1933 MG J2 Midget Roadster

Morris Garages (MG) was a dealer of Morris cars in England. They began producing their own customized versions using designs created by Cecil Kimber, the general manager. The first cars to wear the MG-badge had custom two-seat touring bodies and appeared in 1923. The Midget was introduced in 1928 and would be the companies breakthrough car for the company. The company would pass through a series of owners over the years including British Motors, Rover, BMW and currently produces cars in China under a Chinese owner.

For many years, the MG J2 set the style for British sports car design. The MG J2 began production in 1932. It was marketed as a simple, low cost sports car with an original price of £199.

The cycle-fender MG J2, designed by Sid Enever and Hubert Charles, began production in July of 1932 with 2,082 examples built. There were less than 1,480 examples with cycle-fenders. Power was from an 847cc four-cylinder overhead cam engine with an 8-port cross-flow head and a slab-tank body with cut-away doors. Top speed was 65 mph though a specially prepared version tested by The Autocar magazine reached 82 mph.

This MG J2 was found in an Indiana barn hayloft in 2003. At the time it was just a bare chassis plus a collection of parts including the original instruments, radiator shell and windshield. Because of the deterioration of the wooden framed body, a new one using authentic jigs was fabricated. Using original factory build records an authentic restoration to its original Carmine red and Saratoga red with red leather interior was completed in 2008. The J2 featured an overhead cam 847 cc four-cylinder engine with an eight port cross-flow cylinder head.