MGs, Triumphs, Sunbeams and Other People

December 2013, President’s Prattle

By Dean Sprague

I am not sure why the Holidays always create a time of reflection for me but they do… a time gone by. Remember back in the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies? Well, if you are old enough (unfortunately I am).

Since this should be about British cars I will limit my reflections accordingly. I worked for a British car dealership back in the late 60s. Actually, they sold Plymouths as their primary product line but fortunately I worked across the street where we sold MG, Triumph, Jaguar, Austin Healey, Sunbeam and Lotus by special order. I noticed while doing this those British sports car marques had the same owner loyalties as domestic car owners. You had Chevy people and Ford people and you had MG people and Triumph people. You know, “I would rather push a _______ than drive a ______”, you fill in the blanks. While I couldn’t really tell the difference between Ford and Chevy people I did find subtle distinctions between MG and Triumph people. While MGs were generally not as fast as Triumphs, they drove easier, rode a little smoother (excluding the TR6) and were a little more comfortable. Therefore, most women if deciding between the two seemed to gravitate toward the MG. However if you wanted to go faster more than you craved creature comforts and couldn’t afford an Austin Healey, Triumph was the car of choice. Also, the guttural “bulldog” appearance of the TR3/4 attracted many male buyers. Rootes Group also brought an offering to the “affordable” table, the Sunbeam Alpine. This was an interesting car. It was a little slower than an MG but with its interior appointments and higher ground clearance it had a reputation as a comfortable rally car and made an excellent daily driver. They were actually quite attractive but not muscular which was probably why more women than men seemed to like them. They also had a small but very loyal following. Jaguars, Aston Martins and other high-end motorcars were usually well beyond the reach of the masses so most people just read about them. The Austin Healey was very popular as well but it was like a Pontiac not a Chevrolet, it had more power but it cost more. I saw several buyers trade in their MG or Triumph for a new Austin Healey; it was the next step up (when you could afford it). Of course there were several niche cars of the time like Lotus, TVR, Morgan, Marcos etc. They were generally small production hand built cars attracting specific use buyers or select clientele generally beyond the “masses” market and in some cases interest. Of course there were many other British offerings of the time but we didn’t sell them.

There was always friendly rivalry between the car clubs. MG and Triumph clubs in particular. I don’t remember seeing many “general” British car clubs like we have today. Anyway, when you were on the road and happened to come upon another British car you waved but like the military there were rules. For example, if you were driving an MGA or MGB and a Jaguar passed you must wave first. That one was easy but what if it’s a TR3 or a TR4? The secret was to wave at the same time. This sounds easier than it is. You had to be ready to wave but not first and not last so as not to insult or be insulted. If you had a newer model of an MG or Triumph then the other guy must wave first and so on. Of course if you had a Healey all MGs and Triumphs must wave first but not Jaguars (how about a Lotus?). No matter if someone waves at you first you must return it. I am not sure I understand all I know about this or said another way I can explain it to you but I can’t understand it for you. Oh, enough of this let’s just move on.

Many people bought these “sports cars” not just for transportation but also for sport. On almost any weekend you could find a gymkhana, rally or sometimes a hill climb. In these events you competed with fellow sports cars owners. Not as a spectator but as a participant! You didn’t have to have a competitive license, have your car inspected or built to meet specific rule requirement, you just had to have a sports car. Some rally’s even had a “Monte Carlo” segment where you drove on a closed road at maximum speed and the winner had the shortest time. Unfortunately, all this is just a memory today. We have too many cars on the road, too many people who look for opportunities to sue and attorneys to assist them.

These affordable sports cars of the past have become the collectable antiques of today. Once restored it would not be practical to subject these valued classics to the rigors of competitive events (without sufficient modifications). These cars have suffered over 40 to 50 years of heat, contraction, stress and abuse of their metal, as have many of their owners, which is why I don’t gymkhana my MGTD or climb on my roof anymore.

Cheers and happy memories and holidays to all!