MGs at Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance

The 25th Annual Amelia Concours did not have an MG class this year, however, two cars were selected to be displayed on the main show field, chosen to represent sports racers of their period.  The pre-war race class included a 1932 MG J2.

The J2 had recently finished a full restoration by Safety Fast Restorations, a company that specializes in pre-war MGs.   The car gleamed in the sun with its original duo green colors.  It is powered by the factory 847cc single overhead camshaft engine with a cross-flow 8 port design.  Quite advanced for the day.  J2s were successful on the race tracks in England, just as they came off the assembly line.

The J2 is the first MG with the long hood and cut-down doors that came to be synonymous with MG sports car design through the 1955 MGTF.  In 1933, they were also offered with swept wings (fenders) that became another standard of MG design. The J2 was produced for only two years: 1932 and 1933.

It is interesting to see MGs represented at the Amelia Concours, particularly in the racing category.  MG achieved many race and rally wins and set many land speed records during the 1930s.

The blue car is a 1953 MGTD, not that you would recognize it as such.  In the 1950’s it was popular to build sports racers based on MGs that were called MG Specials.  Ken Miles, of the Ford GT LeMans fame, built four MG Specials, all successful on the race track.

This MG Special was built by David V. Uihlein with the intent to build parts to sell to would-be racers so they could transform their MGTDs into race cars.  It looks a bit like a 1950's Indianapolis roadster because Uihlein had an Indy Car builder craft the body out of aluminum.  The car weighs 600 pounds less than an MGTD.  For power, Uihlein designed a double overhead camshaft head with double hemispherical combustion chambers, cast from nickel-alloy steel, fitted to an 1250 cc XPAG engine.  With twin SU carburetors, it produced 90 horsepower.  Unfortunately, it did not produce wins on the race track and only one was built.  The 4 separate exhaust pipes running down the side of the car give it quite a distinctive look. 

The Amelia program described the car as “an example of an elegant and efficient design with a rather impressive mechanical setup.”

At the racetrack in 1953.

MGs at Amelia Island Concours - Cars and Coffee

The big show at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance is on Sunday.  On Saturday, they host a Cars and Coffee, filling two show fields.  A wide variety of cars are selected for this show, including a number of MGs in the British category.  A great benefit of this show is that it is free admission for spectators.  This allows families with children a chance to attend a large car show and provides an opportunity for car hobbyists to share their cars with many people.

Many of the MGs were brought by members of the MG Classics of Jacksonville Club as a club activity to promote the classic MG hobby.  The numbers on these two MGBs were from a recent TSD rallye - The Dixie Brit Rallye.  Each car in the rallye was provided with the traditional racing numbers place on a white ball.

Amelia Island Concours was blessed with beautiful weather for the 25th-anniversary edition, March 5 -8, 2020.  They were also fortunate to have moved the event forward one week to allow the nearby PGA tournament to occur the second weekend in Ponte Vedra without two major events conflicting.  Travel and group gathering restrictions began a few days after the Concours, making it one of the last international events in the world, spring 2020.

Here, a beautiful MGTD is properly displayed with additional items enhancing the presentation.

This TF is in original condition, sometimes referred to as preserved.  It has never been restored.  The paint, in almost immaculate condition, is the original, factory-applied paint.

This red MGTC was a favorite among the kids in attendance.  The owner generously allowed all the kids an opportunity to sit in the car.

Displaying MGs in events that draw large crowds of the general public and large number of car enthusiasts from a wide variety of marques, may be the best promotional activity for the classic MG hobby.