YA0364
Owner and Location:
John Harris and he lives in Oxfordshire
Date of First registration :
5th June 1947
Chassis Number : YA0364
The Travels of Doris
My name is Doris. I am a 1¼ Litre MG Y Type Saloon living in Wantage in Oxfordshire. My birth was registered in Birmingham on 5th of June 1947 (the year of Her Majesty the Queen’s marriage). I was one of the earliest my kind and I’m told I’m the 8th from the oldest still to be around. I was painted black in those early days as were others like me.
My first home was that of a Mrs Francis Grounds in Sutton Coldfield (or so I was informed by someone at a social run in Cornwall).
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Between June 1947 and April 1974 is a bit of a blur.A year or two ago from Ian Ball gave me a picture (left) of me taken in 1962/3 with his wife’s brother and sister at a house in Maple Bridge, Stockport Cheshire.I was owned by Ian Ball’s father in law a Mr R Crick. Whether we lived there I don’t remember.Perhaps someone remembers seeing me around this time it would be nice from them. |
I was at this time I moved to the Hereford area, firstly to live with a Mr P Powell who I believe owned or worked for a small garage (Crossways Garage) in Newton St Margaret.
| I may have been in care of by others than those mentioned but my next recollection in April 1974 was that I went to live in Bishopstone , nr Hereford, with Mr John Macklin.My present owner John managed to Contact Mr Macklin who sent him the photograph below of Mr Macklin sitting in me | 
Outside John’s house with John at my wheel |
In May 1975 an enthusiastic young man called Richard N Bowen took me to Hereford. His father had to be my keeper because Richard was only 16 at the time and thus too young. I was still in my original black then but I suspect that I was well used by then and maybe looking a little sad. Mr. Macklin explained that although I had been stored in a shed my rear end (thus my modesty) had been exposed to the elements and thus was in need of some attention. It was not clear though when, and in who’s care, this was occurred.
Seeing my plight Richard decided to do something about my sad looking rear end and, with the help of his dad who was metalwork teacher, carried out some repairs with the intention if restoring my looks. Old paint removal revealed weaknesses in my chassis which Richard’s dad repaired, rust proofed and repainted.
However, being a young healthy lad he was wooed away by a younger (and some say prettier) lady in the shape of an MGBGT. The kind owner of the GT, with whom I was exchanged, took me under his wing.
I thing the GT was looking for another man. The time was January 1981 and my next partner was Steven Clive Davies who carried me off the short distance to St Nicholas.
Stephen was a kind man and finished my paintwork and gave me back my self respect. He even bought me some new clothes, a nice beige body and brown wings and running boards.
Having enjoyed me for a few years after my recovery Stephen decided it was time for us to part. So in April 1984 I moved to Gloucestershire in the lovely village of Northleach with Graham Leslie Cullingford. It was here I entered the pub trade in a pub called The Sherborne Arms. This was a lovely place to live. A year later in April 1985 Mr Cullingford took me to live down in Cornwall,
My pub life started here |
The Bolingly Inn in Cornwall |
Still in the pub trade we moved to Cornwall to The Bolingly Inn near Perranporth. This was another lovely place to be.
In June 1987 still in Cornwall I was passed to Leslie Albert Rennie who lived in Three mile stone.
Me and Albert reunited |
Years later while visiting Cornwall for the 2006 Riviera Run, organised by the Devon and Cornwall Centre of the MG Car Club, I paid a visit to see Albert Rennie with my current owner John Harris.He had moved to Blackwater near where I was staying and was pleased to see me after all these years. He works as a trimmer. |
Around 1988, after a brief fling with Albert, I went off to live in Burnham in Buckinghamshire with Richard Hamilton. I stayed with Richard until about April 1991 during which time he had my front seats recovered
I came back to Solihull near to my birth area with a Mr. Yaxley was he who took me there. However, I don’t remember much about those years.
Another took me to Oxfordshire. It was Peter Jackson took me to live with him in Banbury.
Five years later in May 1996 John Edward Roberts invited me to go and live with him in Epsom Surrey. I stayed with him for four years and celebrated the turn of the Millennium with him.
In May 2000, after the Millennium celebrations had settled down I moved to Hertfordshire. I lived with Lionel Reeves in Hoddeston. He’s lovely gentleman who with his wife took great care of me. Lionel later moved a little way to Puckeridge and took me to live with him in, also in Hertfordshire.
Saying Goodbye to Lionel in 2006
It was here, in 2006, that I met my current owner, John Harris who took me to his home in Wantage, in Oxfordshire. I now share a garage with a handsome chap called “Lucky Eddie” a blue two seater MG PA. It was John who gave me the name “Doris”. I am very happy with John who has put right some of my minor ailments and bought me some new shoes.
Luck Eddie and I have been out and about on runs and shows together with John and his son-in-law Mike. We’ve even been down to Cornwall together. I’ve been with John for nine years now and hope to stay for many more years. Lucky Eddie has been with John for 43 years so the future looks good.
Me and stable-mate Lucky Eddie in Abingdon |
Me and Eddie at John’s house in Cornwall |
Just out of interest is a map showing my life’s travels. Who knows where next……
If anyone out there remembers me and can add any more to my story and help me to remember I would be pleased to here.
YA4080
Owner and Location :
Francis Smith who lives in Hampshire
Date of First Registration :
16th March, 1951.
Chassis Number: YA 6658
Francis Smith’s YA seen at the MG Era day at the Brooklands Musuem on April 10th, 2011. An annual event.
Pictures and details kindly supplied by Ted Gardner.
YA6893
Owners and Location.
Alex Phillips & Peter Small, Surrey, England.
Date of First Registration.
25th July 1951.
Chassis Number : Y 6893
Seen at Clandon Park Classic Car Show during the MacMillan Cancer Support event in July 2011, the car having been only recently finished after restoration.
The above photos kindly supplied by Jack Murray.
Y2459
Owner: Michael Bowyer
Chassis Number Y 2459
Location: Essex
Date of 1st registration: 15th. June 1950
Photo supplied by Michael Bowyer
Y6783
Owner: Bernard Foad
Chassis Number Y6783
Location: Warwickshire
Date of 1st registration: 9th April 1951
Reg No MKA 933 has been on the Y Register in my name since 19/08/2013;
Bernard
YA0330
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Owner: Slater Reynolds
Chassis Number :YA0330
Location: Wiltshire
Date of 1st Registration : 16th May 1947
Registered new to Col. Theyre at Bath GL9899 purchased by my mother 1957 used by her until she bought a MG 1100. Then driven by family members until it was worn out in 1980’s. Stored under cover until rebuild 1999-2002. Remains in road going order as at 2016.
The rebuild sought to accurately replace the minimum number of parts to put the car into respectable order but do a fair job were repair was necessary. The car was resprayed to accurate original tints. The interior is original save carpet and head lining.
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