The Complete Book of Classic MG Cars covers all the marque's collectible production saloons and sports cars, from the 14/28 and 14/40 sports cars to the iconic postwar convertibles like the MGA and MGB, as well as latter-day takes on the classic MG formula, such as the RV8. First produced in Oxford, England, in 1924, MG cars proved instantly appealing, with a cheeky spirit that would win the hearts of millions around the globe, not least of all in the United States. This was due in no small part to the fact that the price was as attractive as the styling and the performance. Inexpensive and fun became quintessential MG traits. In this installment of
Motorbooks' Complete Book series, author Ross Alkureishi offers a
chronological model-by-model marque history. Narratives discuss design, production, and technology, while specification tables highlight key technical and performance data.
Hundreds of photos illustrate the vehicles and even include
detail shots of engine bays and interiors.
Originally formed as a side business, MG became one of the world's most recognized car brands. From prewar saloons to fast and affordable two-seat sports cars in the pre- and postwar periods, MG has exuded fun, thanks to models like the
Midgets and
Magnettes, the traditionally styled
T-Types, and the vehicles that would become the marque’s most recognizable: the
MGA,
MGB, and
MGC. MG would undergo several ownership changes throughout the years, and Alkureishi expertly shows how different ownership groups affected MG cars, good or bad. Along the way, the company competed on racetracks around the world, and Alkureishi describes the most successful of these exploits in complementary sidebars.
The Complete Book of Classic MG Cars is the essential guide to this important chapter in the history of motoring.
The MGA truly marked a revolution in MG sports car design. It broke with time-honoured tradition that had serviced the majority of MG sports cars for well over thirty years. The MGA truly marked a revolution in MG sports car design, with its appearance quite unlike any previous production car from the celebrated British marque. Entering production in the summer of 1955, it broke with the time-honoured tradition of narrow-gutted, flat-sides, upright styling, with the distinctive large grille, exposed headlamps, separate wings and sharply cut-off tail that had serviced the majority of MG sports cars for well over thirty years. Many die-hard MG enthusiasts of the time were understandably outraged, but the decision to break with tradition proved to be a good one: over 100,000 cars were produced over the model's seven-year lifetime. A comprehensive look at the MGA and how it marked a revolution in MG sports car design. Details the circumstances leading up to the decision to make such a fundamental design change. David Knowles has been researching and writing about British cars for over twenty-five years.
