MG: The Iconic British Sports Car

In 1922, Cecil Kimber (1888-1945) was appointed to the post of General Manager for Morris Garages, the sales division of Morris cars. Kimber was a car enthusiast who had already worked for several companies in the motor industry. He was particularly keen on sports cars, and had considerable design flair, able to produce eye catching body styles. He had also accumulated solid experience in engineering, factory management, and the commercial and business side of the motor trade.

It was Kimber’s idea to begin to produce a line of special bodied cars on Morris chassis. He was later to state that he saw an opportunity in the market for a car that was ten per cent better than the standard product, but which would sell at a fifty per cent higher price. He took an ordinary Morris Cowley chassis and had it fitted with a light open two-seater body of distinctly sporting lines, and in 1924 he commissioned the Coventry firm Carbodies to produce sports two- and four-seater bodies for the Morris chassis.

For the first time, these cars were sold as MGs and the famous octagonal badge began to feature in advertisements. At £395 the four-seater with the 14hp Morris Oxford engine was an elegant vehicle, with the body panels partly in polished aluminium offset by wheel discs. At the time, a four seater standard Morris Oxford cost £285 and the similarly bodied 12hp Cowley as little as £195!

Kimber’s MGs soon caught on. In early 1925, he had a far more special car built for his own use. This used a much-modified Morris chassis with a special overhead valve version of the side valve Morris engine, and a light racing type body. He entered this car in the Land’s End Trial at Easter 1925 and won a gold medal. Although soon sold for £300, the car was bought back by MG some years later and has ever since become known as "Old Number One" – the first proper MG sports car ever to be made.

The MG name was, as Kimber later pointed out, given as a compliment to Lord Nuffield, taking the initials of his first business – Morris Garages - to form the inspiration for this great automotive brand. Importantly the initials were taken to form MG, not, as some naturally presume, to stand as an abbreviation for it.

Our MG TF Guide lists the full specification of the current UK TF range, including car prices, fuel consumption, dimensions and other vital data.

Price Range: £13,799 - £16,399
Body Style:
Fuel:
Models in the range: 2
Our Car Buyer’s Guide covers all of the UK’s major new cars and includes CO2 ratings and car insurance groups. Data updated on the 2nd Sep 2010

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