University Motors


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Extract from February's MGCC publication - Safety Fast

University Motors

APPENDIX

Following on from the general picture of the University Motors (UM) MG xxxx plated cars, here is a listing of cars that appear to have some sort of strange history. It should be noted that this list and any conclusion drawn are only a best guess by one person, based on research of records other than the original UM ones. Therefore they are not to be taken as absolute fact. I say this as many of the cars involved still exist and I do not want to be sued by the owners. It is only fun chaps! So first of all there are those cars listed previously having numbers before MG 400. Then there are:

MG 770 This is claimed by 2 M type Midgets in the MMM Register records, 2M1918 and 2M1562. Sadly the factory records of both cars seem to have been destroyed. However 2M1562 would have been sold too early to carry this plate from new.
MG 955 This is the factory as issued to 18/80 Mk II chassis A0384. However Phil Jennings records A0384 in his book as MG953.
MG 999 This was first issued on 18/80 Mk II A0346 in late 1930 or early 1931. It is later recorded on KN Magnette saloon KN0278 when new on 2 Nov 1934. A lovely example of an early transfer. Sadly neither of these cars is known to still exist.
MG 1058 This registration is claimed by both M type Midget 2M1195 and J2 Midget J2816. The J2 must be a reregistration at best.
MG 1469 This was originally issued on F1 Magna saloon F0632, which no longer exists. Now apparently carried by F1376. It seems that F1376 has carried MG 1573 for 30 or 40 years.
MG 1573 This was originally on an F1 Magna with UM Coupe body F0787 and now I believe on F type F1376. It seems that F1376 has carried MG 1573 for 30 or 40 years.
MG 1889 This one is a bit strange. J2 Midget J2171 is MG 1889 in the chassis records yet is recorded by the MMM Register as MG 2392, which was actually issued on J3204, see below.
MG 1896 This was actually issued on J2 Midget J2115. Recorded by the MMM Register as also carried by J3115, which was originally registered as AKL 459. A simple transcription error.
MG 1933 This is now carried by J2 Midget J3531 and
MG 1936 now carried by SA SA1641. I believe these to be reregistrations.
MG 2193 Which was originally issued to J2 Midget J2640 and is now on J3104.
MG 2305 This is now carried by J2 Midget J2814 which was possibly originally registered YG 2604
MG 2214 This was originally issued on J2 Midget J2798 and now carried by a TD Midget. I bet the owner of the TD did not know this!
MG 2227 This was originally issued on a J2 Midget and is now carried by a TD Midget.
MG 2242 Originally issued on J2 Midget J2819 and carried by a MGBGT V8. I bet the V8 owner did not know this either!
MG 2299 1933 March bodied Hillman Aero Minx owned by Chris Lambert. The car was first registered on 29th March 1933 and was sold by Kevill Davies and March of 9, Bruton Street, London. W.1. The 'March' in both the company name and type of body fitted to my car was Freddie (Earl of) March. Co-incidentally, a young Rivers Fletcher was working with Freddie March around this time!
MG 2391 This was originally issued on J1 Midget J0495 and is now recorded by the MMM Register as being carried by J1 Midget J0475. Probably a simple transcription error.
MG 2392 Originally issued on J2 Midget J3204. The MMM register records it on J2J2171, which was originally MG 1889 (see below)
MG 2488 First issued on J1 Midget J0570 and carried by J2 Midget J3693, which was delivered to The Colmore Depot and sold by Blake's, both of Liverpool.
MG 2503 Belongs to Richard Hardy. MG2503 has never been split from the original J1 chassis, and the reg.no. is reassigned to this car on a non-transferable basis. Richard's brother owns J2 chassis no. J4396 which has always carried reg.no. AND 43.
MG 2587 Originally on J1 Midget J0597 and now carried by a TB Midget racer.
MG 2606 Now on Magna F1371. This is most probably a reregistration as the number is far too late for the car. The car was delivered to Mansfield of Brighton and sold in Sussex.
MG 2635 Now on J2 TC Midget TC9027 and
MG 2643 Now on J2 Midget J2769, which was originally registered JH3767.
MG 2686 This is strange. MG 2686 was originally issued on J2 MG 2763 Midget J3564. A car which appears to have changed registrations for some reason to MG 2763.
MG 2783 Originally issued on J2 Midget J4141 but now carried by J2 Midget J4400. A transfer.
MG 2809 Now on J2 Midget J3406 which was originally ALL 315.
MG 2812 Originally on L1 Magna Saloon L0484. Now carried by L1 Magna L0476 which was first registered AHT 699.
MG 2812 Originally on L1 Magna Saloon L0484. Now carried by L1 Magna L0476 which was first registered AHT 699.
MG 2841 Now carried by F type Magna F1032, which was originally RF 9761.
MG 2939 This is perhaps the most interesting problem of all. Two J2 Midgets J2134 and J3749, both appear to still exist and both claim the registration. J2134 was issued with MG 2939 about 22-Sep-32 and was a demonstrator for Appleyards of Leeds. In this case the number was issued early, some 17 months before it should have been. The number was then reissued on J3749, at the correct point in the issue of registrations, 3-Jan-34, and sold to a private individual. I suspect that it was first issued as a trade plate, recalled, and was then properly issued on J3749.
MG 2949 First issued on L2 Magna L2047 and now carried by L1 Magna L0699. A reregistration.
MG 3084 Now carried by PA Midget PA1811, a reregistration.
MG 3195 Originally issued on PA Midget PA0620 and now carried by PA Midget PA0648, which was originally registered AFY 810. Both these cars are known to the Club.
MG 3441 Originally issued on PA Midget PA1156 and now recorded by the MMM Register as on PA PA1154. I suspect this is to be a transcription error.
MG 3526 Now carried by PA Midget PA0814, originally registered JH 1234. The transfer probably took place very early in the car's life.
MG 3570 Originally issued on KN Magnette saloon KN0267 and now carried by the well known K3 Magnette K3011.
MG 3599 The registration is now claimed by PA Midget PA1504. But KN Magnette saloon KN0273 is recorded in the factory chassis record as MG 3599 and it is hard to make a judgement. KN0273 is not known to the Club. PA1504 still exists and was sold by UM, yet the registration does not appear in the chassis record. Perhaps PA1504 originally carried a MG xxxx plate but not 3599?
MG 3644 Solomon is required to give judgement in this case. The registration is claimed by 2 PA Midgets, PA0358 and PA1575. Both cars are still exist and both have a reason not to carry the plate MG3644. PA0358 was sold by UM on 14-Mar-34 when MG 305x plates were selling. PA1575 was delivered to UM and sold by Tankard and Smith, of London N15, on 1-Nov-34 which is absolutely the correct date for the registration. However the chassis record for PA1575 also mentions a registration of BG9661 or BY 9661.
MG 3694 Originally issued to L1 Magna Continental Saloon L0718 and now carried by N type Magnette racer built up from NA0995, originally registered BAD 664.
MG 3718 Issued on PA Midget PA1652 and now recorded by the MMM Register as PA1562. A simple transcription error.
MG 3768 Issued on PA Midget PA1738. This car is now recorded by the MMM Register as carrying MG 3968, another transcription error.
MG 3848 Issued on PA Midget PA0353 and not on PA0853 which was originally AWA 451, another transcription error.
MG 3850 Originally on PA Midget PA1569 and now carried by J2 Midget J2625.
MG 3855 Now carried by PA Midget PA1897 which was originally CPG78.
MG 3944 Originally issued on KN Magnette Saloon KN0308 and now carried by KN Magnette KN0286.
MG 3949 Now claimed by N type Magnette NA0800 as well as KN Magnette saloon KN0396. The N type has the correct chassis number for the registration (but see MG 4321 below) and the KN was originally registered ANY 981.
MG 4027 Now on PA Midget PA1328 which was originally PJ 2572.
MG 4321 Claimed by 2 N type Magnettes which are known to the Club, NA0800 and NA0822. The chassis records are missing. I believe the true picture is MG 3949 on NA0800, MG 4321 on NA0822 and KN0396 is ANY 981.
MG 5054 Now carried by F type Magna F0525 which was originally PJ 2572.
MG 5460 Now carried by J2 Midget J2090.
MG 6772 Claimed by both VA 1_litre VA2426 and TB Midget TB0588. I make no judgement.
MG 6938 Originally issued on TC Midget TC0359 but now carried by a MG Metro! I understand TC0359 is now registered LSK 733.
MG 7130 Now carried by SA 2 litre SA0502 which was originally DPF 212.
MG 7218 Now carried by YA Saloon YA7224.
MG 7299 Originally issue don TC Midget TC3344. It is now carried by TC Midget TC1320 which was originally registered HKR 478. TC1320 has been through the hands of a well known concours competitor. Perhaps it is all a coincidence, bit if not, I'd mark the car right down for lack of originally!
MG 7336 1947 TC from 1967 until 1972 as owned by Rob Holton
MG 7999 On a SA 2 litre SA0719, which is now apparently in Hawaii.

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