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George Eagle
United Kingdom
3237 Posts |
 Posted - 07/02/2020 : 12:02:39
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I am currently busy uploading the files for the N types to the Register's web site.
I have just done the file for NA0341 the records of which show it was originally supplied by University Motors who fitted the Coupe body. Sadly the body has not survived - the record shows the car does not currently have a body.
I am only aware of one other N type with University Coupe body and that is NA0801 which is owned by K Portsmore.
I wonder how many N types were supplied by UM with the coupe body?
George
Registrar F/L/N types. |
Edited by - George Eagle on 07/02/2020 12:04:48 |
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Gerhard Maier
Germany
873 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2020 : 16:35:41
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George,
could it be, that NA 0369 was another University Motors Coupe, because the description in the guarantee card is "Special London Cabin" ?
But I am not sure if I deciphered London and Cabin correctly.
Gerhard
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George Eagle
United Kingdom
3237 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2020 : 19:21:18
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Hello Gerhard
The factory file shows NA0369 was an ND supplied by the MG Car Company on 2nd June 1934. There is a note - 7.25:1 compression ratio. The car had a JB number so may have been supplied for use in competition?
Sadly there is no information and the car may not have survived?
I presume you might have obtained the copies of the factory information from the MGCC?
George
Registrar F/L/N types. |
Edited by - George Eagle on 07/02/2020 19:24:00 |
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Westbury
United Kingdom
2010 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2020 : 20:07:24
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Hello, George.
Interesting topic, any chance of showing us a picture of this model ?
Thank you,
Chris |
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Peter Green
United Kingdom
1682 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2020 : 20:21:04
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George,
I suspect that NA0369 was an ND because the Factory were known to refer ND's as N/K's because the chassis was N type but the bodies were K2's
Peter |
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Andrew Fock
Australia
374 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2020 : 22:09:52
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Hi George,
Great work.
Will these records be visible to owners?
Regards,
Andrew
NA 0279
PA 1294 |
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Malcolm Bailey
United Kingdom
301 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2020 : 22:39:14
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Hello all,
My ND chassis NA 471 is described as ‘KN’ mark and ‘2 seater’ model on the guarantee card.
On the Note from sales department to service department the car is described as NK but there is a dash for the body no. I notice that the starter motor and the rear axle were also numbered on this Note.
Malcolm |
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George Eagle
United Kingdom
3237 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2020 : 12:07:24
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The file for the NA0341 definitely shows that it was supplied by University Motors as a University Coupe.
Phil Bayne-Powell wrote an article in the 1996 Yearbook entitled "Saloon Bodies on MMM Cars". He sated that at that time "we had not heard of a saloon version of the N type, except for a single car produced by M.G.s which only lasted 2 years, probably as a prototype, before being re-bodied and sold as a standard tourer".
Phil then goes on to say that 10 months earlier he had found a saloon in Ireland in a much dismantled state. I attach a photo of the car - chassis number NA0801 - as it now is. What a lovely and rare car. Apologies for the quality of the photo which I copied from the Register's web site.
George
Registrar F/L/N types.
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Edited by - George Eagle on 08/02/2020 12:09:11 |
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Westbury
United Kingdom
2010 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2020 : 13:05:39
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Thanks, George.
An exceptional car and how fortunate that it has been saved ! I will have to dig out my 1996 Yearbook now !
Best regards,
Chris |
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Phil Standish
United Kingdom
102 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2020 : 17:35:29
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I wonder if the full JB registration number is known. If it was an ND it is very close to JB4161 ( NA0360) which was one of 3 NDs used by the factory as test mules for the NE engine development I believe. The other two cars were registered JB 4160 and JB 4162. It could well have been pulled off the production line the same week.
Phil |
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George Eagle
United Kingdom
3237 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2020 : 18:50:03
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I have now noticed there is a note on the card which states "Later 4 seat body fitted". This would tie in with the comments made by Phil in his 1996 Yearbook article.
The Registration number was MG 3612 - there is no information as to who the first owner was.
It looks as if NA0801 could be the only Unversity Coupe made - perhaps it was made to a specific order?
George |
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Andrew Fock
Australia
374 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2020 : 03:40:37
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Of course there were these ones as well......
NA 0280
And...NA 0444
Both imported as chassis and thought to have been bodied by Martin & King of Melbourne
NA 0279
PA 1294 |
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sam christie
United Kingdom
3099 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2020 : 14:52:47
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Is there something very odd about this body?
To me the door seems so short as to be impractical, even for a front seat passenger. Aft of the door the rear seat passengers must have felt like they were riding in the back of a van.
Sam |
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njnh
United Kingdom
404 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2020 : 21:38:49
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Sam
I agree with your comments about the proportions of this design. IMHO the Lagonda Rapier Abbott Coupe of the same era (1104cc DOHC) enjoyed better proportions. Just an opinion!
Nigel H
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Gerhard Maier
Germany
873 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2020 : 09:09:39
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Sam,
I understand what you mean concerning proportions, but NA0801 seen from this angle is just a motor car to admire !
Gerhard
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Gerhard Maier
Germany
873 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2020 : 09:17:04
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MMM enthusiast John Brinkmann (J3) from the USA had the idea, that the notation “London Cabin” in the guarantee card of NA0369 in point of fact possibly also could mean “ Landau Cabin” !
That made me thinking, and I had a look in Wikipedia and learned:
Landau, when used in referencing an automobile, generally means a simulated convertible.
The car body style is derived from the horse-drawn carriage of similar style that was a cut-down (coupé) version of a landau.
The 1935 handbook of the Society of Automotive Engineers defines the landau as "a closed-type body with provision for opening or folding the rear quarter, by the use of landau joints".
And when I look at the handsome body of NA0801, I must say the definition “simulated convertible” hits the mark.
So it could well be, that NA0369 had a similar body as NA0801, and maybe Abingdon used a K1 saloon body as starting point, and that is why the marking “NK” was used.
In that special case “NK” would not be an indication, that NA0369 could be called an ND.
Just a thought - - -
Gerhard
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