
Toby Wilson
Head of Department
LOT 32
A superb sterling silver mounted 1933 MG Mille Miglia trophy, 'To commemorate a very notable victory Mille Miglia race held in Italy in April 1933 presented to H P MacConnell', by Wilmot Manufacturing, Birmingham, hallmarked 1932,
Hugh Patrick McConnell was born in 1884 and educated in England and France and at University of Munster, Germany. He obtained his engineering training at Simpsons, Grosvenor Road, and at the Daimler Company Repair Depot, London. After seven years in England with various firms he went to America as Editor of The Automobile (now Automotive Industries). In 1912 he became Works Manager to the American agents for Commer Cars, and was subsequently Manager of the Pytchley Autocar Co. for a year and Bianchi Motors for two years. In 1916 he established his own business as Consulting Engineer in Piccadilly, in which he worked until his death on 17th January, 1943, at the age of 59. In 1933 he was the M G Team Director at the Mille Miglia.
He was elected an Associate Member in 1921 and transferred to Member in 1942.
The MG K3 Magnette, with its 120bhp, Marshall-supercharged, single overhead-cam 1,087cc straight-six and Wilson four-speed pre-selector gearbox, appeared early in 1933 with the first two prototypes being respectively used for the Monte Carlo Rally and testing on the Mille Miglia course ahead of the race itself. Three improved cars were then produced for the actual Mille Miglia, to be driven by Earl Howe and Hugh Hamilton, George Eyston and Count Lurani, and 'Tim' Birkin and Bernard Rubin, the MG team managed by Hugh Patrick McConnell. Eyston and Lurani won their class, with the Howe/Hamilton car behind them in second. Between them, the three cars put in the best performance as a team and were thus awarded the Gran Premio Brescia, the Magnette being the first British car to win such an honour.


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