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Peter Croft
New Zealand
52 Posts |
 Posted - 09/01/2023 : 03:41:45
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Hello from NZ,
Is there anyone who can tell me when the works stopped selling directly to the public ? This assumes that they once did.
Once a reasonable dealer network was established there would be an obligation by MG to suppport their agents I would have thought, however were there exceptions ?
Photo below is of J3096 (VT9391)at the now vanished town of Stafford, NZ, fitting as the car was delivered new to Stafford, Staffs. UK history keenly sought.
Peter and J3096
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sam christie
United Kingdom
3114 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2023 : 10:16:07
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Peter, the short film showing the M.G. works in the early 1930's shows a couple collecting their M.G. Magna from the factory but of course it is not clear if an agent was involved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAYIz5BLKm8
My late father recalled some customers preferred to collect a new car from the factory (whichever manufacturer) and drive it home gently in accordance with the running in advice. Delivery drivers would have had no particular incentive to be quite so careful.
Sam |
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Ian Bowers
United Kingdom
948 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2023 : 10:38:55
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Many years ago, working at Pressed Steel in Cowley, I was asked to research the long term body failures of the Mini, that is just what led to them being consigned to the scrap yard.
One conclusion was that cars delivered to Scotland by delivery drivers lasted longer than ones delivered to the Midlands. Mechanical failure was the primary reason for the final trip to the yard, not body fails, and the conclusion was that delivery drivers actually did not 'flog' the engines in those early miles but ran them in 'respectfully'.
Ian Bowers
OD 6791
J3 3772 |
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chris Wallis
United Kingdom
143 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2023 : 11:33:03
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Sam thanks for highlighting the you tube film at the factory i have never seen so many salonettes on the production line as shown in this film i wonder which one is mine ? Also not much regard in the spray shop for health and safety No face mask or breathing protection! Chris.
C L Wallis |
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Foz
United Kingdom
773 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2023 : 12:45:10
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Hi Chris, I was told that the filming in the spray shop was staged with water spray as any cellulose thinners vapour would have "killed" the celluloid ( or acetate?) film in the cameras. I expect the employees wanted to get their faces seen!
FOZ |
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Orstin
United Kingdom
639 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2023 : 13:34:03
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The Magna in the still from the film is Dorset registered. I don't know quite what that adds to the discussion, but presumably indicates that a car collected from thefactory would not have been registered in Oxford...
So many dynamos |
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Oz34
United Kingdom
2560 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2023 : 20:23:07
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I don't suppose Peter that you know the origin of the White Ensign on the bonnet rather than the more common Union Jack?
Dave |
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mike.g
United Kingdom
86 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2023 : 21:09:38
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Presumably bought by a naval officer ?
m.j.gooch |
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Peter Croft
New Zealand
52 Posts |
Posted - 21/01/2023 : 08:32:34
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Thank you to those who replied or commented. Clearly the works did not make a habit of selling directly to customers otherwise there would have been some positive statement to that effect from at least one erudite MMM owner.
I would assume then if they did, the customer would have had to be someone quite special. Am I correct in this assumption ? If so, has anyone any thoughts on this?
Re the flag on the bonnet: Its the flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand, New Zealand's 1st flag, 1834 to 1840 For those interested check on Wikipedia.
Peter and J3096
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Ian Bowers
United Kingdom
948 Posts |
Posted - 21/01/2023 : 09:22:20
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In 1967 I bought and collected an MG Midget direct from the factory in Abingdon, and at a 20% discount. But then I was an employee of the firm.
Maybe that was one available route in the 1930's.
Ian Bowers
OD 6791
J3 3772 |
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Oz34
United Kingdom
2560 Posts |
Posted - 21/01/2023 : 11:12:14
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Ah yes! Now I've blown the pic up I can see the flag is not a White Ensign, and I had of course seen it before on my wonderful visit to New Zealand in 2016.
Dave |
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