MG J-Type Midget
Car producer :  |
MG |
---|---|
Model: |
J-Type Midget |
Year: |
1932-1933 |
Type: |
Roadster |
The MG J-type is a sports car that was produced by MG from 1932 to 1934. This 2-door sports car used an updated version of the overhead camshaft, crossflow engine, used in the 1928 Morris Minor and Wolseley 10 and previously fitted in the MG M-type Midget of 1929 to 1932, driving the rear wheels through a four-speed non-synchromesh gearbox. The chassis was from the D-Type with suspension by half-elliptic springs and Hartford friction shock-absorbers all round with rigid front and rear axles. The car had a wheelbase of 86 in (2,184 mm) and a track of 42 in (1,067 mm). Most cars were open two-seaters, but a closed salonette version of the J1 was also made, and some chassis were supplied to external coachbuilders. The open cars can be distinguished from the M type by having cut-away tops to the doors
The J4 was a pure racing version with lightweight body work and the J3 engine, but using more boost from the supercharger to obtain 72 bhp.
One of the most sought-after of competition MGs, the J4 became the company's ultimate small-capacity sports-racing car, nicknamed the 'Baby K3' as being the 4-cylinder equivalent of its famed 6-cylinder K3 Magnette big brother. Only nine J4s built 1932-34 - began on April 26, 1933. It was one of the latest improved 'Lightweight' J4 Midgets incorporating many C-Type components and larger brakes. For the major EifelRennen race at the Nurburgring in Germany on May 28, Hamilton had entered the car in the 800cc class – to tackle 12 laps of the demanding 14.2-mile circuit. During the race he kept pace with far more powerful 1,500cc category cars and even the slower Grand Prix machines - finally winning his class by a staggering 24 minutes.