Founded by Cecil Kimber in the 20s, MG’s original marque remained in continuous use for a massive 56 years following its inception and production of mainly 2-seater sports cars took place at their factory just south of Oxford. The name MG is garnered from the garage where Kimber began producing his own versions of customised Morris cars – Morris Garages.

MG’s first vehicles were Morris models, rebodied. Demand for these cars was such that in 1925 the company soon had to move to bigger premises and by 1927 to an even larger space. In 1928 MG occupied its very first stand at the London Motor Show. By this time they were operating in their Abingdon factory where MG remained until production ceased there in 1980. In 1930 the MG Car Club started for MG enthusiasts and owners.

In 1952 MG was absorbed in to BMC (British Motor Corporation). Though many MGs produced in the time of BMC ownership were simply rebadged versions of other marques, they continued to produce their iconic small sports cars.

By the time the Abingdon factory was closed MG was a dwindling business but was revived in 1982 when they teamed with Austin Rover to build high-performance models of their otherwise sensible Maestros, Montegos and Metros. For nearly 10 years these sporty saloons, hatchbacks and estates were produced and a few are still on the road today.

The earliest MG model, the 1924 MG 14/28 was a modified Morris Oxford but the first true MG was the 1928 MG 18/80. It featured the instantly recognisable MG grille and a year later a smaller version was launched beginning the long line of cars knows as Midgets, starting with the M-Type. MG were big players in the emerging motor racing sport and produced a line of T-Series Midgets which, following World War II, were exported around the world.

In 1962 the MGB was released followed by the MGB GT (coupe version). These cars, along with the 1961 MG Midget, are now true classics and can still be seen on UK roads whenever the sun shines. Updated continuously, the MGB was produced until 1980.

Though MG produced their high-powered Rovers from the early 80s they didn’t produce another 2-seater sports car until the 1995 MG-F, which was obviously more modern and comfortable than its predecessors but sold to the masses in an extraordinary way, being one of the best-selling sports cars of its time.

Rover was purchased by BMW and the MG marque was eventually passed on to the Nanjing Automobile Group. Though no longer a British company, MG still retains the sensibilities that made it so popular over 50 years ago and the 2011 MG6 GT is a worthy successor to the MGB’s iconic status. A classic car doesn’t have to be British of course, whether you own a 1950s used Citroën, a vintage imported Datsun or a 1960s MG Midget, it`s good to see classic cars still firmly on the UK’s roads.

1-4 June 2011 – Three Castles Welsh Classic Trial, a three day classic car event with regular rally, driving tests and concours taking part in the ancient landscapes of Angelsey, Gwynedd and Clwyd in North West Wales. More information here.

3-5 June 2011 – Alvis International Weekend at Brooklands, Surrey,  the birthplace of British Motor Racing with Alvis racing cars, featuring every one of the Alvis models manufactured during the years of production, with concours and driving tests. http://www.alvisoc.org

4-5 June 2011 – Klondyke Steam and Vintage Show at Draycott in the Clay, Staffordshire, engines in steam, open workshop, tractors stalls, hot and cold refreshments and more for a day out with the family. http://nsctec.co.uk

5 June 2011 – Bude Cornwall Motor Classic, the 2nd Classic Motor Show at the rugby ground of Bude, Cornwall for all classic cars and free to all entrants and visitors, with full bar and food facilities, situated next to the River Neat and close to the town centre, camping for entrants available if required. More information on the website.

5 June 2011 – 22nd Classic London to Brighton Run, start at the Mercedes-Benz Museum, Brooklands, Surrey with Sir Stirling Moss flagging the cars off, stopping point: Bluebell Railway, finish: Madeira Drive, Brighton, more information on http://www.classicmotorshow.com

I hope you like them.

To celebrate their Anniversary, Chonkinfeckle, the ukulele duo form Wigan, Lancashire, England, are holding a competition and you can win one of three free CDs. All you have to do is name the winning score and the date of the match.

Check out the Chonkinfeckle homepage for more details and to take part in the competition. All correct answers given until April 25th 2011 will take part.

You can choose from the three albums “I’m from Wigan me” with 19 brilliant tracks about Wigan, its people and local history, “The Great Canvey Island Chimney Disaster”, a tribute to the great steeplejack and television personality Fred Dibnah, and “Road Kill”, the brand new album with 7 tracks about food & drink.

You can of course also buy all three albums directly on the homepage.

Classic Car © Roberto Verzo/flickr.com

Illegal scrapping is a large problem in the UK. Of the two million cars that are declared off the road every year, only one million of them are processed through Authorised Treatment Facilities and issued with a Certificate of Destruction. If a car is scrapped illegally, it is stripped of valuable parts then abandoned. Tyres pile up on the side of the road or in dodgy scrapyards. Oil and brake fluid are poured down the drain, causing immeasurable damage to our soil and our water system. Even more shockingly, some of these cars are unlawfully and unsafely put back on the road; leaving you as the unsuspecting owner likely to be liable for speeding tickets for a car you thought was long deceased.

So, how can you scrap your car safely? Giveacar is working to combat this problem as well as raise money for charity. They provide a safe, easy and ethical service that facilitates the collection of scrap cars. Then, depending on the age and condition of the car, it is either scrapped or sent to a car salvage auction. If it is scrapped then at least 85% of the car by bodyweight is recycled. A small administration fee is taken from the proceeds, then the rest is donated to the charity of the owner’s choice.

Giveacar has over 300 affiliated charities, from smaller ones such as Pathfinder Dogs to massive ones such as Marie Curie Cancer Care. Since January 2010, they have raised over £250,000 collectively for charity.

1-3 April 2011 – Regis Rally to Somerset is heading to West Somerset & North Devon staying at the 4 star Saunton Sands Hotel near Barnstable.
For more information contact Ali Green, 3 Critchmere Road, Eastergate, Chichester, West Sussex PO20 3XA, Tel +44(0)1243 542674 after 6pm weekends, theregisclassictour@btinternet.com

2 April 2011 – Black Country Living Museum will have historic vehicles from the Marston collection on display. You can see rare motoring gems from the early 1900s up to the 1930s.
Here you get more information.

9 April 2011 – Kent Heritage Transport Show and Auction is an event for anyone interested in vintage vehicles. This year’s event will feature M&D 100 the Centenary of Maidstone and District Motor Services with guest speakers, trade stands and all kinds of vintage vehicles and stationary engines on display. An auction for all types of vintage vehicles and associated memorabilia run by Lambert and Foster will also take place.
For more information contact Lucy Hegarty, Tel 01622 630975, Mobile 01622 630975, lucy@kentshowground.co.uk.

16-17 April 2011 – The Footman James Bristol Classic Car Show is taking place on Royal Bath & West Showground Shepton Mallet. It is the longest running classic car show in the UK. 800 cars are expected each day.
Contact Emma Crane, Tel 0117 9071000, emmac@nwe.co.uk, http://www.bccsl.co.uk for more information.

17 April 2011 – Jaguar London to Brighton Run this year is starting at Dulwich College with a visit to Tenterden Railway Station, the headquarters of the Kent and East Sussex Railway. Over 300 Jaguars will take the trip.
For details phone Lynne Beadle at 01959 545329 or visit the homepage.

Classic Car © Martin Pettitt/flickr.com

In eight exhibition halls of Stuttgart fairgrounds not only older and younger classic and vintage cars, motorcycles and spare parts will be presented to the professional and private visitors. You will also get information about classic vehicle restoration, classic car clubs, museums, and model cars.

This year’s highlights will be the BMW Classic exhibition, which will show the company’s history during the last 90 years, and the reproduction of the first German electric car, the ‘Flocken-Elektrowagen’ built in 1888.

About 1,300 exhibitors are expected to present more than 3,000 vehicles. Click here to get more information about the Retro Classics 2011.

Songs entitled ‘Stiletto’, ‘The Texan from Goose Green’ and ‘Don Petulengro Boswells magic hedgehog oil’ are for sure something not only the people in Wigan, Lancashire, England can relate to.

Les Hilton, the duo’s song writer, picks up lots of stories from his job as a taxi driver. The Texan from Goose Green for example was really dressed like a cowboy and did a job for him once. Another one is about an 80 year old guy who would like to be 18 again on a Saturday night.

Les Hilton and Tim Cooke probably are Wigan’s funniest ukulele duo and the new album truly is brilliant. Listening to the songs is great fun.

It is available directly from the Chonkinfeckle homepage for only £5.00 + £1.00 P&P. Just check it out.

Hydraulic brakes weren’t offered until 1939 and independent front suspension until 1948, over a decade after having been adopted by most American cars.

1959 Ford Thunderbird © exfordy/flickr.com

Attempts were made to offer a smaller and cheaper V8 with 137ci (2245cc) and a 227ci (3720cc) straight-six but neither was successful.

In 1943 Edsel Ford had dies of cancer and Henry Ford, being in his 80th year, took over again. That meant a growing empire with little leadership or financial control. In the late 1945 things began to change though when Henry Ford II, fresh out of the navy, took over as president. He even brought a group of high-flying business brains from the air force and business became profitable again.

For the cars the only improvement in 1945 was a larger version of the V8, now with 240ci (3933cc). The new Fords weren’t launched before 1948. The new cars did not only have a new styling but also independent front suspension. To keep up with the other car manufacturers a new overhead-valve V8 engine was also needed. It didn’t arrive until 1954 though.

In 1955 the Ford Thunderbird was launched and became the most exciting car for that year. It had a standard V8, manual transmission and wind-up windows which made the Thunderbird a more complete car than the Chevrolet Corvette. It was named a ‘personal car’ by Ford and had a pretty good performance thanks to the 198bhp V8.
The Thunderbird outsold the Corvette by huge numbers and even the 1958 four-seater was more popular than the Corvette.

During those seven months Chevrolet took over Ford and thousands of Ford stuff lost their jobs. But hardly anybody cared in the end as this was the first new Ford for nearly 20 years.
It caused such excitement outside the Ford showrooms in Cleveland that police had to be called to control the crowds.

930 Ford Model A © Collector Car Ads/flickr.com

The elegant little Model A was influenced by the Lincoln and for sure an improvement. It had been extended to 18 styles within a couple of years and the estate car launched in 1929 was quickly copied by other manufacturers.
The 202ci (3310 cc) four-cylinder engine produced 40bhp and the transmission was changed to a conventional three-speed sliding gear unit and the car by now also had four brakes.

Half a million cars were ordered before the car was launched and in 1929 1.3 million were sold. But Ford was still affected by the Depression and sales in 1931 dropped to less than for 1929. Tens of thousands of workers lost their jobs and factories were temporarily closed. Besides that the Model A was soon suffering the effects of competition from the Chevrolet six.

Fords answer to that was the 1932 Model 18 with a 22ci (3638cc) eight-cylinder engine producing 65bhp and a top speed of more than 80mph. It was equipped with mechanical drum brakes and transverse leaf suspension. The engine inspired a whole generation of hot rodders and would see Ford right through the 1930s.
The half-hearted attempt to make a four-cylinder Model 18 was dropped after only seven months as the American public seemed to have outgrown fours.