Page 25 - Sample pages "Kim: A Biography of M.G. Founder Cecil Kimber" by Jon Pressnell

In some ways the style of the Salonette made it a pocket-sized version of the SSI of William Lyons.
Current from September 1931 to August 1932, the D-type was available as an Occasional Four four-seat tourer or a Foursome Coupé. The use of the C-type design of underslung chassis improved roadholding and the option of a four-speed gearbox helped extract the best from the 847cc engine. There was a remote control for the gearchange, centre-lock wire wheels, and a 12- volt electrical system; later cars had the wheelbase extended by two inches to 7ft 2in. Somewhat heavier than the M-type, the D-type suffered from a leisurely performance, something remedied if one specified the optional supercharger. Total production was 250 cars, split between 208 open tourers, 37 Salonettes, and five cars bodied by outside coachbuilders.
Also announced in September 1931, the first of the small six- cylinder M.G. models had its Wolseley Hornet engine installed in a D-type chassis lengthened by 10 inches. For M.G. use the overhead-cam 1271cc ‘six’ had twin SU carbs, different inlet and exhaust manifolds, a large aluminium-alloy sump and an alloy
valve cover, and developed 37.2bhp; the gearbox was a four-speed manual, with remote change, and was sourced from specialist gearbox manufacturer ENV. The F-type’s bodies were essentially as the D-type and J-type, later Salonettes having a side-mounted spare and an opening boot with a lid that could form a luggage platform. In September 1932 an open two-seater F2 was introduced, and larger brakes (of 12in rather than 8in diameter) and a modified cylinder head were standardised, at which stage the F1 tourer and Salonette were given the F3 tag.
Replaced in March 1933 by the L-type Magna, the 1,250 F-types that were sold in little over a year made it the most successful of the ohc six-cylinder models. Substantially the most popular variant was the tourer, with 532 made, against a nonetheless impressive 390 Salonettes and just 40 F2 two-seaters. As with the sister Wolseley Hornet, a large number of F-type chassis were supplied to outside coachbuilders – 188 in all, more than for any other pre-1936 M.G. model.
187 Chapter Eight: Sailing, Racing and a New Six-cylinder Car
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