The Abingdon County Hall Museum is hosting an exhibition titled “MG 100 – Evolution of an Icon,” commemorating the 100th anniversary of the MG brand. This exhibition takes visitors through MG’s history, highlighting the iconic models, record-breaking achievements, and influential figures who shaped the brand.

The exhibition begins in the sessions hall as a series of information boards, each board exploring one aspect of MG’s story. The exhibition continues upstairs in the attic area. You can learn about:

• MG Early Days: Morris Motors and MG. MG Finds Identity. Rise of the MG Midget.
• Lord Nuffield: The visionary owner and Managing Director of Morris Motors who played a pivotal role in MG’s development.
• Cecil Kimber: The Managing Director who is credited with shaping MG’s unique identity.
• MG Car Club: John Thornley founded the MG Car Club in 1930, fostering a passionate community of enthusiasts.
• The War Years: The repurposing of the factory for wartime production of tanks.

The exhibition highlights MG’s post-war achievements with sections on:

• The MGA: An export success, particularly popular in the USA.
• Syd Enever: MG’s chief engineer, who played a key role in the MGA and MGB.
• The MGB: Another iconic model that achieved great export success, especially in the American market.
• The New Midget: A successful smaller sports car featuring a smaller engine.
• EX Numbers: A section dedicated to ‘EX’ numbered prototypes and parts, not all of which reached production, showcasing MG’s spirit of innovation.
• MG’s racing heritage: Racing drivers, George Eyston and Goldie Gardner
• The End of MG Abingdon: The decision by BL to prioritize a Triumph model over the MGB, and other factors that led to closure of MG production in Abingdon.
• MG After Abingdon: The brand’s continuation with production shifting to other locations including China.

Beyond the information boards, the exhibition offers :

• Films: A film featuring Sterling Moss and an MG record-breaking car, and a documentary showing the process of lifting the last MGB into the museum.
• Vehicles on Display: A showcase of MG car models in a display case allows visitors to see dozens of models together.
• Additional Exhibits: The exhibition features various artifacts including a section of the assembly track, and design drawings by Peter Neal. He is now the club archivist who collaborated with the museum staff in making the exhibition.

For more details about the exhibition, visit the Abingdon Museum website: https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/event/exhibition-mg-100-evolution-of-an-icon. Admission FREE.

The museum is financed and overseen by Abingdon Town Council.