1951 MG YA

THE MG Y-TYPE SALOON

The MG Y-Type was a four-door, four-seater front engine rear-wheel-drive saloon that was made from 1947 to 1953. Despite its coachwork dating back to the 1930s, it introduced several technical innovations to the marque in addition to being their first post-war closed car.

MG had planned to launch the Y in 1940 but in the event it did not make its bow until the spring of 1947. The body was derived from the Morris Eight but there was rack & pinion steering - a first on an MG - and a new chassis constructed of longitudinal box sections. Another talking point was that the suspension was by front independent coil springs and wishbones. At the rear there were semi-elliptic springs and a spiral bevel banjo-type axle that was derived from the Morris Ten and the brakes were drums fore and aft.

One of the major selling points of the MG Y-Type was the extensive list of standard equipment which included an adjustable steering column, a Smiths "Jackal" hydraulic wheel jacking system, a rear window blind and a sliding roof. Naturally the seats were trimmed in leather.

By late 1951 the Y was succeeded by the YB, which featured a hypoid rear axle, a front anti-roll bar, smaller wheels and improved brakes. In October1953 the MG YB was replaced by the Z-Series Magnette.

Power for the Y saloon was from a 1,250cc S4 OHV engine with a four-speed gearbox; there was synchromesh on the top three ratios.

The MG Y-Type was the last Octagon badged saloon of pre-war appearance and with the front windshield and roof open, it is an exceedingly enjoyable form of summer motoring. The YB is believed by many to have slightly better road manners, although it is the rarer of the two models, but any Y-Type can offer you handling that are on a par with its two-seater stablemates.

One challenge for the prospective owner is availability - the MG Y-Type debuted at the height of the "Export or Die" era - and another is, inevitably, the condition of the body. Play close attention to how the doors fit, as this is a good indicator as to the condition of the A and B pillars, in additional to the floor, running boards and boot lid. Continual blue smoke from the engine can be sign of the need for a rebore in the near future while the chassis should also be examined, especially at the rear. Body and trim panels can be very hard to obtain and some owners have been known to fit a Shorrock supercharger for enhanced performance.

Rivals to the MG Y-Type include the Citroen Light Fifteen Traction Avant, the Jowett Javelin, the Lanchester LD10, the Riley RMA, the Singer SM1500, Sunbeam-Talbot 80 and the Triumph Mayflower,