1936 MG PB

William Morris's Morris Garages in Longwall Street, Oxford, was the Oxford agent for his Morris cars. In 1921, Cecil Kimber joined the dealership as sales manager, and a year later was promoted to general manager. Kimber produced his own special versions of Morris cars as a way to stimulate sales. It is unclear when MG car production officially began, although the early cars were re-bodied Morris models that wore coachwork from Carbodies of Coventry. These early cars, known as 'Kimber Specials' wore both Morris and MG badges. Popularity and growth saw the 'MG' production move to several locations during the mid-to-late 1920s. By 1928, the company was producing vehicles in significant figures to warrant an identity separate from the original Morris Garages, and the M.G. Car Company was used from March of 1928.

From 1932 to 1934, MG produced the J-Type 2-door sports car powered by an overhead camshaft, crossflow engine, used in the Morris Minor and Wolseley 10. It had also been previously used in the MG M-Type Midget of 1929 to 1932, powering the rear wheels via a four-speed non-synchromesh gearbox. The suspension was sourced from the D-Type, with half-elliptic springs and Hartford friction shock absorbers in the front and back. It had an 86-inch wheelbase and most bodies were open two-seaters, with a few being a closed salonette version of the J1. Some chassis were given external coachwork by coachbuilders.

The MG P-Type was introduced in 1934 and produced until 1936. The early PA models were powered by an 847cc engine similar to the J-Types, but modified with a 3-bearing and improved crankshaft, and twin OM-model SU carburetors. The 36 horsepower was sent to the rear wheels through the same J-Type four-speed gearbox. It had a slightly longer and strengthened version of the J-Type chassis with half-elliptic springs and a Marles Weller steering system. A Bishop Cam system later replaced the Marles Weller setup.

Again, most of the P-Types were open two-seaters with a wheelbase that measures 87 inches. A few Airline coupes were also made, as well as a four-seater.

In 1935, the engine bore was enlarged from 57 to 60mm, resulting in a displacement size of 939cc. Horsepower rose to 43 bhp. In recognition of these changes, the MG PB was born and would remain in production until 1936 with 526 PB examples produced. The body styles were nearly identical to the MG PA, with the most noticeable change being the radiator grille, with it changing from a honeycomb design to vertical slats. The dashboard of the MG PA and PB are also different.

Most of the 51 examples of the Airline Coupe bodies were built atop of the PA chassis, with fifteen being built on the PB chassis.

by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2020