MG T-Bar Quiz

I don't believe it's a 1500 (although it is possible), however that's not quite the full model name either way.



A clue: Consider what a Twin Cam is when it isn't a twin cam...



(I could be wrong, but I don't think the MGA 1500 was ever known as such until after the 1600 had been launched?)

MGA 1600 De Luxe

Yep, it's a De Luxe.


However....


It was never called De Luxe by the factory (that moniker doesn't appear to have come about until the mid 60s), it was called something else...

The MGA prototypes were called the EX 182, but what other name the MGA 1600?

The only names I see mentioned are MGA 1600 and MGA 1600 MKII, the word DeLuxe was not used by the factory.

That's more or less what I was after, the De Luxe was originally sold as the MGA with Competition Suspension, or MGA Competition

As nobody got the answer to the last question and no one has posted a new question, here is a true story for which you need to fill in the missing details at the end.

Settle down, here goes....

In 1954, after much persistence, John Thornley, the then MD of the MG factory, was finally given the go ahead to produce a new modern MG. He also requested that the Racing Department, closed by MG in 1935, be reopened to help with marketing of the new model.

The work commenced in 1951 by Syd Enever, Chief Designer, on a highly modified TD chassis based EX172 was dusted off.


Pictured here is a 1953 concept mock up of a possible new car design.

Work now commenced on John Thornley's target of MG racing in the 1955 at Le Mans. There was insufficient time for BMC to set up and produce the required number of production cars under the new MGA name, so it was decided to race the EX182 in the prototype class.



The EX172 chassis was not going to work on this new car and so four hand built chassis were produced. These were then given a sleek aluminium body along with the BMC 1500 engine, replacing the TD unit of the earlier EX172.
On April 20^th 1955 the EX182 test car was taken to Silverstone for its inaugural test run.



The car was put through its paces and after ironing out quite a few problems with, amongst others, fumes in the cockpit, brake fluid boiling and large amounts of oversteer, the car returned two weeks later for more testing. After the drivers had completed 90 laps they returned to give their verdict.... the car was ready for racing.

Back at the factory work went into overdrive to prepare the other three race cars for Le Mans


The dedication and skill of the MG team saw the four cars, in British Racing Green with matching transporter ready for the off on Sunday 5^th June 1955.



That evening the team stayed at the The Burlington Hotel near Dover after filling up with British petrol, as it was believed the British high octane fuel was better than that available in France at that time. At midday the following day they disembarked at Calais to continue their journey.

Tuesday saw the cars attending scrutineering, which they passed with just a minor adjustment to the exhaust pipe (cutting it square from the original slanted cut ).

Race Day - Saturday 12^th June 1955



What followed on that fateful day is well documented and was one of the worst motor racing crashes ever seen. A Mercedes hit the back of the Macklin Austin Healy and was launched into the air towards the packed Grandstand, disintegrating as it did so, tragically killing over 90 people and seriously injuring dozens of others.

At the same time it was realised that one of the MG cars was overdue, as news slowly filtered through of yet another crash......


What you need to do to answer this MG T-Bar Quiz question is;

1) Which numbered MG crashed seriously injuring the driver?
2) Name the driver of the car in part 1?
3) The MG works team would race again later that year, where was that?
4) What happened at that race which lead to BMC bosses to have a rethink?
5) What was the result of their deliberations?

1) Which numbered MG crashed seriously injuring the driver? Dick Jacobs was injured in car number 42

2) Name the driver of the car in part 1?
Alec Hounslow

3) The MG works team would race again later that year, where was that?
The Ulster TT

4) What happened at that race which lead to BMC bosses to have a rethink?
2 racing drivers were killed

5) What was the result of their deliberations?
They with drew MG as a works team

Well done Puddles you did it. :welcome: to the MG T-Bar Quiz

Just part 2, which you correctly answered in part 1, it was Dick Jacobs who was very seriously injured. He spent 6 months in hospital and another 3 month before he could walk again.

The drivers were:
No.41 - Johnnie Locket and Ken Miles
No.42 - Dick Jacobs and Joe Flynn
No.64 - Ted Lund and Hans Waeffler.

As the chequered flag signalled the end of the race the first of the MGA's to cross the Line was No. 64 with Ted Lund at the wheel, soon to be followed by Johnny Locket in 41, but this was not their true positions.
No.41 had covered 248 laps at an average speed of 86.17 mph to finish 12th overall and 5th in class while 64 had covered 230 laps at 81.97 mph 17th overall and 6th in class.
Ted Lund in 64 had been timed at 119.5mph on the Mulsanne straight.

Alec Hounslow had been involved in the testing of the car but did not race with them at Le Mans.

BMC decided that with all the bad press around sports car racing after the numerous deaths that year they decided to distance themselves from it and the MG works Team was was withdrawn from racing . The Competition Department did go to achieve success in the world of international rallying.


Over to you for the next question

Being an accountant :oops: I shall ask this probably way to easy for you all but here goes....

What was the original company who made MGs called
What was its company number
When was it incorporated and when was it dissolved

and part two

When was its founder born, and what was the first motorised transportation he purchased?



_{P.S I though Part 1 referred tothe story bit not part 1 the question doh! So I thought you were asking for which driver first drove them}

Any chance we could go back to shorter questions, I am at an age in life where my doctor said I should sell my long playing records and just keep the 7" singles.

Well done, Puddles, welcome to the quizz hall of fame!

I like the longer questions every now and again, the one line, one word answers don't tend to teach you a lot.

Puddles - MartinW just likes



In and out quick for a slice of pie

~Puddles~ wrote: Being an accountant :oops: I shall ask this probably way to easy for you all but here goes....

What was the original company who made MGs called
What was its company number
When was it incorporated and when was it dissolved

and part two

When was its founder born, and what was the first motorised transportation he purchased?

The company was "The M.G. Car Company Limited"
Company number 00249645
Incorporated 21 July 1930
Dissolved 15 June 2010

The founder Cecil Kimber was born on 12 April 1888 and his first motorised transport was a Rex motor cycle.