MG D-type Midget

MG ZS 180

MG D-type Midget

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MG ZS 180 Cars

MG ZS 180

MG D-type Midget

The MG D-type Midget was produced by the MG Car company in 1931 and 1932. It used the engine from the MG M-type in the chassis from the MG C-type and was only available as a four seater. Of the 250 cars produced, 208 were open tourers, 37 were salonettes and five went to external coachbuilders.

The car used the M-type 847 cc engine that was derived from the overhead camshaft engine from the 1928 Morris Minor and Wolseley 10 with a single SU carburettor producing 27 bhp (20 kW) at 4500 rpm. Drive was to the rear wheels through a three speed non-synchromesh gearbox with a four speed gearbox was an option on later cars. The chassis came from the C-type and took the form of a ladder frame with tubular cross members and passed under the rear axle. The suspension used half elliptic springs and Hartford friction shock absorbers with rigid front and rear axles and centre lock wire wheels, the brakes were cable operated with eight inch (203 mm) drums. At 84 inches (2134 mm), 86 inches (2184 mm) after the first 100 cars, the wheelbase was longer than the C-Type to cater for the larger body, but the track remained the same at 42 inches (1067 mm).

In spite of its looks the car was not very fast, 60 mph (97 km/h) being just possible in the tourer, the body being really too much for the small engine. The cars are quite rare today, many having been converted into C-Type replicas. At the same time as the D-type was being made MG was also offering the 6 cylinder 1271 cc F-Type and externally the two are virtually identical. The extra power of the F-type made it a much better car and it proved a bigger seller.

MG D-type Midget

Manufacturer MG Car Company
Production : 1931-1932 (250 made)
Predecessor : MG M-type Midget
Successor : MG J-type Midget
Class : FR layout Sports Car
Body style(s) : four seat roadster
Engine(s) : 847 cc In-line 4

Related : MG Rover Group
Related : British Motor Corporation

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MG C-type Midget

MG ZS 180

MG C-type Midget

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MG ZS 180 Cars

MG ZS 180

MG C-type Midget

The MG C-type was produced by the MG Car company from 1931 to 1932. It was designed for competition use and based on the M-Type Midget. A special car, EX120 had been developed from the M-Type for George Eyston to make an attempt on the 750 cc class 24 hour record at Autodrome de Montlhéry in France. The attempt was successful and a series of replica cars were made which became the C-type.

The car used a tuned short stroke (73 mm) version of the bevel gear driven overhead camshaft engine from the 1928 Morris Minor and Wolseley 10 with a single SU carburettor and a new crankshaft producing 44 bhp (33 kW) at 6400 rpm. It could from 1932 be had with the crossflow head to be seen later on the MG J-type and a Powerplus supercharger version was also available with 52.4 bhp (39.1 kW) at 6500 rpm. Drive was to the rear wheels through a four speed non-synchromesh gearbox. The chassis was new and took the form of a ladder frame with tubular cross members and passed under the rear axle. The suspension used half elliptic springs and Hartford friction shock absorbers with rigid front and rear axles and centre lock wire wheels. The car had a wheelbase of 81 inches (2057 mm) and a track of 42 inches (1067 mm).

The body, which had no doors, was metal over an ash frame and had a pointed tail which held the spare wheel and cycle type front wings. Later cars had a more conventional rear with a slab type fuel tank. The exhaust pipe was routed outside the car and finished with a spectacular fishtail. The record breaking cars had a streamlined cowl over the radiator but this was not usually fitted to later cars as it could cause overheating unless high speeds were maintained.

The standard car initially cost £295 or £345 for the supercharged version rising to £490 and £575 by the end of production.

As well as the Montlhéry record, C-Types were used in many other competition events including a works team of fourteen cars entered in the 1931 Double Twelve event at Brooklands where they took the first five places.

MG C-type Midget

Manufacturer MG Car Company
Production : 1931-1932 (43 made)
Predecessor : none
Successor : MG Q-type
Class : FR layout Sports Car
Body style(s) : competition car
Engine(s) : 746 cc In-line 4

Related : MG Rover Group
Related : British Motor Corporation

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MG M-type Midget

MG ZS 180

MG M-type Midget

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MG ZS 180 Cars

MG ZS 180

MG M-type Midget

The MG M-type was produced by the MG Car company from April 1929 to 1932. It was sometimes referred to as the 8/33. Launched at the 1928 London Motor Show when the sales of the larger MG saloons was faultering because of the economic climate, the small car brought MG ownership to a new sector of the market and probably saved the company. Early cars were made in the Cowley factory, but from 1930 production had transferred to Abingdon.

This 2 door sports car used an updated version of the four-cylinder bevel-gear driven overhead camshaft engine used in the 1928 Morris Minor and Wolseley 10 with a single SU carburettor giving 20 bhp (15 kW) at 4000 rpm. Drive was to the rear wheels through a three speed non-synchromesh gearbox. The chassis was based on the one used in the 1928 Morris Minor with lowered suspension using half elliptic springs and Hartford friction shock absorbers with rigid front and rear axles and bolt on wire wheels. The car had a wheelbase of 78 inches (1980 mm) and a track of 42 inches (1067 mm).

1930 brought a series of improvements to the car. The Morris rod brake system, with the handbrake working on the transmission, was replaced a cable system with cross shaft coupled to the handbrake and the transmission brake deleted. Engine output was increased to 27 bhp (20 kW) by improving the camshaft and a four speed gearbox was offered as an option. The doors became front hinged. A supercharged version could be ordered from 1932 raising the top speed to 80 mph (130 km/h).

Early bodies were fabric covered using a wood frame, this changed to all metal in 1931. Most cars had bodies made by Carbodies of Coventry and fitted by MG in either open two seat or closed two door "Sportsmans" coupé versions but some chassis were supplied to external coachbuilders such as Jarvis. The factory even made a van version as a service vehicle. The car could reach 65 mph (105 km/h) and return 40 miles per gallon. The open version cost £175 at launch, soon rising to £185, and the coupé cost £245. The 1932 supercharged car cost £250.

The M-type had considerable sporting success both privately and with official teams winning gold medals in the 1929 Land's End Trial and class wins in the 1930 "Double Twelve" race at Brooklands. An entry was also made in the 1930 Le Mans 24 hour but neither of the two cars finished.

MG M-type Midget

Manufacturer MG Car Company
Production : 1929–1932 (3235)
Predecessor : none
Successor : MG J-type
Class : Sports Car
Body style(s) : 2-door Roadster Coupe

Related : MG Rover Group
Related : British Motor Corporation

Related : MG M-type Midget From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, MG ZS 180 Cars

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