Beschreibung
A magnificent car, this 1935 MG PB Midget 2-seater was one of only 408 PB sports cars produced. Introduced in 1935, the PB was a development of the PA, having a greater overhead cam engine capacity of 939cc and closer ratio 4 speed gear box. This made the PB very successful when raced or trailed against other makes of cars manufactured during this period.
The life and times of YS 5081.
Service history demonstrates that YS 5081 was delivered to the Scottish Traction Company (believed to have been a car dealership) in Glasgow in December 1935. A few weeks later it was purchased by Tommy Weston and used very successfully in MG Car Club Trials and the Blackpool Rally during 1936. Reporting of the time charts Tommy’s successes and pictures the car being raced. The vehicles performance was boosted with a supercharger (blower) which was later removed, but YS 5081 still retains the crankshaft pulley, oil tap off points and rocker cover mounting column from this time. Other history points towards the car having been fitted with sports type mud guards, brown leather individual seats (replacing the bench seats), Brooklands type windscreens and plinth and that the gear box remote gear change was replaced with an earlier J2 type. The bonnet also had an air scoop formed to force air into the blower.
Not much is known about YS 5081 between this period and 1957, when it is believed that the original gull wings, running boards and rear wings were refitted. The blower and Brooklands windscreens were also removed. The original Vehicle Registration Book is present and displays changes of ownership between 1957 and 1963 (four owners).
Photographs of YS 5081 in 1960 and at Alexandra Palace in 1963 (when it had been re-painted in Valspar dark red) were supplied by the owner of the time. This owner reported that his father had made an oil thrower disc from a cigarette tin lid (Navy Cut, using the raised life belt centre as a pattern) and fitted it below the dynamo drive fork, where it remains, still working to date!
YS 5081 changed hands in 1963 and again in 1969 to an owner who maintained it for the next 30 years. During this time the car’s wood and steel tub was replaced with a new one of wood and aluminium, the engine was dismantled, a second-hand crankshaft was fitted with new white metal bearings, the engine was re-bored with new pistons and rings and the valves were ground in and adjusted. Invoices from 1989 suggest this was the year of the engine rebuild.
The current registered keeper acquired YS 5081 in 2007. Some of the parts were suffering from corrosion, but the chassis was sound, the tub was as good as new and the engine turned over with good compression. Between 2007 and 2022 YS 5081 was the subject of a ‘rolling restoration’, which included a respray in 2009. YS 5081 has won many awards and trophies at various car shows over the last 15 years.
Lots of history demonstrates the provenance of this honest, much-loved car. The engine is the original one and in excellent mechanical condition because of the 1989 rebuild. MOT's are available for years 2008 to 2013. The gearbox and back axel are also original. Some discrete component upgrades ensure that YS 5081 is usable whilst retaining most of its original features. These include: a paper oil filter, brighter rear lights and headlights that can be dipped, electronic ignition, replacing cut out coil with more reliable diode, stronger wheel and axel bearings, water pump, thermostat, and radiator fan to cope with modern traffic conditions.
YS5081 now needs a new owner to keep this piece of motoring history on the road.
