MG cars have been a part of British motoring for 100 years, and Abingdon played a big role in the marque’s history. Today, a number of MG Vintage and MG Triple M cars were on display in Abingdon Market Place as part of the MG100 celebrations.
The MG marque was founded in 1923 by Cecil Kimber. The first MG car, the MG Midget, was produced in 1924. MGs were built in Abingdon from 1928 to 1980.
There will be a larger event for all MGs at Silverstone from 10th – 11th June.
For more information about the MG100 celebrations please visit the MGCC website www.mgcc.co.uk/mg100/.
Thank you to Martin Wackenier for the pictures.
Ahhh Nostalgia ! That unique smell of brand new exhausts, hot for the first time, as they test-drove around the concrete road past the airfield in the mornings in the 1960s. It occasionally mingled with the sound of a Beverley doing morning ground runs. I used to cycle along there on my way to a holiday job at Frilford.
I miss my MGCGT but couldn’t afford one now ! One day, visiting Abingdon, I left it on Park Road. On return I found it nose-to-nose with another pristine MGCGT in White (Reg MGC 2), belonging I assumed to someone important at the factory (mine was Black). Happy days.
In the late 60’s I worked as a contract draughtsman from a temporary office building within the grounds of Abingdon Hospital. At that time the last building in Abingdon beyond the Hospital was the Mortuary, roughly where B & Q is today. I see the ‘temporary’ building is still there between the Marcham Road Health Centre and the Hospital but I don’t know what function it provides.
All was quiet in the office at that time except for MG cars being road tested along Marcham Road, but before going into service in 1969 the Concorde aircraft used Abingdon airfield for ‘touch and go landings’ ie. without stopping, the noise was incredible !