This exciting P-type special was built from a chassis formerly owned by top T- racer Dave Clewley, about 20 years ago with 90/95% of the nuts and bolts used in the rebuild being new BSF plated high tensile steel. The car was constructed with the specific aim of creating a pre-war MG with the capability of being used daily and keeping up with modern traffic. Although it will cruise at a respectable rate on the motorways it is at its best on non-dual carriageway roads. It would probably be equally happy in competition – hill climbs, sprints or trials.

NB – none of the modifications in this project have affected the original integrity of the basic car. They could all be removed and the car returned to original if it were so desired.

The car looks absolutely superb – “Like a J2 with attitude” – as one MMM enthusiast exclaimed, and has proved to be a real crowd puller wherever it is parked. Its combination of looks, sound, and performance guarantee an immense amount of satisfaction to its intrepid pilot.

Only very few MG P-series were build. They were highly succesfull nimble sportscars competing in all mayor period races like the Mille Miglia and the Le Mans 24h.

More specific details of the car at the time of the rebuild are set out below :
“CHASSIS : The original chassis is in excellent straight condition, never having been damaged, repaired, or affected by serious rust. The trunnion bushes, both front and rear, are new. The rear springs have been rebuilt with new main leaves by Sercks of Bristol. The front springs are fine.
AXLES : The front axle is straight and there is no measurable wear in the king pins and bushes. The stub axles seem fine but have not been crack tested. The rear axle is fitted with a Morris Ten heavy duty 4-star diff. The ratio is standard P-type: 7/37. The splined hubs and half shafts are new. Modern PTFE shaft seals are fitted. The axle U-bolts are new.
WHEELS : The wheels are new 2,5X19 48 spoke Outer laced Rolled edge rim silver painted fitted with new 400 x 19 Blockley Tyres. The spinners, with the MG motif, are new.
BRAKES : The brakes are Morris 8 hydraulics with J2 finned drums. The master cylinder is a new TD unit. The original handbrake now works the rear wheels only.
STEERING : The steering box is Bishop’s Cam. The lid has been modified with an adjuster to take up any play The column has been re-chromed. The steering wheel is a beige- brown rimmed Brooklands with a unique MG boss.
SHOCKERS : Andre Hartford shockers, rebuilt with new friction discs, are fitted all round.
ENGINE : The engine is a late XPAG unit with the integral oil pump/filter. The block is bored + 060. The crank was ground also, I seem to think it is 030, but I stand to be corrected. The machining was carried out by Gem Developments, racing engineers of Plymouth, who also did the balancing. The flywheel ring gear is new. The head is a big valve TF1500 shaved 3mm, and the ports cleaned out. It has not been converted to unleaded. The cam is the standard late TD .0012” clearance model. The carbs are AUC 6080 1¼ in, standard TD, fitted with new jets and “S” needles. The rocker cover is the alloy works type with the flip top oil filler. A modified TD exhaust downpipe feeds into a TR2 straight through silencer. (Neighbours may query whether “silencer” is actually an appropriate description.) The fully balanced engine is to Stage II spec. probably putting out about 60-65 bhp, or about twice that of the original P-type. It shows.
GEARBOX : The gearbox is standard TD. It was stripped and inspected before installation and is fine. There is the usual whine from the straight cut cogs in first and reverse. The synchromesh is fully functional and the box does not jump out of any of the gears. It has been installed on professionally constructed mounts to fit the P-type chassis. The gear lever has an original black J2 octagonal knob.
PROPSHAFT : The propshaft is TD, modified and balanced by Fairbank & Dunning of Leeds.
RADIATOR : The radiator is TD completely remodeled to fit the narrow P-type shell and fitted in 2018 with a new core and a new, bespoke made, header tank.
BODY : The car has a new 2-seater P-type aluminium skinned ash framed body by John Beaven of Hereford. The scuttle is original steel. It is sprayed in Rover Racing Green, a dark green almost as dark as Connaught green. The front wings are mounted on J2 aerofoil section stays and were specially made 7 in. wide, to match the rears, by Steve Gilbert. The bonnet is steel P-type and has been modified by the provision of louvers in the top panels, K3 style, (by Sportscar Metalworks) and a bulge in the n/s panel to clear the dynamo. The side valances were made to fit the car and the front valance is new steel. The firewall is new by Bryan Purves and is faced with the correct galvanized steel, not aluminium. The petrol tank and spare wheel carrier are standard P-type. The windscreen frame and supports have been re-chromed and the screen itself is new laminated glass.
ELECTRICS : The wiring loom was purpose built and follows the TD layout very closely. The cut-out control box is TD as is the fuse block. The dynamo however is BMC 12 volt. A standard Mini battery fits the original battery tray behind the rear axle and is located with effective but easily released clamps. A battery cut off switch is located on the rear shelf.
DASHBOARD : This is comprehensively instrumented with Jaeger dials. The original octagonal cluster carrying the ammeter, oil pressure gauge and plc 6 switch is present, as is the central rhombic panel. However here the P-type odometer windows have been superceded by the indicator switch. The water temperature gauge is a new capillary type, as is the oil temperature gauge. Original dash lights cast a soft green glow at night. New (reconditioned) P-type rev counter, speedometer and clock (all by Jaeger) were supplied by Vintage Restorations of Tunbridge Wells in 2005.
LIGHTS : Original P-type Lucas L140 headlamps are fitted with double dipping bulbs. The sidelights are not octagonal but normal Lucas 1130 units fitted with double filament bulbs to act as the front indicators. The rear indicators are separate amber lamps. The rear lights are pork-pie type fitted with tail and stop bulbs. A reversing light it fitted.”
New mohair hood, side screens and tonneau cover were made by Don Trimming Company, Birmingham and were purchased for the car in 2004 and have hardly been used.

The car has, of course, a current V5, is roadworthy and insured and there is also an old green log book and a copy of the car’s original delivery note.
The chassis number is PA1497 and the engine number is XPAGTD2/28727.
We have been informed the car has covered about 4,000 miles since its “rebuild” in the year 2000 and has been extremely well been looked after ever since. She has proven to be highly reliable and a pleasure to drive during some international trips we took her on recently.

Please call Mark Christof Jansen for any information on this car. His direct number is +31 616 200100.