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| MG Car Club | |
|---|---|
| Name | MG Car Club |
| Caption | MG logo |
| Founded | 1930 |
| Founder | Cecil Kimber |
| Headquarters | Abingdon, Oxfordshire |
| Region served | International |
| Membership | Enthusiasts worldwide |
MG Car Club The MG Car Club is an international organisation for owners and enthusiasts of Morris Garages, MG (marque) automobiles, founded in 1930 by Cecil Kimber. It promotes preservation, restoration, technical support, social activities and competitive events for MGs and maintains links with motor industry bodies, historic motoring organisations and museum institutions. The club supports an international network of regional centres, publishes periodicals, organises rallies and race meetings, and curates heritage collections related to British sports car history.
The club was established in 1930 in Abingdon-on-Thames by Cecil Kimber, then manager of Morris Garages and a key figure alongside contemporaries like William Morris and engineers from Morris Motors Limited. Early growth paralleled the success of models such as the Midget, MG K-type, and MG J-type as the interwar period saw rising sports-car enthusiasm across United Kingdom motoring circles. During the postwar era the club expanded with the popularity of the MG T-type, MG A, and MG B; it navigated corporate changes including acquisitions by British Motor Corporation, British Leyland, Rover Group and later investment by BMW and SAIC Motor. The club adapted through the rise of specialist restoration firms such as Chesterton Engineering and through collaboration with institutions like the British Motor Museum and events such as the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Silverstone Classic.
The organisation operates a central administration supported by volunteer-led regional centres and specialised sections. Membership categories mirror global reach, attracting owners of marques including MGA, MG MGB, MG F, and modern MG6 models, as well as vintage collectors of Morris Garages derivatives. The club liaises with regulatory bodies such as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for historic vehicle taxation matters and coordinates with insurance underwriters and parts suppliers like Rimmers International and heritage parts specialists. Governance involves elected officials, committees, and registers for specific models and serial number research associated with marque archives held in collaboration with museums and registries.
The club stages social gatherings, technical workshops, concours, road runs, and international tours; notable calendar highlights have included participation at Goodwood Revival, the Silverstone Classic, and marque-focused meets at venues such as Beaulieu National Motor Museum and Brooklands Museum. It organises marque rallies, driving tuition, and marque parades at historic circuits including Silverstone Circuit, Donington Park, and Brands Hatch. The club also supports long-distance touring events linking locations like Isle of Man, Channel Islands, and continental venues in France, Belgium, and Germany.
A network of regional centres covers the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, United States, Canada, and across Europe; centres often coordinate local shows, spares exchanges, and social calendars. Many regional centres work with local motoring organisations including Historic Motorsport International groups and local museums such as National Motor Museum to stage joint events. University and club links with institutions like Royal Automobile Club branches and historic racing clubs reinforce grassroots activity.
The club publishes member magazines and technical bulletins covering models, restoration techniques, and event reports, alongside digital content and social-media channels. Print titles historically echoed the marque’s timeline alongside contributions from authors and historians who have also written for outlets such as Autocar, Classic & Sports Car, Motor Sport, and Classic Cars. The club’s archives and photo collections are often referenced in books published by specialist presses like Veloce Publishing and featured in documentaries produced with broadcasters such as BBC and ITV.
Members and club-sanctioned teams have campaigned MG models in historic racing, rallying, and club-level sprints and hillclimbs at venues like Goodwood Circuit, Oulton Park, and Cadwell Park. Historic competition has included entries in series organised by bodies such as Historic Sports Car Club and British Automobile Racing Club. Notable drivers associated with the marque and club history include competitors who raced MGs in events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Mille Miglia, and national rally championships, and the club supports marshals, scrutineers and training in partnership with motorsport authorities.
The club maintains registers, technical archives, photo collections and parts lists to support preservation, working with museums and trusts including the British Motor Museum, National Motor Museum and private custodians of historic MG prototypes. Collaborative conservation projects have safeguarded examples such as prewar MG SA, MG VA and rare competition cars restored by specialist workshops, and the club contributes to exhibitions at venues like Science Museum and regional transport museums. Archival research informs provenance work, concours entries, and publications that document the marque’s role in 20th-century British motoring.
Category:Automobile clubs