Beschrijving
The MG Q type came into production in 1934, with a total of 8 cars being produced by the Abingdon factory. It was then the fastest MG 4 cylinder car produced up to that time. It was built for racing and campaigned by a few privileged privateers including the Evans brothers and sister owners of the famous Wandsworth Bellevue Garage and the factory works team holding a number of records at circuits such as Brooklands and Le Mans over the next couple of years. The Q Type was indeed so powerful that it was as far as the engineers could then go with the traditional chassis. It was superseded in 1936 by the R Type with its near rigid Y shaped backbone chassis and independent suspension. A number of good replica cars (some better than others) have been built over the years on original P and T type chassis. the P type chassis car being the most closely related to those original 8 Abingdon factory cars.
The car I offer, PA1781, carrying registration number OSL309, left the Abingdon factory gates in 1935 and was purchased by Mr Archer of Putney on the 1st March with 4 seater coachwork finished in red with red interior. The engine number being quoted as 2044AP.
The history of the car goes cold until a note in the car’s history file stating that it was restored and built from many original parts by C. E Jones and son of Newcastle Staffordshire circa late 1990’s. It sports an ENV 75 preselect with Q type gearshift, and producing 100 bhp on pump fuel and 120bhp on dope! The front and rear axles are also the correct type but with upgraded 12” Holden and Hunt brakes converted to hydraulic. The correct style body houses a foam filled 20 gallon fuel tank. The present engine carries number 1519AP.
In 2003 OSL309 was sold via Sherwood Restoration, soon after she was treated to a gearbox and rear axle rebuild at Tom Dark Limited the steering box also being overhauled. During 2005 to 2009 the then custodian was competing at various local speed events. Like many competitors with an addiction for more speed and adrenalin along with race weekend reliability £25k was further invested, at a couple of engineering and restoration companies, dealing with many aspects including the rebuild of the Wade supercharger with Derek Chinn. The internals of the engine comprise of Phoenix crank and rods along with Cosworth pistons, the cylinder head has also been professional gas flowed to help eke out yet more performance. For the followers of Vintage car racing, you will have observed what the Painters (Mike and son Harry) are able to achieve with their similar cars!
My client and vendor purchased the car from her then owner via Barry Walker back in 2015. Amusingly it turns out they resided in the same village but had never met! The current owner has enjoyed his racing in OSL309 with the VSCC and Triple M register. Having achieved a number handicap awards along the way in OSL309. In fact he has enjoyed the friendly and closeness of the Triple M racing grids so much he has just completed the purchase of his next Triple M racing car with the hope of beating me in the MG Bellevue special.
Complete with VSCC Buff Form OSL309 is very well presented and ready for immediate use in either competition or fast road use. The large fuel tank proves invaluable for long distance road events.
