SA 1965
SVW / / 567 views
Current owner: Stephan Gaal, Victoria
Information: Built at Abingdon in 1937 as a 4-door saloon for the home market. Sold on 14/09/1937 by Sycamore Motors Stamford, UK, registration number TL 6940.
History: The first owner was a surgeon at Stamford Hospital, his name was either Mr de Braine or de Burgh, he disposed of the car prior to returning to South Africa in 1950.
In the mid-50s it was in the care of Messers Farrow and Son Ltd, farm machinery merchants, they kept it until 1960.
The car’s condition may have been suspect because it then passed through a succession of owners until acquired by Roger Miles who planned a restoration and began to dismantle it but those plans were overtaken by divorce proceedings and the car was sold by Barbara Miles to Gary Perry (Chairman of the SVW Register, M.G. Car Club, UK).
Gary’s restoration was carried out between 1997 and 2003 with body rebuild by Chisbon Restorations and engine rebuild by T & L Engineering.
On completion the car saw regular use and featured at various M.G. Car Club events including providing a backdrop of earlier models at a Media event at the Longbridge factory in 2007 when Nanjing resurrected production of MG TFs after the MG Rover shut-down in 2005.
Another highlight was in 2009 being chosen as one of 250 M.G.s to parade around the quadrangle at Windsor Castle to be reviewed by the Duke of Edinburgh to commemorate the 85th anniversary* of M.G.
* Of-course we all know the 2009 was the wrong year, it should have been 2008!
In October 2010 Aubrey Paverd bought the car and after much obfuscation by various authorities and shipping delays it finally arrived in Melbourne 11thApril 2011.
After some years but with little use Aubrey experienced mechanical issues and ordered a full engine rebuild by BNB Engine Services in Bayswater, completed in 2019.
Sadly A.P. passed away in 2020 and the SA was subsequently sold to S.G. who has recommissioned the car attending to a number of issues, tidying the interior as well as fitting a high ratio crown wheel and pinion and EPAS to make the driving experience more enjoyable.
- Listing ID: 1662
- SVW: SA
- Chassis Number: 1965
- Year of Production: 1937
- Previous Owners: Mr de Braine, '37, Farrow and Son 38-60, John Bell, Phillip Downing, Jack Clark '81, Basil Payne '94, Roger Miles '97, Barbara Miles, Gary Perry '97-2010 UK, Dr. Aubrey Paverd, Vic 2020
- Current Owner: Stephen Gaal
- Original Engine Number: QPHG 2246
- Current Engine Number: QPHG 2631
- Date Acquired: 20/8/20
- Current Reg: 4989 H3 Vic