MG Quiz

Well done, Alan. Over to you.

Graham often has a Scimitar or two in the showroom plus his own private collection.

And the next question is





1. What is the car?
2. What MG is it based on?
3. Who built it?
4. What racing formula was it built for?
5. What was the previous use of its fuel tank?

Geoff Monk, with Derek Monk and Alan Bell, built his Formula 3 car, the MBMG, in late 1951. It was front engined and rear wheel drive based on a P type MG, with the capacity reduced to 496cc by means of a short throw crank-shaft and Singer Le Mans con-rods. The pistons are Martlett and he used four Amal 45 deg carburettors, fed from an SU float-chamber at each end under about 2 1/2 lb.sq inch air-pressure from a 10 gallon cylindrical tank in the tail. Ignition is by a Lucas vertical magneto and he used KE 965 exhaust valves. The fuel tank container was formerlly an aircraft de-icing fuel tank.

The chassis frame has drilled side members, double wishbone and coil-spring i.f.s carried on a welded steel box-section cross member. The steering layout incorporates a transfer box and 3-piece track rod with Ford ball ends. Transmission is via a normal MG gearbox, with the gate on the remote control tunnel turned into its side to bring the lever out horizontally to the near side instead of vertically, and normal MG propellor shalf and P-type back axle. The rear 1/2 elliptic suspension is retained, damped by Girling shock absorbers, Newton dampers being used at the front. The MG brakes have been lightened, are operated by Bowdenex cables and lined with Ferodo. The car has centre locking Dunlop 15 inch wire wheels with Dunlop tyres. The radiator is low set and the body is made from light alloy panels over a tubular framework with four seperate exhaust pupes running along the nearside, as seen in Alan's photo. The car has 4 instruments - rev counter, air pressure, oil pressure and water temperature.

In practice, it was too large and heavy in relation to air-cooled Formula 3 cars, weighing in at 840 lb, to be competitive as Iota rather disparagingly observed. The only result that there is a record of is a DNF in the Commander Yorke Trophy, August 1953.

Well Done Hari :beer:

I'm sure Alan (after win No. 10) won't mind you posting before he has confirmed your 14th win. That puts you level with Bryan Young but MartinW is still just 1 ahead of you :drive: as you tailgate him into the top 8 of the MG Quiz Hall of Fame :yesnod:

No I don't mind. Well done. I'm surprised it went so quickly. I could only find one reference to this car on the internet.

Thank you Paul! :woohoo: On par with Bryan?! Ooh I am impressed with myself!

Next question: What on earth links Miss Marple with MG?! Need specifics please

This Blue MGA appeared in an episode of Miss Marple, the series with Julia McKenzie as Miss Marple. The title of this episode is 'Murder is Easy'.

Absolutely right! But not the link I am looking for...

Starting off on this search I came across this and whilst not MG specific, the Morris Cowley is associated with MG:
"The crime novelist Agatha Christie owned a Morris Cowley, and drove away from her home in it when she disappeared for 11 days in 1926."

Then on Miss Marple:
"Geraldine McEwan on her role as Miss Jane Marple:
...'She's very open to everything, to all experiences. She's as happy going around the village with her tin collecting for the vicar's fete, as she is speeding along in an MG with one of her younger chums or dealing with somebody she knows has committed the most horrific murder. ..."

In Sleeping Murder there is an MG TD.
In Murder at the Vicarage in 1968 there is an MG YB
In Murder is Easy there's an MGA which has been mentioned above.

MartinW wrote: In Murder at the Vicarage in 1968 there is an MG YB

Give that man a prize! A 1952 MG 1¼-Litre YB starred in "The Murder at the Vicarage" which aired in 1986.

Here is a photo of Agatha Christies abandoned car, which is mistakenly said to be an MG on some websites.

Staying on the theme of MG Y-Types, by what nickname is this car known as?

Hopefully there are enough clues in there.