MGF and TF The Best of Safety Fast!

Here, from the memories of many men and women, is an intimate account of what it was like to work in MG’s Abingdon factory.

From tea trolley to production line and from apprentice to manager, this book includes memorable events, romance, tragedy, humour, motorsport, and the lead up to factory closure.

MG was a home-grown concept that became an international success, bringing the small market town of Abingdon onto the global map. MG – Made in Abingdon recounts the inside story of the famous factory, recognising that the most important aspect of MG’s success was its team – the tea-boys and girls, the shop floor workers, the engineers and racers, the apprentices and management. From memories of the production line to recollections of racing incidents, the untold story of MG from the men and women who worked in the Abingdon factory is revealed for the first time in a book that is both nostalgic and historically important.

Period Covered:
1929-1980

MG expert Roger Parker gives his advice on maintaining and modifying MGB, GT and GTV8 cars, with some additional reference to the MGC and MG RV8 models.

With safety information throughout, the book covers: regulations, insurance and market value for all models; routine maintenance; body and interior changes; brakes, suspension and steering; engine improvements for the original 1798cc B-series engine and other engine alternatives and finally, installing and updating electrical equipment and lighting.

The book covers the technical developments such as the introduction of synchromesh gearing and hydraulic brakes as well as new engines. Due to the post-war popularity of the cars in the US after American Gls shipped examples back from Britain, modifications were made for US editions. Soon celebrities such as Clark Gable were driving them. In this readable and informative book, the author follows the development of the various MG T-Series models, incl. the prewar Midgets and the MG TC, TD and TF

This is the first major reprint of the MG War Time Activities book and is now produced in glossy artwork paper complete with additional pictures and information. The book was originally produced after the War and given to some members of the work force as a memento of the great work they had done during the dark years of the Second World War. Originally the author was unknown, but due to a chance phone call from Peter Watson to the Club offering to donate some MG memorabilia, it was discovered that his Grandfather, George Propert, General Manager of MG during some of the war years, was in fact the author of the original book. This has now been credited to him and the reprint is now produced with the full permission of Peter.

For those who have not already read a copy of the photocopied reproduction, the book covers each year at the factory during the war. They had to deal with some insurmountable problems which the diligence of the workers and the initiative of management saw them through. An example of this was the building of the Albemarle fuselage (the main fuselage of a relatively unknown medium bomber). The time taken in testing all the circuitry took days, but due to the initiative of two radio technicians working at the factory, a test rig was built which not only cut the time to test the system, but did it far more accurately. This is just one example of how difficulties were overcome.