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Bill Haden was a dental surgeon from Cheltenham in Gloucestershire in an area where Motorcycle and Car Trials were conducted on the steep escarpment slopes of the Cotswolds. PA0255 was the third MG Midget for this successful trials driver.
The story below is of the first ever trial run by the newly formed M.G. Car Club in 1930.
Bill Haden acheived the Best Performance in his M-Type Midget.
The following exerpt from "How they Ran" by Mike Hawke lists successes Bill Haden had in his J2 (J2073) between 1932 and 1934. It makes reference to the M-type previously used and to PA0255 which followed the J2. Note that not only did he win a First Class award in the 1934 Colmore Trophy trial but he was a member of the winning team with Jack Bastock (J2594) and H.R. Atwood. We also own J2594 whose history is chronicled in a separate section of this web site.
The following picture and narrative are taken from "75 years of the J2 M.G." by Mike Hawke showing a picture of J2073 with Bill Haden wearing what will be his usual cap and assisted by his what will be his usual lady passenger. The narrative praises his expertise.
Bill Haden's exploits with PA0255 are narrated in the "Pre-War" section of this web site. Click here. The last entry in the chssis file is November 3rd 1935. As told by C.A.N (Austen) May in "Wheelspin", he and Bill were friends and during the 1935 Trials seaon had run as a team together with Ken Crawford representing the M.G. Car Club Midland Centre. Crawford, for the 1935 season was driving an NA Magnette which, while heavier that the P-Types, was proving successful in Trials due to its increaed 6-cylinder engine performance while also providing more room in the cockpit. Austen May bought an NA in the fall of 1935 for the next season Trials program. Mike Allison told me that one of his N-Types had been previously owned by Bill Haden so, with the November '35 the last chassis file date of PA0255, I am assuming for the moment, that Bill Haden also moved to an NA for the 1935/36 season and PA0255 was sold. Maybe Bill simply retired from trials having been successful since 1930, using his M-type, J2 and PA. Maybe he just enjoyed his NA Magnette on the roads. More research is needed
Moreton-in-Marsh is in trhe heart of the Cotswolds and PA0255 did not move far from Cheltenham. However, despite the Chassis File only referring to an engine rebuild in 1937, there is no other record of PA0255 being used for Trials in the pre-war period. It begins its life as a used sports car.
This single entry in the chassis files is typical of the problem in
researching the history of our Triple-M cars. Recreational driving
was essentially banned during World War II and people had a lot more
to worry about than documenting the ownership of used cars.
Two factors provide clues. First, in the U.K. a vehicle kept its
original license number and plates during change of ownership, although
special plates could be obtained with a lot of bureaucratic procedures.
The second factor was that vehicle ownership was recorded in an
official "Log Book" with several spaces to record change of ownership.
There were also spaces to record the payment of "Road Fund Tax" or
later called "Excise Tax". This was normally paid annually but could
be paid quarterly which was convenient for owners who "laid up" their
vehicles in the winter or through the war period. It was also
convenient for poverty stricken owners, particularly students, who became
the major market for pre-war sports cars.
Even with all the pre-formatted spaces, the Log Books became filled-up
often during the late 1950s and 1960s. The county registration
department would then issue a new or continuation Log Book and keep
the original at a time before there was interest in the history of
the vehicle. Some counties did keep them, but many did not.
A further complication occurred to make historical research difficult.
An owner who did not intend to use the vehicle on the road would not need to
complete the ownership section. Dealers also would not need to record their
ownership of a vehicle because they would possess dealer or
"Trade" plates.
This story applies to PA0255 because there is a gap in the ownership
record until 1960 when a buff-coloured continuation Log Book was issued to:
Eric Race was a diligent owner who recorded moves four times in the London area and finally to Bloxham, Oxfordshire in 1964 which is the next village to where I used to live until 1958. The last Registration receipt in the Log Book is February 1963 so this may indicate that PA0255 was no longer fit for or used on the road. But two more owners are recorded:
Mr Sykes records two addresses: Abingdon (right back home) and Wantage not far away in Berkshire. The next recorded owner is:
Patrick is a very long term and widely known M.G. enthusiast driving both Vintage (18/80) and Triple-M cars. We know he owned and used PA0255 during 1980 to 1982 from the pictures I took in his photo album. See the Pictures of him using PA0255 in both major Trials and in VSCC and M.G. Car Club race meetings. Patrick campaigned PA255 with cycle front wings. Click here to see Patrick's pictures.
Patrick communicated with Austen May to try to determine if the body tub had been
was modified during its initial ownership period by Bill Haden, but the
response was negative. The return letter is shown here.
We also have an MoT Test Certificate issued in Leatherhead dated
August 1981 during the time Patrick used PA0255 on the road.
Click here to see MoT Certificate
Patrick consigned PA0255 for sale through well-known M.G. merchant Barry Walker and it was purchased by:
(Is Hay-on-Wye still in Monmouthshire? - it used to be. May be now Herefordshire.)
Mike was a part-time vehicle restorer and part-time used or antique book dealer. He performed cosmetic painting and re-upholstery to make PA0255 look very presentable. He did use the car after restoration attending (competing in?) a local MGCC Gymkhana. Click here to see PA0255 alongside a Cream Cracker PA
He then advertised it for sale in Safety Fast. The first PA sold and ex-Bill Haden trials car were the main features of the ad. And the exchange rate was the most favorable ever.
Mike had almost completed the restoration of a four seat L1 to a two seat L2 which eventually found a new home with Dan Amey in Virginia.
Peter responded to the ad and arranged to meet Mike Frost while on a business trip
to England. On the way to Wales, I stopped in at the M.G. Car Club
office in Abingdon and was able to see the Chassis Files on microfiche
to ascertain that it was indeed the first PA sold. After a test drive
in the very presentable PA0255, I decided to buy it.
My father acted as a supplementay contact in England especially with the
preservation of paperwork. We have the continuation Log Book, the last
Excise Tax disk it carried and the last MoT Test certificate, the latter two
in dual Welsh and English languqge. Quite unique.
PA0255 was duly despatched from the agents in Exeter in a general container consignment bound for Port Elizabeth, New Jersey.
On a cold but dry November day we left Bolton, Massachusetts to collect PA0255 from Port Elizabeth, New Jersey a journey of about 200 miles but through New York City and to the most unpleasant dockland area. We knew nothing about the condition of PA0255 so we took our solid tow bar, a couple of spare wheels and the tool box. We found the appropriate dock gate and completed the paperwork; then were taken ito the warehouse to see PA0255 standing proudly there because the dock personnel had become very fond of the car. We turned on the key and the petrol pump worked! We pressed the starter button and it started - on English gas. Forget the rescue equipment in the Volvo, we'll drive it as far as the battery will last. But it was getting dark. We stopped at the very first gas station in the worst industrial area where they even padlock the gas pumps. Home we go: With the PA driving close to the rear of the Volvo to avoid the need for headlights, this was just like the old days. And we got all 200 miles home in the dark and cold on what was in the battery when it left England because, like most Triple-M cars, the dynamo was not charging. But, also like any Triple-M car, they go a surprising long way on a full battery. An exciting but very harrowing journey - one never to be repeated but an important journey in the history of PA0255.
Click here to see the last British Tax Disc and MoT Certificate
Click here to show buff log book>
Click here to show green log book>