YT Tourer Up until 1935 the MG Car Company MG saloons and was fitted as standard on of £525. For this sporty ‘Y’ type, the power and Morris Motors were essentially the Y type. was increased by the addition of twin separate companies although both were Solid and robust the ‘Y’ Type chassis semi-down-draught SU carburettors and owned by Sir William Morris. Following a was to form the basis for many future MG the fitting of the camshaft used in the ‘TC’ takeover in 1935 the two concerns were sports models, however like so many pre- Midget. Power was up by 8.5 bhp from 46 incorporated under the umbrella of the war designs the car was too heavy for its to 54.5. Thus top speed was increased Nuffield organisation which also owned engine. Powered by the XPAG engine of from 70 mph on the saloon to 76 mph on other marques such as Wolseley and 1250 cc as used in the ‘TB’ Midget, the the tourer. The ‘YT’ was to be offered for Riley. From then on the derivation of MG unit only had a single carburettor and thus export only and as a result the body was models was to be from several camps in the power output was a meagre 46 bhp @ adapted for easy conversion to left hand order to rationalise and to introduce a 4,800 rpm. With the car weighing in at drive specification. The tourer was quite common parts policy. Two years later the nearly 21 cwts, it was some 440 lbs different to the saloon as not just a saloon MG model range included two saloons, heavier than the TC, therefore with the roof removed. The doors which the SA and VA and a year later the larger performance was far from brisk. It was were reduced to only two, were larger and WA saloon appeared which sported a however an ideal cruising car with a high deeply cut away to give the sporty look, 2,561cc engine. These saloons were degree of comfort and luxury. Power was whilst the interior was still able to introduced to compete with the large transferred to the rear wheels via a four accommodate four seats easily. There saloons on offer from S.S. Cars (who later speed gearbox with synchromesh on were changes to the dashboard and fascia became known as Jaguar Cars Ltd) In the second third and top. Transmission to the which resembled that of the ‘TC’ with a Morris camp, there was a Ten Series M banjo type back axle was through a large rev counter in front of the driver and saloon on offer during 1938 to be followed Hardy-Spicer tubular propshaft with the passenger facing a similar sized by the launch of the Eight Series E at the needle roller universal joints. Braking was speedometer. The use of leather for trim October Motor Show. MG needed a by means of a Lockheed hydraulic system and seating was standard with the front compact size saloon to compete with the acting on 9” diameter drums front and seats tilting to allow access to the rear cars offered by Singer, Riley, Triumph and rear. seats. The windscreen folded flat in true Sunbeam-Talbot and to compliment their The whole car was extremely well MG tradition, whilst the hood folded neatly ‘S’, ‘V’ and ‘W’ range. The MG ‘Y’ Type appointed by post war depression stan- away behind the rear seats with a close Saloon or one and a quarter litre MG fitting cover. Saloon as it was better known was on the The ‘YT’ was one of the last four seat drawing board between 1937 and 1939 open tourers to be produced by MG and ready for introduction in 1941. was in production between 1948 and mid Codenamed EX 166, it was really an MG 1950 with only 877 examples leaving the version of the Morris Eight Series E and Abingdon factory. Of those, it is recorded was designed by Syd Enever and Alec that 874 were intended directly for export, Issigonis in the Morris design studio at however 42 cars remained in Britain. One Cowley. The war put paid to plans for a such car that did not remain in Britain was 1941 launch and the car did not see the beautiful black ‘YT’ that we feature this serious production until 1947. month. Now in the ownership of David The all steel body closely resembled Bryant from Stockbridge, the car was re- the Morris, but had suitable modifications imported from the United States some five to the front and rear to give the traditional years ago before David purchased it in a appearance of its MG forerunners. With its restored condition with the car already specially swept tail and rear wings converted back to right hand drive before dards and was very much in the style of together with the distinctive vertical being shipped back to the UK. David’s the pre war ‘S’, ‘V’ and ‘W’ saloons and chrome slatted front radiator grille, this family are converts to fresh air motoring tourers. With a luxury leather interior and was definitely from the MG camp. Alec and the MG marque having accompanied walnut dashboard, it received a warm Issigonis was a suspension design him on several Regency runs in the ‘YT’. welcome from the motoring press and specialist and he was able to introduce for “It was one of the reasons that I bought public alike when it was announced in the the first time on a British production car, the car, so that I can take my wife and spring of 1947 at a price of £671 including an independent front suspension system three children out in reasonable comfort purchase tax. The car enjoyed very good which consisted of a coil spring and and style” he says. The car has also been sales both on the home market and wishbone. Another first was the put to good use as a wedding car for abroad and although of compact employment of rack and pinion steering friends as evidenced by the tell tale dimensions and not particularly roomy the instead of the Bishop cam type and the ‘Y’ confetti on the carpets! David is pleased ‘Y’ type gave a smooth ride with excellent type was the first Nuffield car to be so that he has an MG that is quite a rarity as roadholding and at the time was equipped. The separate chassis was it becomes a talking point wherever it considered exceptionally comfortable completely new and differed from the goes, he says that it is certainly more compared to its rivals. Such features as Morris equivalent with the frame being of sedate than the other MG’s that he has an opening front windscreen, welded box section with four cross owned which include a Midget and an telescopically adjustable steering column members and it was underslung at the MGC. I did promise David that I wouldn’t and rear window blind all enhanced the rear with leaf spring suspension. Damping mention the Triumph Spitfire! specification of what was already a luxury was effected by means of Luvax Girling vehicle. double lever arm, piston type dampers at It is believed that the conversion of the the front with single arm dampers at the ‘Y’ type saloon to an open tourer by a rear. A very worthwhile addition to the Swiss coachbuilder may have influenced chassis design was the fitting of a Jackall MG into producing their own version. The hydraulic jacking system. This system had ‘YT’ as it was to be known, was launched been incorporated on the larger pre-war at the 1948 Motor Show at an asking price Reproduced by kind permission of Enjoying MG March 1993. Enjoying MG is the journal of the MG Owners Club, Octagon House, Swavesy, Cambridge, CB4 5QZ,, UK. Tel. +44(0)1954 231125 .