MG Y-type
A post-war British saloon with independent front suspension and traditional MG styling.
The MG Y-Type was built by MG in England between 1947 and 1953. It came as a four-door saloon and, in smaller numbers, as an open four-seat tourer. Total production reached 8,336 units: 6,131 YA saloons, 904 YT tourers, and 1,301 YB saloons.
Before the Second World War, MG had planned to add a smaller saloon to its existing S, V, and W models. The prototype, designated EX.166, was built in 1939 and was largely based on the Morris Ten-Four Series M and the Morris Eight Series E. The launch was scheduled for the 1940 Earls Court Motor Show but was delayed by the war until 1947. The car was priced at £525 ex works, plus purchase tax.
Gerald Palmer styled the body, using a pressed-steel Morris Eight Series E four-door shell. He added a swept tail, rear wings, and MG’s upright grille. The car kept separate headlights and a separate chassis, even as unitary construction became common. The independent front suspension, designed by Palmer and MG draughtsman Jack Daniels, was a first for a Nuffield product and among the earliest on a British production car. The chassis also allowed a Jackall System: four hydraulic rams, operated by a pump on the bulkhead, could lift the front, rear, or entire car for wheel changes.
The engine was a single-carburettor version of the 1,250 cc XPAG unit from the MG-TB, later used in the TC and TD. The saloon produced 46 bhp at 4,800 rpm and 58.5 lb ft of torque at 2,400 rpm. The YT tourer, with a higher-lift camshaft and twin carburettors, made 54 bhp. This output exceeded that of most British saloons of similar size, except the Rover Ten, which had two more bhp; many rivals still used side-valve engines.
Inside, the Y-Type was richly finished. Seat faces and door pockets were leather; the rear of the front seats and door panels were Rexine, a leathercloth. A roller blind on the rear window reduced glare. Burr walnut framed the door windows and windscreen, and the instrument panel was bookmatched veneer, with a glove box on the passenger side. The speedometer, clock, and three gauges (oil pressure, fuel, ammeter) sat in octagonal chrome bezels, echoing the MG badge shape.
In 1951, *The Motor* recorded a top speed of 69.6 mph, 0–60 mph in 29.9 seconds, and fuel consumption of 29.5 mpg. The test car cost £880 including taxes.
Quick Facts
- Manufacturer
- MG (Morris)
- Designer
- Gerald Palmer
- Production
- 1947–1953
- Assembly
- United Kingdom: Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England
- Predecessor
- MG VA
- Successor
- MG ZA Magnette
- Length
- 164 in
- Wheelbase
- 99 in
- Class
- sports saloon / tourer
- Height
- 57 in
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The MG Y-Type was developed from a prototype constructed in 1939, intended for launch at the Earls Court Motor Show the following year, but delayed by the Second World War. The prototype, designated EX.166, was primarily a Morris concept from Cowley with much of the development completed at Abingdon. The car used a separate chassis under pressed-steel bodywork, a design choice that was becoming outdated as the industry moved toward unitary construction. The body styling, by Gerald Palmer, adapted a Morris Eight Series E four-door bodyshell with a swept tail, rear wings, and an upright MG grille, retaining separately mounted headlights.
The Y-Type featured independent front suspension designed by Gerald Palmer and Jack Daniels, making it the first Nuffield product with this feature. The separate chassis also accommodated the Jackall System, four hydraulically activated rams that could raise the car for wheel changes. The interior was trimmed with leather seats, Rexine door panels, burr walnut window frames, and an instrument panel with octagonal chrome bezels. A roller blind was fitted to the rear window as an anti-glare device.
The YT Tourer, launched at the 1948 Motor Show, was available for export only in right- and left-hand drive. It used a higher-lift camshaft and twin carburettors, producing 54 bhp, and had a double-scuttle dashboard with a tachometer. Only 904 were produced, and it was not the success MG had hoped. The YB, introduced in 1952, brought a Lockheed twin leading shoe braking system, 15-inch wheels, a hypoid rear axle, an anti-roll bar, and stronger shock absorbers.
Reader's Guide
The MG Y-Type represents a transitional period for the British motor industry, combining pre-war styling with post-war engineering advances. Its independent front suspension was a significant technical step for Nuffield products, and the car's separate chassis allowed features like the Jackall System. The Y-Type's engine, the XPAG, also powered the MG-TC and MG-TD sports cars, linking the saloon to MG's sporting heritage. The car's interior finish, with leather, wood, and chrome details, reflected traditional British craftsmanship at a time when many manufacturers were simplifying interiors. The YT Tourer, though a commercial disappointment, continued the pre-war tradition of open four-seat tourers. The YB's updates, including improved brakes and suspension, attempted to keep the model competitive, but by 1953 the design was considered dated. Production records were lost when the Abingdon factory closed in 1981, leading to uncertainty about the exact split between YA and YT models; the International MG Y Type Register has revised the numbers from the commonly quoted 6,158 YA and 877 YT to a different split, though the precise figures remain disputed. The Y-Type was succeeded by the MG ZA Magnette in 1954.
Did You Know?
- The MG Y-Type was the first Nuffield product to feature independent front suspension.
- The prototype was designated EX.166 and was constructed in 1939.
- The YT Tourer was available for export only and only 904 were produced.
- The YB model introduced 15-inch wheels and a hypoid rear axle.
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