| Historic MG Photos Page 5 |
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In 1933 and 1934 Lanes Motors
imported nine L types into Melbourne. Britannia Motors who sponsored
their own MG race teams sold seven of these cars including the
car above. Although little early history is known, L0640 was
registered CG.995 in about 1941 and her owners include: P.J.Gamble,
C.J.Bayliss, John and Doug Hotten, D.F.Haynes and W.R.Short. Jim
Pelacchi has owned this car for the past 40 years. Morrie Chambers collection. |
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I
am unsure if this an MG or something similar such as a Wolseley. I
would not want to be cornering very hard with that rather top-heavy
body. Tim Shellshear informs me that the location is near the
conservatorium, outside the gates to Government House, Sydney, but
does anybody know the car? |
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Here is Alan Griffin sitting in his recently acquired PA, chassis
1425 which has the rather unique feature of having a "suicide"
drivers door and a non-suicide passenger door. This car was imported
by Lanes Motors of Melbourne in October 1935 but the Australian body
may have been made in NSW. The first owner was P.R. Black who I have
not come across before and Alan is the only other known owner.
Registration numbers include: 224.207 '35, 33.018 '37, BP.040 '40,
ZT.175 '52 and GAU.694 in 1953. PA1425 is not known to have survived
and the engine now resides in Ray Skewes P type. Alan Griffin collection |
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L
type 0595 was imported by Lanes Motors in 1933 before being sold to
Britannia Motors in November along with L 0594 (James Earle's).
Early history is unknown. The red painted aluminium body may be from
Charlie Aspinall's workshop. This registration number dates back to
December 1937 when owned by a Mr Nodrum. In about 1960 Otto Stone
purchased the car in derelict condition to use the engine block
(900A97C) in his K3 and sold the chassis to John Vickers. The
chassis made its way to NSW where Stuart Schofield bought it off
Tony Edwards in 1972 and is now fully rebuilt. Alan Bail collection. |
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I
believe we are now standing in Swanston St in 1944. Alan Male ran an
engineering business also trading MG's and often bought them from
servicemen heading north. I am not sure if these are TA's or TB's
but note the front and rear bumpers on both cars. There is also a
photo of Alan in his P type. Male family collection. |
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Here is another picture of L 0640, registered CG.995 in 1940. I do
not normally consider colour photos for Archives, but here I am
prepared to make an exception. This photo was taken in 1955 by Doug
Hotton and shows his brother John and their Mother heading off for a
drive. Doug Hotton collection. |
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This photo appeared on the cover of CAR magazine in March 1934 with
the sub heading: "The latest M.G. Magna, as supplied by Britannia
Motors". Britannia in Melbourne purchased seven L types from the
importers, Lanes Motors and had local bodies fitted. This example
painted in a two-tone colour scheme could be L 0640. Compare this to
the photo of CG.995. Tim Jackson collection. |
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Sitting outside Bill Fock's home in Caufield is NA0677. This car
was imported by Lanes Motors as a rolling chassis and sold to car
dealer Stanley Edwards of Malvern who had Martin & King fit a copy
of the English roadster body. Then sold to Jack Leith of the Toorak
Hotel and registered 12.450. By 1948 she was being raced at Albury
by Philip Catlin who was later killed in a Bugatti at Albert
Park. In 1956 she was owned by Bill Fock, father of Andrew who owns
NA0279 and two years later sold to K.Hall. After a head on collision
she was broken up by 1962 and the engine passed through the hands of
John Vickers to Bill Lockington for his NE restoration in 1965.
Other registration numbers include: ED.978 in '46, KE.396 in '47 and
NO.311 in '49. Andrew Fock collection. Note: Originally printed on textured paper, hence the grain. |
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Charles Frederick Cheetham sits at the wheel of his English bodied
NA Magnette during the Queensland Strathpine Sprint meeting 27/8/38
where he was timed at 11.06 seconds over the flying quarter mile
(equal to 81 MPH). This car has NSW registration BA.117 but its
identity is a mystery to me (possibly NA 0541??). Seven months later
Charles passed away suddenly when on a ship bound for England and
was cremated in Melbourne. The next owner was Miles Earl Hunter who
returned to Strathpine in 1939 and set a time of 8.46 seconds over
the flying quarter mile which equates to 106 MPH! This is the first
car to exceed 100 MPH in Queensland. Researched from The Telegraph newspaper by Malcolm Spiden. |
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Out
for a weekend drive with his family is Hans Werner who owned SA
1879. This car is understood to have been imported for the personal
use of Lord Nuffield during his tour of Australia in the late
1930's. In January 1940 it was sold by Lanes to Dr Reginald
Ellery who had a practice in Collins St. Dr Ellery was an official
with the LCCA and also owned NA 0550 and TB 0373. Following owners
include: Gordon Castles Vic, Hans Werner Vic, John Drew Vic, Bill
Greble WA, Headley Horwood Vic, Gerald Seymour Qld, Max Mulligan NSW
and currently Murray Arundell of Qld who has recently purchased this
car and would be happy to hear from past owners. Murray Arundell collection. |