Don Hayter's MGB Story: The birth of the MGB in MG's Abingdon Design & Development Office
This is the inside story of the workings of the MG Design and Development Office from 1956 until MG's closure in 1980. It explains how the various models were conceived, drawn, planned and developed by a small team of engineers. It also shows how the constant evolution of BMC, including the Triumph-Austin merger, frequently changed input to, and control of, the department. Safety legislation, mainly imposed by the United States, could have killed MG, but detailed here are the design changes that allowed the MGB, and other models, to survive. Trying to remain as individual as possible, MG developed record-breakers and a unique Competition Department during the period covered by this book. Special cars were built and tested, and prototypes for the MGB replacement, using engines from any part of the group, were drawn up. The continuing support of the American market was essential and much valued, but holding company, British Leyland, prioritised the TR7 – a decision that, ultimately, led to the closure of a successful, happy MG company.
1118053889
Don Hayter's MGB Story: The birth of the MGB in MG's Abingdon Design & Development Office
This is the inside story of the workings of the MG Design and Development Office from 1956 until MG's closure in 1980. It explains how the various models were conceived, drawn, planned and developed by a small team of engineers. It also shows how the constant evolution of BMC, including the Triumph-Austin merger, frequently changed input to, and control of, the department. Safety legislation, mainly imposed by the United States, could have killed MG, but detailed here are the design changes that allowed the MGB, and other models, to survive. Trying to remain as individual as possible, MG developed record-breakers and a unique Competition Department during the period covered by this book. Special cars were built and tested, and prototypes for the MGB replacement, using engines from any part of the group, were drawn up. The continuing support of the American market was essential and much valued, but holding company, British Leyland, prioritised the TR7 – a decision that, ultimately, led to the closure of a successful, happy MG company.
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Don Hayter's MGB Story: The birth of the MGB in MG's Abingdon Design & Development Office

Don Hayter's MGB Story: The birth of the MGB in MG's Abingdon Design & Development Office

by Don Hayter
Don Hayter's MGB Story: The birth of the MGB in MG's Abingdon Design & Development Office

Don Hayter's MGB Story: The birth of the MGB in MG's Abingdon Design & Development Office

by Don Hayter

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Overview

This is the inside story of the workings of the MG Design and Development Office from 1956 until MG's closure in 1980. It explains how the various models were conceived, drawn, planned and developed by a small team of engineers. It also shows how the constant evolution of BMC, including the Triumph-Austin merger, frequently changed input to, and control of, the department. Safety legislation, mainly imposed by the United States, could have killed MG, but detailed here are the design changes that allowed the MGB, and other models, to survive. Trying to remain as individual as possible, MG developed record-breakers and a unique Competition Department during the period covered by this book. Special cars were built and tested, and prototypes for the MGB replacement, using engines from any part of the group, were drawn up. The continuing support of the American market was essential and much valued, but holding company, British Leyland, prioritised the TR7 – a decision that, ultimately, led to the closure of a successful, happy MG company.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781845849658
Publisher: Veloce Publishing
Publication date: 03/21/2016
Series: Those were the days ... series
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
File size: 13 MB
Note: This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Don Hayter was educated at Abingdon School, winning a Bennett Scholarship to Pembroke College. With the outbreak of WWII, he decided to take an apprenticeship in aircraft design at the Pressed Steel Company, Cowley. Attending Oxford Technical College where he attained a Higher National Certificate in Metallurgy and Engineering. Don then worked at various aircraft manufacturers, before moving into the car industry after the war. Having already worked on many cars, including the MG Magnette, he moved to Aston Martin in 1954, working on the design for the DB2/4 and the Lagonda, before moving back to MG’s Design & Development department. Promoted to Chief Design & Development Engineer in 1973, Don was responsible for the design of the MGB body, and stayed with MG until the closure of its factory in 1980. Don remains passionately enthusiastic about this iconic car, and still runs one himself today.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 4

Foreword 4

A personal Introduction 5

Early days & prototypes 6

The Riley part of MG & Riley at Abingdon 12

The MGA 14

Record-breakers 21

Out to play - rally stories 29

Evolution or revolution? 36

Safety legislation 42

MG 'B' notes 54

The Austin Healey Sprite & MG Midget 66

Sprite & Midget notes 71

Big Healeys 74

MGC - ADO 52 75

MGC V8 79

ADO 21 81

O Series 84

The beginning of the end 87

Bibliography 90

Index 95

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