Description
After five years of enjoyable ownership and use, it is time for me to part with my beloved MG PA Airline coupe to facilitate the purchase of another classic car.
MG built the PA Type Midget between January 1934 and mid-1935, marketed as a sporting car and described in the sales brochure as the ‘best small car in the world’. Standard equipment was ‘all the usual equipment that sportsmen demand’. A factory-fitted ‘Deluxe Extra Equipment’ package comprising bonnet strap, headlamp stone guards, quick-filler caps on radiator and petrol tank, radiator and oil thermometers (with glove pockets blanked for the instruments) and 8-day clock mounted on bracket underneath the facia board was offered for the extra cost of £10. It had a new 847cc overhead camshaft engine with three main bearings and a cylinder head with inlet and exhaust ports on opposite sides, and a four-speed Wolseley ‘crash’ gearbox.
With good reports in the motoring press the car sold well, with over two hundred cars a month produced. A total of 2500 PA models were produced. Two and four seater open tourers were priced at £220 and £240 respectively. An attractive fixed head ‘Airline’ Coupé, designed by H W Allingham and built by Carbodies of Coventry, was also offered, for £290.
PA 0837 is one of the 47 MG P Type Airline coupes built. Although thought to be one of the prettiest cars that MG produced, it did not sell well in its day. About 16 survive in their original form worldwide and three are roadworthy in the UK. A ‘matching numbers’ car, apart from safety additions, it is now largely as it left Abingdon in 1934, including the present colour.
There is a good history file including the ‘Continuation’ buff log book issued by Surrey CC in 1947, stamped ‘Old Book Retained’, photos of the restoration, invoices, original manual and parts list, articles about the car in magazines, copies of factory file and Heritage Certificate from MGCC. It also includes a well-researched ownership history, listing seven owners including the current one and a father and son, who owned it for almost 60 years. Ownership of the car between the original owner and the issue of the Continuation Book is uncertain, but is thought to be the original purchaser.
The chassis left Abingdon on 26 April 1934, one of a batch of ten to receive Airline bodies built by Carbodies. It was registered to its first owner on 14 December 1934, supplied by T Hawkins & Sons (Epsom) Ltd (the dealer plate still on the dashboard), fitted with the ‘Deluxe Extra Equipment’ package. The total price for the car was £299-2-6.
It was bought in 1962 by Ronald Cass, who used it as a runabout until the mid-1970s, when he started a sympathetic restoration, completed to roadworthy condition in 2011 by his son Richard. When bought by its present owner in 2019, it still lacked some original equipment. The missing items were sourced and fitted to complete the restoration to original specification in 2019/ 20. A few things were added to improve safety in modern traffic – discreet flashing indicators, high-level brake light, LED bulbs and period interior and exterior mirrors.
During the restoration, the engine was re-bored to +0. 030 and a new crankshaft fitted. The ash frame and body were repaired as necessary and the whole repainted in colours close to the original. The front cross member behind the dash still bears the original body number stamped by Carbodies. The interior was re-trimmed with new leather to the seats and door cards, and new carpet and headlining fitted. As much of the original car as possible was retained, parts being repaired rather than replaced, making it possibly the most original surviving roadworthy P Type Airline.
In the current ownership, the car has been driven, improved and maintained regardless of cost. It has been serviced regularly and subjected it to an annual MOT test, even though exempt. The current certificate runs until May 2025, but will be renewed on sale. Five new Blockley tyres were fitted in 2020, a stainless exhaust in 2021 and a new battery early 2024. The differential was professionally rebuilt recently with modern bearings and seals, and a new crown wheel and pinion in late 2024.
The car has covered about 4000 miles since 2019, in suitable weather, including several round trips of over 100 miles to Brooklands. It is in excellent condition, commensurate with use and regularly wins ‘Pride of Ownership’ awards, including ‘Car of the Show’ at the MGCC SE Centre MG100SE at Brooklands in 2024, and best pre-war MG at the MG100 event at Beaulieu in September 2023.
There is a video of the car on Brooklands TV channel on YouTube, filmed in 2022 -
- details above (copy and paste into browser). More details and photos on request.
As I am planning to buy another pre-war car, I will consider any serious offers without taking offence!
