Description
This car is Lot 125 to be auctioned by Bonhams|Cars at The Goodwood Auction on Saturday September 13th, please see the Bonhams website for full details.
Public Viewing:
Available Friday September 12 from 09:00 until 17:00, Saturday September 13 from 09:00 at The Goodwood Revival.
Lot 125
1955 Lester MG T51 Sports
Registration no. RJJ 540
Chassis no. H 0031
The last of only nine T51 Lester MGs
The only one with an all-enveloping open two-seater body
Present ownership since 1993
Restoration completed in 1997
Extensive Historic racing history
Fully road legal
First registered in June 1955, 'RJJ 540' is the last of nine T51 Lester MGs constructed by garage owner and tuner of MG cars, Harry Lester. He was initially based in Knebworth, Hertfordshire, where, in 1949, he built his first car, boasting a rigid tubular chassis fitted with a lightweight aluminium body and powered by a tuned MG XPAG engine, a power unit popular with club racers post-war. The following year he moved to Thatcham in Berkshire where this car was built. It has a tubular steel chassis comprising two parallel 3" diameter 16 swg tubes joined at the rear and centre by cross tubes of the same diameter, while at the front the tubes are joined by a standard MG TD cross-member/ suspension unit. It is the only Lester to have used the TD engine, gearbox (subsequently changed for a TC unit) and rear axle, and it is also the only one to have an all-enveloping open two-seater body.
The car has had nine previous owners, and was hill-climbed and sprinted regularly in the early 1970s after being found abandoned in Devon. The current owner acquired the car in 1993. A comprehensive restoration was completed by 1997, including fitting a new one-piece aluminium body based on the original. The car was then raced extensively until 2003, primarily within the MGCC T Register series, but also at the first three Goodwood Revival Meetings (for which it is still eligible), representing the team of three Lester MGs that won the team prize in the 1952 9 hours race. The car has subsequently competed in over 100 events, mainly sprints and hill climbs, the last being at Gurston Down in 2019. A spreadsheet listing all the car's events and results is available (perusal recommended).
The replacement XPAG engine (fitted in 2014) has been enlarged to 1368cc and is fitted with a full-race camshaft and a Laystall aluminium cylinder head, and breathes via twin 1" SU carburettors. The Lester MG is fully road legal and is said to be a delight to drive, benefiting from the addition of a front anti-roll bar and lowered rear axle ratio.
'RJJ 540' comes with old FIA papers (issued 1998) and an exhaustive list (running to some 13 A4 pages, close inspection recommended) of all servicing and maintenance works commencing on 2nd September 1997 at 5 miles and ending on 4th March 2025 at 8, 466 miles when the car passed the MoT test. An exciting opportunity to acquire an ultra-rare MG-based sports car eligible for Goodwood and a variety of other high-profile Historic events.
All lots are sold 'as is/ where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding. Visit the Bonhams|Cars website for all pertinent auction information.
