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| F Type Profile |
For a short period in the late 1920s and early 30s, the concept of a small capacity, six cylinder engined car gained popular support. The combination of a smooth running power unit with good low speed torque was quite appealing, particularly if it meant that fewer gear changes were required – an important consideration in an era of non-synchromesh gearboxes. Cecil Kimber would have been well aware of the engines currently being produced at the old Wolseley works through the Morris Minor and M type connection. In 1930, Wolseley introduced their Hornet car, using a 1271cc six cylinder engine which had family similarities to the Minor engine. The car was selling well and Kimber could no doubt see the potential in an MG version, designated the F Magna. Yet another, extended version of the C type chassis was produced to accommodate the longer engine, with similar under-slung rear end and trunnion supports for the springs. Brakes and back axle were again M/D type although a higher crown wheel and pinion ratio was specified to take advantage of the larger engine. The best feature of the transmission was the ENV, four-speed, manual gearbox, which was first used in the C type. The version in the F type did not have the cross tube mounting as the engine retained its inbuilt rear mounting points and the ratios were more widely spaced than those used on the C type. The F type engine, although similar to the M, had its own special features such as four main bearings for the crankshaft and four bearings support for the camshaft. Like the M, the crankcase and block were one steel casting and the crankshaft was fitted through an opening in the front. Also like the M, the front main bearing was a large ball race which located the crankshaft while the intermediate main bearings were large diameter split aluminium castings with bronze backed, white metal lined shells that had to be bolted to the bearing journals before the crankshaft was offered up. The intermediate bearing housings were an interference fit in the crankcase and were retained by long through bolts – a very successful system that was retained in all subsequent OHC engines having intermediate main bearings. Early engines used duralumin connecting rods with bronze backed shells that needed careful fitting and were not a success. Later engines reverted to steel connecting rods with white metal bearings. The bottom end of the engine was quite a success but not so the top end which was pure Morris Minor in design, having a non-cross-flow cylinder head and even retaining the early valve timing that MG had abandoned in 1930. Nevertheless it was a smooth unit and even if it did have cooling problems – a fan was fitted but no water pump – gave reliable service. The early body styles followed the D type pattern with a neat open, four-seat, and closed four-seat salonette. Later in 1932, a two-seat version was offered, very similar to the newly introduced J2, but with 12" brakes and the six-cylinder car was then referred to as the F2, the four-seat car, also with 12" brakes became known as the F3. The earlier model of F type was then known as F1.
As with the M type, many F types were sold in chassis only form to be taken up by specialist coachbuilders who designed and built their own attractive coachwork, always enhanced by the long low bonnet covering the six-cylinder engine. Principle among these were the coach building firms of Jarvis and Stiles. Although the F type exhibited a number of undesirable traits, such as relatively low power and a tendency to overheat, it was a popular car, judged by the number sold which far exceeded any of the subsequent six-cylinder cars produced by MG during this period.
F type specification
Wheelbase
Track
Steering
Brakes - F1
Brakes - F2 & F3
Wheels
Tyres
Chassis weight
Weight of complete car:
Open four-seat
Open two-seat
Salonette |
7' 10" (2.39m)
3' 6" (1.06m)
Adamant
8" drums, cable operated
12" drums, cable operated
2.5" x 19" side laced wire, Rudge type
4.00" x 19"
12 cwt 28 lbs (622.3 kg)
15 cwt 56 lbs (787.4 kg)
15 cwt (762 kg)
16 cwt 21 lbs (822.4 kg) |
Bore
Stroke
Capacity
Power output |
57mm
83mm
1271cc
37 bhp |
F1 9th October 1931
F2 12th August 1932
F3 6th September 1932 |
to 8th July 1932
to 20th October 1932
to 1st December 1932 |
| Cars produced: |
Total 1250 |
F1 open four-seat
F1 Salonette
F2 open two-seat
F3 four-seat
F3 Salonette
Chassis only |
565
370
40
67
20
188 |
F type pictures:
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