MG TA ‘Cream Cracker’, 1936
MG TA ‘Cream Cracker’, year 1936. Colour dark brown over cream (beige) combined with a brown leathercloth interior, and a brown mohair tonneau cover. Here we have a recreation of a famous MG ‘Cream Crackers’ works team car. The MG TA ‘Cream Crackers’ were successful in the U.K. trial competitions in the late 1930s. The presented 1936 MG TA was imported to the Netherlands in the year 2000, and it has known only one Dutch owner ever since. The car comes with a fully documented history, all the previous owners are known. The MG TA was modified to competition specifications by an MG specialist in the Netherlands, the original parts like the original windscreen and hood frame are still present. Costs nor effort were spared to build a truly competitive MG TA ‘Cream Cracker’ recreation, our test drives were impressive experiences; this is one of the best tuned naturally aspirated MG T-types we have ever driven! Hereby a listing of the most important modifications and updates: A tuned MG XPAG engine was mounted. The engine features a ‘billet steel’ phoenix crankshaft and a sports camshaft, two S.U. HS4 1 ½ inch carburettors, a Laystall airflowed aluminium cylinder head and a ‘free-flow’ exhaust manifold. Further mechanical updates are a Ford 5-speed gearbox and Alfin aluminium drum brakes around. The car is fitted with 19-inch wire wheels shod with 4.50x19 Blockley tyres, Brooklands aero screens, Hartford schock absorbers and twin back-mounted spare wheels. To avoid any confusion towards the real ‘Cream Cracker’ team cars, this desirable recreation flashes the words ‘Cream Crackered’ on the bonnet. This MG TA drives perfect and the driving experience, and the engine sound are truly exhilarating! This MG TA can be imported / exported to any country around the globe. Many spare parts are available to be acquired separately.
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Altena 2202
The MG TA is the successor of the MG J- and P- type Midgets. The MG T- series is, according to lots of enthusiasts, the archetype of the pre-war sports car. The pre-war design shows beautiful sober lines and large wheels. the wooden dashboard shows very nice gauges and details. The MG TA was powered by a 1292 cc. four-cylinder engine with overhead valves giving a power-output of 54 bhp. The MG TA was build until the year1939 and succeeded by the MG TB.
Technical data
four cylinder engine
cylinder capacity: 1250 cc.
carburettors: 2x S.U.
capacity: 54 bhp. at 5200 rpm.
top-speed: 128 km/h. - 80 mph.
gearbox: 4- speed, manual shift
weight: 820 kg.
MG history
MG (Morris Garage) was set up by William Morris in the year 1923 to market a more sporty line of Morris models. Morris Production Manager, Cecil Kimber, was transferred from the factory in Cowley to Morris Garages (in Abington) to design MG's using Morris parts. MG production in Abingdon started in the year 1924. At the end of the 1930s, even normal passenger cars were introduced under the MG label.
The business flourished when in 1945, just after World War II, the sporty prewar MG TB and its successor the TC stole the hearts of the American soldiers. Numerous MGs were shipped to America where this type of motorcar was yet unknown.
Demand for the MG sports cars quickly rose in America, and most of the MGs were sold across the big pond in the years that followed. MGs were simple and well-built, affordable and easy to maintain. In 1952, Austin Motor Corporation merged with Morris Motors to form British Motor Corporation Ltd*.
In 1955, the pre-war TB and the post-war TC, TD and TF series with their pre-war designs were followed by the MG A roadster, which also became available as coupes after 1956.
In 1962, the successful MG A was followed by the even more successful and austerely but elegantly lined MG B. This series, too, mainly found its way to America. The MG B was available as roadster and as a 2+2 coupe, called the ‘GT’.
As British Motor* had stopped the production of the Austin Healey, there was again the need for a six-cylinder sports car from this stable, which made the MG C see the light of day in 1967. It was an MG B with a six-cylinder engine. However, this car failed to live up to expectations as its road-holding and character were not of Healey’s caliber. Eventually, Healey’s successor was to come from the newly merged British Leyland* stable in 1968, and was called the Triumph TR6.
In 1973, a V8 variant of the MG B came onto the market: the MGB V8. This model had a powerful Rover 3.5 litre V8 motor and was to be built until 1976.
The MG B roadster and the GT were sold until 1980, and, under pressure from American legislation, were adapted with safety-enhancing and emission-reducing conversions during their last five production years. The resultant thick rubber bumpers and less powerful engines made these cars much less attractive. Meanwhile, Japan produced the Datsun 240 Z, and put an end to the British sports car hegemony in America.
In 1980, it was curtains for MG B. In the years after, some Austins did appear, ‘dressed up’ as MGs but we’d rather forget about them. Finally, in the 1990s, a worthy successor emerged in the form of the MG F, which is available to this day.
In the year 2001 BMW decided to get rid of Rover because they were losing lots of money because the British pound was too expensive as was manufacturing cars in England.
A group of investors bought Rover. They took over the entire model line and were able to work out the last details on the Rover 75 Tourer and market it. Next idea was to give MG a true rebirth; various Rover models were technically re-engineered, tuned and spiced up to make thru drivers cars of them, a sporty line of cars alongside the Rover middle-class luxury line.
Looking at the Rover/ MG cars and reading about them in the press we can tell that we have high expectations of the MG models to appear in the future.
© Marc Vorgers
British Leyland*
1968-75: BRITISH LEYLAND MOTOR CORPORATION, LTD
1975-78: BRITISH LEYLAND LIMITED
(in the merger of BRITISH MOTOR HOLDINGS with Austin-Morris and Jaguar interests in 1966)
and LEYLAND MOTOR CORP. LTD.
partly nationalized by the British government in 1975