MG J-type

The MG J-type is a sports car that was produced by MG from 1932 to 1934. This 2-door sports car used an updated version of the overhead camshaft, crossflow engine, used in the 1928 Morris Minor and Wolseley 10 and previously fitted in the MG M-type Midget of 1929 to 1932, driving the rear wheels through a four-speed non-synchromesh gearbox. The chassis was from the D-Type with suspension by half-elliptic springs and Hartford friction shock-absorbers all round with rigid front and rear axles. The car had a wheelbase of 86 in (2,184 mm) and a track of 42 in (1,067 mm). Most cars were open two-seaters, but a closed salonette version of the J1 was also made, and some chassis were supplied to external coachbuilders. The open cars can be distinguished from the M type by having cut-away tops to the doors.[1]

MG J-Type
Overview
ManufacturerMG
Production1932–1934
2,494 made
Body and chassis
Classsports car
Body style2-door roadster
Salonette
LayoutFR
Chronology
PredecessorMG C-type, D-type and M-type Midgets
SuccessorMG P-type Midget

J1
MG J1
Overview
Production1932–1933
380 made
Powertrain
Engine847 cc I4
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,184 mm (86 in)[2]

The J1 was the four-seat car in the range. The engine was the 847 cc unit previously seen in the C-type with twin SU carburetors giving 36 bhp. The car cost £220 in open and £225 in Salonette form.[3]

J2
MG J2
1933 MG J2
Overview
Production1932–1934
2,083 made
Powertrain
Engine847 cc I4
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,184 mm (86 in)[2]

The J2, a road-going two-seater, was the commonest car in the range. Early models had cycle wings, which were replaced in 1933 by the full-length type typical of all sports MGs until the 1950s TF. The top speed of a standard car was 65 mph (105 km/h),[3] but a specially prepared one tested by The Autocar magazine reached 82 mph (132 km/h). The car cost £199.[1]

The most serious of the J2's technical failings is that it has only a two-bearing crankshaft which may break if over-revved. The overhead camshaft is driven by a vertical shaft through bevel gears, which also forms the armature of the dynamo. Thus any oil leak from the cambox seal goes into the dynamo brushgear, presenting a fire hazard.

Rather than hydraulic brakes the car has Bowden cables to each drum. Although requiring no more pedal force than any other non-power-assisted drum brake if they are well maintained, the drums themselves are small, and even in-period it was a common modification to replace them with larger drums from later models.

  • Rear view
    Rear view

J3
MG J3
Overview
Production1932–1933
22 made
Powertrain
Engine746 cc SC I4
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,184 mm (86 in)[2]

The J3 was a racing version with the engine capacity reduced to 746 cc by shortening the stroke from 83 to 73 mm[1] and fitted with a Powerplus supercharger. The smaller engine capacity was to allow the car to compete in 750 cc class racing events. Larger brakes from the L-type were fitted.[3]

J4
MG J4
Overview
Production1932–1933
9 made
Powertrain
Engine746 cc SC I4
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,184 mm (86 in)[2]

The J4 was a pure racing version with lightweight body work and the J3 engine, but using more boost from the supercharger to obtain 72 bhp (54 kW).

References
  1. Green, Malcolm (1997). MG Sports Cars. Godalming UK: CLB International. ISBN 1 85833 606 6.
  2. Aspden, Richard (1983). The Classic MG. p. 94. ISBN 0861241096.
  3. Sedgwick, Michael; Gillies, Mark (1993). A-Z of Cars of the 1930s. Bay View Books. ISBN 978-1-870979-38-2.
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