The background to MG7259, which belonged to one of my old school colleagues, not myself.
Back in the spring of 1965, this colleague (who has just retired from his professorial chair at one of the north’s major universities) decided, at the age of 17, to buy a rather tired 1955 Rover 90, which he then proceeded to re-spray (mainly in the open, and not particularly successfully!!). By the summer, the back axle on the aforementioned Rover was clearly not in good health, and he did a straight swap for the MG, the MG belonging to a Personnel Manager in the local Vickers shipyard at Barrow-in-Furness.
The black-and-white colour scheme came with the car, and appeared to have been Valspar applied by hand- it actually looked rather good. With fog and driving lights, overriders, and (I think) an antique radio, it was clearly “well-spec’d” ! The yellow-painted headlights were done by my colleague, as “French style” was in vogue at that period (Brigitte Bardot, sunning it on the Riviera, smoking Gauloises, etc!!)- we thought it made the YA look a bit more glamorous and well-travelled….
By September 1965, we schoolboys were off to university (he in the north, myself in the south), and MG7259 took up residence in Durham (unofficially- undergraduates were not allowed to have cars at university, but how he got round that one is another story…..). I don’t recall his having any problem with the car at all, and he delighted in demonstrating the properties of the famous “Jackall” system. MG7259 certainly made many journeys between Durham and Barrow-in-Furness, tackling winter conditions over the A66 and Stainmore with relative ease.
In the summer of 1966, after the first year at university, an advert for a YA appeared in the local Barrow paper, the “North West Evening Mail”. At that time, I thought I probably knew most of the local “Ys”, and expected this to be beige-coloured EO98xx (can’t remember the last two numbers) which had recently received a respray at a local garage. We went along to see this car, and I was surprised, when the garage was opened, to see LBP 535, which looked as though it was in original condition . A deal was duly done, and some time later MG7259 was duly sold.
Interestingly, while I can’t find any trace of LBP535 on the DVLA’s records, MG7259 is still showing up there, with colours shown as “black-and-white” ! If these records are correct, it would be remarkable to find MG7259 in this condition after all these years.
My colleague returned to university in LBP535, and continued his trans-Pennine commute, as well as several trips “down south” on the A1, but in the summer of 1967, LBP535 needed a decoke, and I can remember many happy hours with the “twizzle stick” and the grinding paste trying to get a first-rate seat……..
After the summer of 1967, my colleague had to go off to France for a year, as part of his university course. The MG didn’t go with him (although at one time he thought he might take it and put it on French plates!), and from what I remember, it was sold before his departure, though, after so many years, I haven’t got a clue where it went.
Howard Quayel.
The former owner appends this envoi:I am grateful to my friend for his evocative memoir. His recollections are impressively accurate, and certainly sharper than mine. However, I can add the following.
MG7259 was subjected to some of the most punishing treatment that could be devised by students. Fully laden, in response to a challenge, it could cover the 15 miles of single-carriageway switchback from Bowes to Scotch Corner in precisely 15 minutes.
During the winter of 1965, which was severe in north-east England, the wheel arches were coated with icicles for weeks but the car ran daily except for a week when a snowfall covered it up to the roof. One bitterly cold night it carried no less than 14 young men, inside and out, back from a village pub – a feat made possible by the sliding sunroof and the flared wheel arches.
In the hot summer days of 1966 it made a passable beach buggy (the Mini Moke was the must-have fun vehicle that season) thanks to the simple pin hinges which allowed the doors to be removed. All this abuse was testament to the car’s extraordinary resilience.
LBP535 was a more dignified old lady and treated as such. I acquired it from a family in Ulverston who had owned it from new and regarded it as a member of the family. It was altogether more original, including the metallic green paint. It was sold to a former school friend before I left for a year in France, as my friend says.
I handed over the log book and keys in exchange for £60 and watched wistfully as it drove away, satisfied that it was in pristine condition and would never let its new owner down. A few minutes later he appeared at the door, having come to a halt with a failed clutch 200 yards down the road. I think we shared the cost of a repair. I never saw either him or the car again but he emigrated to New Zealand in 1968. Maybe the car went with him…
Dr. David Whitton.