LOT 198

Motorcars from the Oldenburg Family Collection 1933 MG J2 Midget Two Seater Chassis no. J2932 Engine no. 1752 AJ72

Sold for US$28,000 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve

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Lot 198

Motorcars from the Oldenburg Family Collection
1933 MG J2 Midget Two Seater

The Amelia Island Auction|5 March 2020, 12:00 EST|Fernandina Beach Golf Club

Motorcars from the Oldenburg Family Collection
1933 MG J2 Midget Two Seater
Chassis no. J2932
Engine no. 1752 AJ72

847cc OHV Inline 4-Cylinder Engine
Two SU Carburetors
36bhp at 5,000rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission
Front Beam Axle with Leaf Springs - Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Drum Brakes

*Rarely found in America
*Early MG model which spawned series of 'T' cars
*Ex-California Car

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

General Manager of Oxford-based Morris Garages, Cecil Kimber brought sports car motoring within the financial reach of the man in the street with a succession of affordable MGs. These were, naturally enough, based on existing Morris models, arguably the most famous and certainly the most influential being the Midget, which first appeared at the 1928 London Motor Show. The first – 'M' type - Midget was based on modified Morris Minor running gear and used the latter's 847cc single-overhead-camshaft four-cylinder engine, though it was its delightful two-seater body that set the little MG apart from its humbler progenitor. Manufactured by Carbodies of Coventry, it was narrow, light in weight and adorned with a most attractive boat tail.

Derived from the 'M' type and introduced for the 1933 model year, the two-seater J2 established the classic MG look which would characterise the Abingdon marque's sports cars into the 1950s. With its deeply cutaway doors, fold-flat windscreen and fixed cycle-type mudguards, it revealed its race-bred pedigree in every line and set the British sports car fashion for many years. This new Midget was given the factory designation 'J2' and it was announced simultaneously that a new 'super-sports' J3 model and a racing J4 would quickly follow. The Midget's 847cc, overhead-camshaft, Wolseley-derived engine was coupled to a four-speed gearbox and housed in a simple chassis frame featuring half-elliptic springing all round and cable-operated 8"-diameter brakes. Thus equipped, the lightweight J2 possessed exemplary handling and steering by the standards of the day and was good for 65mph. Today the model is one of the most sought after of pre-war MG sports cars.

One of only 2,083 J2 Midgets produced, chassis number 2932 was acquired by the Oldenburg Family in 2006 as their MG Collection was growing and such niceties as an Airline Coupe would later join. It was bought in California for the collection and has seen only modest use over the course of the following decade and a half.

Additional information

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