MG Motoring 2018 Jan-Feb 2018 WEB | Page 47

January/February 2018
year earlier.
The documentation supporting this had
lain in the archives for nearly 75 years.
The Raworths were overpriced, lacked
sufficient distinction, and were a com-
mercial failure, but they were Cecil Kim-
ber's first attempt - along with the sup-
port of his employer Sir William Morris -
to create the first MG.
The current governing Board of the MG
car club (UK) has made a careful and
thorough examination of the evidence,
and arrived at the conclusion that the
year 1923 can indeed be regarded and
celebrated as the founding year of the
MG marque. while the available evi-
dence is not absolutely conclusive, the
first Raworth MG was most likely regis-
tered on 14 June 1923 with the Oxford
authority as FC5581.
It is also recognised however that 1924
was the year when the first successful
MG was manufactured - the 14/28. with-
out the success of Cecil Kimbers second
attempt at a sports car his employer,
William Morris, would not have provided
the 14,000 Pounds necessary to build
the first bespoke MG factory in oxford
45
(Edmund Road) and ensured the future
of the marque.
lt seems entirely appropriate therefore
that the 14/28 and 1924 should also re-
ceive celebratory recognition. With these
two aims in mind it has been decided
that the centenary year should start in
June 2023 and last until June 2024.ln
this way Cecil Kimbers vision as well as
his successful realisation of the MG are
both recognised.
Peter Cook
MG Car Club U.K.
Overseas Director
12/12/17
This is a précis of the full findings of the
UK report from Peter Cook and was
scanned from the original mail and sup-
plied by Bev Waters. Some corrections
were needed because of the quality of
the original so I trust they are correct
Editor..............
The full findings are held at the Club