1933 MG J2 Registration number ALX 934 Chassis number J4199 ...

Hammer

£15,000

1933 MG J2
Registration number ALX 934
Chassis number J4199
Frame number 2767AJ
Black with a red leather and vinyl interior
Hood and tonneau cover are in black 'Wigan' material
DVLA declared manufactured 1978
Wonderful history with the first owner being the vendors father, he spent some time looking for this car which he eventually discovered and, as being an engineer, completely restored to better than new
Extensive history file with copy of early photos
Please see the condition report online for the history of this car
The owner also has a large box containing many small parts removed, replaced or bought and not used, to be collected by the buyer from the postcode area TA13 at a mutually agreed date and time

All lots in this sale are sold as is and bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding. Please read our terms and conditions

More Information

With V5C, HPI clear
AA badge & St Christopher on dash will be retained (shown in photos)


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Information from the owner:
General History up to 2024
This car was bought new in November 1933 by my father, then a serving Flying Officer with the RAF who had just returned from a 3 year posting with No 27 Squadron in the North Western Frontier region of India (now the Pakistan/Afghanistan border areas) flying the Westland
Wapiti” 2 seater Bomber/Army support aircraft and had saved enough to pay the £200 for his new J2

At the time he was based at RAF Henlow and during the 6 month guarantee period there was a good bit of correspondence between him and the MG company, I have copies of the Abingdon responses from which it seems that he had problems with performance 'maximum speed only 68 mph' and other small matters including vibration. It seems that in April 1934 a new gearbox and remote were fitted plus new front engine bearings etc. These seem to have been dealt with promptly and efficiently. Mileage by then was over 4,000
Sometime in 1934 father and friend took the car on a long tour into Southern Germany and there are several photos taken on that trip including loading (or unloading) onto channel ferry, just guessing Newhaven/Dieppe

The next report is it taking part in the Great West Motor Club’s London to Bournemouth trials at the end of March 1935 and I have a photo of it taken at the Bovington Camp section. As father married later in April that year it seems unlikely that he was the entrant so he must have traded it in by then for the 2 Litre Lagonda he next had.

The only clue as to its location after 1935 is a repair plate on the radiator header tank by Sercks of Maidstone, Kent and a tax disc issued by London C C expiring end of June 1938.

The next phase in the story is that in 1937 or 1938 the car was bought by a young Lincolnshire man, Colin Muncaster. I was able to contact the widow of Colin’s brother, Ray, and she (Phyllis) was able to tell me quite a lot and the rest of the history comes from her and another name she mentioned, Mike Hewson, who lived very near the Muncasters in Horncastle.

Mike Hewson’s father was with Colin when he bought the car and they took it to the British Grand Prix held at Donington Park in 1937 or 38. Colin was keen on some competition driving and had the car worked on by the well known MG fettler Harry Lester. The engine had a Laystall crank fitted, cylinder head modified with polished ports enlarged to 1 1/8 inch dia and bigger 1 1/8 inch carburetters fitted. The brakes were converted to hydraulic using components from a Wolseley Hornet with 9 inch drums. Ignition was by 'Scintilla' magneto.

Phyllis told me that Colin and Ray were coming home from the pub when they ran off the road near Horncastle and Ray, being thrown forward, lost his front teeth on the dashboard. She asked if the marks were still there on the aluminium panel. I looked and indeed they were and still are!
I imagine this was the cause of the bent chassis discovered during restoration.

Apparently during the war Colin bought another MG (understood to be a J1 salonette) to use that engine to 'save' the original 'good' engine until war was over, but the car was taxed for a while in 1941 and 1943. Colin was born in 1914 but for some reason wasn’t called up for military service. He had a Garage business and after the war worked for the Council.

I have photocopies of ALX 934 taken from late 1930’s on some showing his Hill Climb runs and trophies won, all presumably in the Lincolnshire general area up to about 1952 when by then it was fitted with 16 inch rear wheels. The 19 inch wheels went back on for everyday use until 1955 when it was pushed into an open ended Nissen hut until bought by Harry Dickinson of Bucknall, Lincs, in 1978 where it sat unused for another 27 years until I bought it from Harry’s widow.

Before that a chance conversation with another J2 owner at a car show in 2005 led to the discovery that father’s old car still existed and was for sale. I went up to Lincolnshire to see it; very much as I would have expected after so long unused although the engine had been started and run occasionally. It seemed complete and original and there was a large amount of spare parts included. My offer was accepted and we hauled it back to Suffolk a week or so later in July.

It soon became apparent that it needed much more than a tidy up and it looked like a total strip down was needed, everything that could wear was worn and the woodworm had consumed most of the plywood trim. The first thing to do was to drain and refill the engine oil, water in radiator, connect to a battery and take a fuel feed from a petrol can. Starter pushed, and engine started and ran strongly, still on its magneto, so this was encouraging.

So began over 2 years of work whenever I was able. The most useful tool was the angle grinder to cut off all the rusted up nuts and bolts and with body off I could see what had to be done.

The body and chassis went up to David Wall in Wroxham where he repaired and replaced any damaged and rotten timber and re panelled in steel or aluminium where necessary. The chassis was straightened and new stubs welded on the rear chassis cross members to take the spring trunnions.

Other steel fittings, plates, brackets, stainless battery box etc. were made up for me by the people at the metal fabricators whom I then worked for. A trip to Sports and Vintage in Shrewsbury supplied me with all the other bits and pieces I thought I needed as well as relining the clutch plate. This was followed by a trip to Jones Springs to recondition the springs.

This lot must be collected by 12.30pm on Friday 25th October. If the buyer has not collected by this time it will automatically be removed and placed into storage, incurring a removal charge of £100 + VAT, to include the first week of storage, unless otherwise noted. Storage will then be charged at £10 + VAT per day or part thereof. If collecting from storage, please provide 24 hours notice