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mgrog
USA
6 Posts |
 Posted - 25/09/2014 : 15:17:24
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Hello to all
I have a 1935 MGNA that was bodied by Abbey Coachworks. Apparently 5 chassis were done by them, my understanding is that 3 survive. One in the UK, which I understand is complete and original/restored, one in US that is unrestored and uncertain if largely original, and mine (US) which was apparently redone many years ago. Many aspects of mine were altered. I am trying to find any info so that this car can be restored to as original as possible. So I am asking this group to supply me with any of the following:
Names and contact of the other owners
Any pictures either period or comtemporary of Abbey bodied NA's.
Any other info or advice that you may have regarding these cars.
Please understand that anything will be helpful to me.
Thanking you in advance for any help and support in my efforts.
Roger Melton
Bloomfield Hills, MI
1930M, 1935PA, 1935NA |
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Gerhard Maier
Germany
873 Posts |
Posted - 25/09/2014 : 18:27:39
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Hello Roger,
concerning Abbey bodied NA's, the cars below come to my mind:
NA0733 Reg.No. WS 5432 GB
NA0667 Reg.No. ARU 90 GB (see photo below)
NA0523 Reg.No. ??
and also the name "Abbey" is mentioned in the files of:
NA0696
Is perhaps one of the Chassis Nos. yours ?
Gerhard
NA0468
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mgrog
USA
6 Posts |
Posted - 26/09/2014 : 04:31:49
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Gerhard
Thank you for your comments.
My car number is NA 0780.
Roger |
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Mike the M
United Kingdom
481 Posts |
Posted - 26/09/2014 : 11:06:20
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Super picture. I wonder which hill!
Sorry to hijack the thread.
Mike Dalby |
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George Eagle
United Kingdom
3240 Posts |
Posted - 27/09/2014 : 10:46:49
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Hi Roger
There are a couple of photos of the Abbey bodied NA in the book written by M Allison "The Magic of MG".
George
L2023 |
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Colin Butchers
United Kingdom
1487 Posts |
Posted - 29/09/2014 : 11:08:50
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The hills used on the 1935 Lands End were Grabhurst (or Doverhay),Lynmouth, Station, Beggars Roost, Barton Steep, Darracott, Hustyn and Bluehills Mine. The photograph is of one of the very popular hills and appears in many of W J Brunell's photographic collection - but which one ! It is not Lynmouth or Station (I drove up both if those two days ago), nor is it Hustyn or Bluehills. Nor do I think it is Barton Steep. It might possibly be Grabhurst (but not Doverhay) but my vote must go to Darracott.
Any other ideas out there ?
Colin B. |
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PeterL
United Kingdom
1723 Posts |
Posted - 29/09/2014 : 11:57:38
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And Rod ??? has one on Anglesey... oh my memory!
Cheers
P |
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mgrog
USA
6 Posts |
Posted - 29/09/2014 : 13:04:21
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The car in the vintage hill climb picture is apparently still in existence, according to Malcolm Green's big picture book. He lists the owner as Rod Martin.
Does anyone know Rod Martin? Does he still have the car? Can you supply me with contact info? Does anyone have pictures of this car?
As per the pictures in the book, which date back to at least 1997, the car is BRG with dark green bucket seats (mine also has buckets) and looks complete and in great original condition or restored.
I would really like to get more information on this car, especially pictures of the dashboard and rear views.
Can anyone help me?
Thank you.
Roger Melton |
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MaGic_GV
United Kingdom
868 Posts |
Posted - 29/09/2014 : 13:29:12
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Rod Martin still has the car, but I have no contact details for him, sorry.
Graham Arrondelle, Registrar
Regards,
Graham
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Peter Green
United Kingdom
1682 Posts |
Posted - 29/09/2014 : 13:35:59
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Rod Martin can be contacted through the forum, he is 'rodm' and has recently advertised some N type parts.
Peter. |
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rodm
United Kingdom
156 Posts |
Posted - 29/09/2014 : 20:24:54
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Having heard nothing about Abbey bodied cars for years, imagine my surprise seeing this thread!
I am Rod Martin and still own Abbey bodied MG NA 0667 ARU 90.
(Owned since 1977!) I completed the rebuild in 1987 when it won the MMM concours at Silverstone that year.
My research at the time found only three cars, mine, NA 0696 Reg MG3995 in the USA; NA0732 Reg MG 4202 also in the USA. I did have a note that NA 0780 registered 24/7/1935 may also be one, so it's great to hear from you Roger and I will contact you directly off line.
I thought that no more than five were produced, as echoed in this thread.So if 4 out of 5 have survived that must be unusual!
Mine was definitly the first one made, so I am afraid Gerhard that that 0523 can't be one.
I know mine is the first as I have copies of the original pictures taken by Chas Bowers and used in Mike Allisons book. They have numbers on the photos and I have been able to check Chas Bowers work book that shows that these were taken within two days of my car being registered. My car has detail features that the later two that I knew of didn't.A picture of my car was used in Abbey's advertising.
I don't know anything about NA 0733 Reg WS 5432. Can anybody help with that?
Re the picture - it was taken at Darracott Hill on April 20th 1935 during the Lands End Trial, where the driver Mr J R Elliott won a Premier award.
Not bad for a car which was 6 weeks old!
Many people get confused about the wheels/tyres and that confusion showed in Mikes first edition of Magic of MG. That was corrected in the second edition.
From new they were fitted with Michelin wheels and tyres which are 140 x 40. I believe all the Abbey bodied cars used these.
My car currently has a ENV75 preselector, but I have kept the original gearbox, the actual one originally fitted to the car, so that it can be refitted by a future owner if they wish.
Rod
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LewPalmer
USA
3244 Posts |
Posted - 29/09/2014 : 20:36:54
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Rod,
As the Registrar of the NAMMMR, I show both NA0696 and NA0780 on the roster here in the US, but know nothing about NA0732. If you happen to know of the owner, I would appreciated hearing from you directly via the forum, as I would like to add that car on the register and invite the owner to become a member.
Thanks,
Lew Palmer
PA1169, PB0560 |
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Cathelijne
Netherlands
744 Posts |
Posted - 29/09/2014 : 21:31:51
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Full marks to Professor Butchers once again then! Darracott it is! Hear hear!
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rodm
United Kingdom
156 Posts |
Posted - 30/09/2014 : 11:58:22
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Looking back through my papers from the mid 1970's, I was wrong to say that MG 4202 was chassis number NA0732. This should read chassis number NA0780 which is what Roger has said.
However I am confused (easily done at my age!) as a letter I have from Phil Bayne -Powell written in the mid 70's to Peter Hayes the then owner of MG 4202 refers to NA 0732!
So does anybody know anything about NA 0732?!
Rod |
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George Eagle
United Kingdom
3240 Posts |
Posted - 30/09/2014 : 14:20:50
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NA 0732 is not listed in the 2014 printed Register.
George
L2023 |
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Gerhard Maier
Germany
873 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2014 : 10:18:54
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Hi Rod,
nice to hear from you again. We met many years ago at MG Silverstone.
When your NA0667 was the first ABBEY bodied N-type, so it could well be, that NA0523 Reg. No. BGO345, was a kind of one-off, because the files say "2/4 seater".
And what about NA0696 Reg. No. MG3995, as here the files say "chassis delivered to ABBEY, special engine"?
Gerhard
NA0468 (ND) |
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