MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Looking for the History

I am trying to fill in the history for my Mk1 MGA. I purchased it from an estate and the previous owner bought it in 1976. The Heritage Certificate records that the car was dispatched on 5th July 1960 - North American Export Left Hand Drive. However it was first registered in the UK on 27 March 1961 - If this is correct it must be the shortest export in history - 9 months. Chasis number is G-HNL/95388 colour when exported Old English White. Any assistance would be appreciated. Peter
P B Chappell

Possibly your car never left Europe. Many North American specification MGA's were delivered to American Military Servicemen stationed in Europe.
I believe that they had some Government financial assistance in shipping their car to the US at the end of their tour of duty.
Some of the wire wheel cars that were sold under this arrangement had a hexagon locknut instead of the eared "knock offs", but only if they were delivered in Germany.

Mick
Mick Anderson

I forgot to add that a US Serviceman may have sold his car prior to returning to the US.

Mick
Mick Anderson

Peter. I tend to agree with Mick. I would note, however, that there was no "Government financial assistance in shipping their car to the US", at least when I shipped mine back. Your car would make a great deal of sense as an MG purchased by a young enlisted troop who thought the military would ship it back for him for free (they will ship a car over and ship that same car back--if the original car is damaged, they will ship back a replacement, American made car, but not a non-US made car), then found out what it would cost to have the vehicle shipped back.

To add to the likelihood of this being the fact, the "Status of Forces Agreement" will, sometimes, allow the vehicle to be registered with the US military and have a military license plate. (It was that way in Germany, but we used Spanish plates while stationed in Spain--each country is different in what is allowed.)

If the US-UK agreement allowed the cars owned by American military people to be registered within the American system, rather than the British system, The first time the vehicle would show up in the UK system would be after it was sold and the second owner registered it with his local government agency.

Take a lot of work to prove, but the theory is there and both Mick and I came up with it as our first thought. Therefore, it might have a grain of truth in it.

Les
Les Bengtson

It might only be an urban legend, but the story goes that if you had a high enough rank, you could get a car brought Stateside in the bomb-bay of a B-52. I know a Colonel (Ret.) who was in the Air Force who still owns a big Healey that he bought new from the factory. Next time I bump into him, I must try to remember to ask him.

Derek Nicholson

Thanks for the information. Hadn't thought of the service angle - does that fit in with the Heritage Certificate stating "North American Export". Perhaps I can ask them as to the meaning - was it actually sold to a USA dealer or a UK dealer for export. If the later it would fit in.
Any UK contributers offer any advice how I can trace the history from 1961 to 1976?
Peter
P B Chappell

Peter. My 1979 "North American Export" MGB was sold to the Canadian BX in Bitburg, Germany. They specialized in supplying new British, and other used, cars to the American servicemen stationed in the area. My car was in "Personal Export Delivery" configuration, due to the various US emissions laws of that time. This meant that it came equipped with all of the polution controls then required, the various impact resistant features, and US style headlights. The cat was replaced, at the factory, with a straight pipe so that it would not be damaged by the leaded fuel which was all that was available, then, in Germany. The cat, and the fuel tank decal saying "Unleaded Fuel Only" were contained in a box placed in the trunk (boot) to be installed when the vehicle reached the US.

Hence, a "North American Export" model MGA would, quite easily, fit into a scenario where it was purchased by a US serviceman then living in the UK. I someone who did so and brought his car back to the US, just as I did.

I would consider the purchase by a US serviceman to be the most probably reason that such a car was sold in the UK. It should have been possible to purchase such a vehicle from any MG dealer, although it would have to have been a special order, as mine was. But, the differences between a North American Specification vehicle, back then, and a European specification were minimal and I suspect a fair number of people ordered an MG for delivery in England, used it for touring, then, took it home with them to Europe. Thus, I would expect that any large dealership would be familiar with the process of special ordering a non-UK spec car from the factory for sale in the UK.

Les
Les Bengtson

I served in Germany 1971 to 1974. I bought a new car in England for export. I was issued with a 'Q' plate for use on UK roads until I exported it and got it registered into the RAF Germany system. When I returned in August 1974, the car was 'first registered' from that date.

If your car went into the US Military licensing system either in the UK or Germany it is just possible that it had a temporary 'Q' plate, depending on how the car was transported to the military base.

Steve
MG
Steve Gyles

This thread was discussed between 22/12/2006 and 24/12/2006

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.