A wonderful little car with an interesting history.
The car started life in 1932 as a standard J2 specification 2-seater.
Records on file contain copies of original factory build sheets for chassis J2794, delivered new via the Manchester based agent, Joseph Cockshoot & Co, and registered ‘XJ 4982’.
However, much of the car’s early life has been lost to the passage of time, and while we do have an original dog-eared logbook which documents a string of owners through the 60s, 70s and 80s, we don’t know much more than that.
Interestingly, there is correspondence suggesting that at some point in the car’s life, it’s identity was confused with another J2, chassis J2170. And what’s more, when the car was fully restored in the early 2000’s, the original ‘dumb iron’ was stamped ‘J2170’.
For structural reasons, the original dumb iron was cut out and replaced, but is still kept with the car.
The new dumb iron was stamped with the chassis no J2794.
Whatever the case, the car was completed disassembled and fully rebuilt in the early 2000s. Much of this work was entrusted to marque specialists Andy King and Bayton Jones.
And it was during this restoration that the car was upgraded to ‘J4’ specification. This included:
Low-slung doorless bodywork
Volumex Supercharger
J-Type ‘Big Cam’ Converstion
Forged & Counterweighted Crankshaft
Forged Pistons & Conrods
Larger 12″ Brake Drums
Bucket Seats
J4 Specification Exhaust Manifold & External Pipe
No weather gear
Aero Screens
Reworked Dash Layout (not quite J4 spec, but similar)
Quick-release Fuel Filler & Radiator Cap
The gearbox remains the standard J2 4-speed synchronised unit, and the engine is the same 847cc unit that the regular J2 had.
Sadly, the original block met a rather spectacular end during an event at the Nurburgring, and so a replacement 847cc was sourced and fitted.
The current German owner purchased the car in 2014, and immediately set about campaigning the car a variety of regularity and touring events.
During this time, the car has received regular servicing and maintenance, and has most recently benefitted from a new Volumex supercharger courtesy of Jurgen Deusch, as well as:
Full rewiring of car & electrics
Uprated aluminium radiator (painted black)
Improved generator with integrated regulator
Luminition ignition system with Bosch distributor
Full set of new Blockley tyres
What’s more, in 2016 the car was issued a FIVA certificate (valid until May 2026).
WHAT WE THINK
This little car is a total joy.
The power to weight ratio is genuinely impressive, and the external ‘fish tail’ style exhaust system creates a wonderful 4-cylinder snarl.
We urge anyone interested to book in an appointment to see and test drive this gorgeous MG – you won’t be disappointed!
