Filename = MG/pages/PA0255/Level3-1PA0255.htm
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The "chassis files" for most of the Triple-M models made between 1929 and 1936 were the outgoing papers from the service department predominantly to customers. The original papers were rescued from a dumpster by Mike Allison when he worked at the M.G. Car Company in Abingdon. They were organized by chassis number, microfilmed by the Triple-M Register and were kept at the M.G. Car Club offices where copies could be requested my members. The examples included here are scans of the prints from microfilm. Some are hand written and their reproduction is sometimes poor, but they are the only and valuable record of work done by the factory on our cars.
This was the "build sheet" and can be considered the record of when a chassis and engine started their journey down the production line. Here we see, by clicking on the thumbnail to enlarge it, that PA0252 through PA260 (9 cars) were "issued" on February 1st 1934.
This was a memo from "Sales" to "Service" indicating that a car had been delivered to a specific dealer; in this case to the main agent, Imperial Motor Mart in Chelenham but unfortunately the date is illegible. The most useful information is its original configuration detail: Engine number; Body Colour; Body number; Upholstery colour; wheel colour; Gearbox number; Dynamo number and Rear axle number.
This document was returned from the dealer, on behalf of the buyer, to the service department to start the guarantee period. And to get the Instruction Book! This records Bill Haden as the buyer and the delivery date was March 6th 1934. But "Completed 27-4-34" is typed at the top meaning it is nearly 2 months after the purchase date and Bill had many communications with the Service Department and taken the car back to Abingdon during that time.
Click here to show complete Chassis File for Bill Haden ownership
This file is very long at 70 pages
It demonstrates that most or all of the servicing was done by
the M.G. Car Company at no charge so it is quite fair to say that
Bill Haden's trials program was "factory supported" during 1934 and 1935.
Several major engine maintenance jobs were done and one included raising the
compression ratio.
The gearbox was changed for a new one several times.
A locked differential and (stronger) Vibrac half shafts were fitted.
And (of course) several dynamos were fitted to address charging issues
because many trials involved night time driving.
It would be very interesting to map this maintenance record against
the Trials calendar and also to note the odometer mileage of each visit
to the service department.
The last document is dated September 21st 1935 and the last odometer
reading was 14,094.
Click here to show complete Chassis File for White ownership
This record of June 1937 is presumed to have been incurred by the second owner when the factory "reconditioned" the engine by reboring and remetalling the connecting rods. The charges were disputed until February 1938.
Click here to show complete Chassis File for Glover ownership
This single page dated November 1947 from a Morris dealer in Ripon, Yorkshire, a long way from the car's pre-war Gloucestership home, begins the unknown ownersip period until 1960.