, authentic production information and original drawings and patterns, the company manufactures previously unobtainable body parts for British classic cars.
It occupies a unique position since it assembles 32 derivatives of body shells and has built total production volume of over 7,000 for the MGB, MGR V8, MG Midget, Austin-Healey Sprite, Triumph TR6, Original Mini and Mini Clubman using original press tools and assembly jigs.
Website: https://www.bmh-ltd.com/
Tex Automotive
Tex Motor Accessories have been manufactured in England for over fifty years, and many of our products are still produced in our factory in Witney on the original tooling.
Since their first appearance on British cars in 1947, Tex products evolved over the years to keep in step with changing car designs. The current range includes wipers and mirrors that were original equipment on a huge range of Austin, Ford, Morris, MG, Triumph, Vauxhall, etc. from 1974 to 1983.
Tex are also major distributors of the Renovo car care product range (specialising in hood refurbishment) and Samco Silicone hose Kits.
Website: https://texautomotive.com/
Motoring Classics is the printed and online publication of British Motor Heritage and its retail trading arm.
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