Description
PO 5982 is an incredibly rare example of the MG D-Type with a particularly interesting history. It comes to us in a very impressive condition having been recently repainted in its original two-tone paint scheme of Saratoga Red and Carmine Red in a cellulose paint scheme. The D-Type was produced from late 1931 to mid-1932 with only 250 examples ever being made. Chassis numbers started at 0251, the Abingdon area code, therefore our car was the ninth off the production line built on the original shorter designed 7’-0” chassis. Those with a keen eye for detail will see the door lines, presence of a boot compartment, rounded tail, and absence of a side opening for the fuel filler neck are more in-line with the design of the later J-Type MG cars therefore it is most probable that PO 5982 was a prototype J-Type.
PO 5982 was first delivered to a Mr. Philip Bernard Mitchell on July 11th, 1932, by Thorncroft Garage in Littlehampton. Little is known of the history between this point and 1990 when the MG was purchased by a man well known in the prewar MG space, Philip Bayne-Powell. Mr. Bayne-Powell purchased the car along with another MG Midget for restoration in June of 1990 from B.&A. Marks classic car dealer in Essex. Following his purchase, he amassed a tremendous amount of expenditure on the car restoring it to a beautiful mechanical standard including a full engine rebuild. Within the expenditure, New Forest Trim took care of a lot of the interior and notably designed and fitted the hood, and Vintage Restorations of Kent carried out the body restoration. In the late ‘90s PO 5982 came into the hands of Mr. William John Bennet, a prewar MG enthusiast with tremendous experience in the Marque particularly in trials and rallying.
Most recently, the MG has been with a Devonshire based enthusiast who has enjoyed weekends out in the MG with his grandchildren. In his ownership the rear axle has been rebuilt, and the car has been subject to a full repaint by AS Services of Devon who have been looking after the MG for numerous years and know the car well. It comes to us in part exchange for something more capacious as his family are growing up. Accompanying the car is an extremely comprehensive history file with MOT tests dating back to the early 90s and a plethora of invoices and a copy of the original sales receipt from when the car was first sold.
Lifting the side panels for the engine bay reveals the very spritely 847cc block with an overhead camshaft, fuelled by a single SU carburettor fed by an electric fuel pump. For the transmission, a very precise three-speed gearbox with compact remote-control unit is used to put the power to the wheels. While from the factory rod brakes were used for some conservative stopping power, PO 5982 has been upgraded to hydraulic brakes more suited to modern conditions.
Overall, the car presents superbly, the paintwork holds a deep finish, the chromework is lovely, and the seats have been well preserved since they were refinished in the ‘90s.
