Being of a rather grumpy nature, probably brought on by having to mix
with people who do not like MG's, I often get annoyed at things
companies put in adverts. One that often amazes me is a 'modern' product
that claims something as new, when it is not.
The Nuffield Organisation designed its own system of independant front
suspension in the late 1930's, under pressure from people like Vauxhall
(GM) and Hillman, ( was Chrysler,) who had already produced their own
systems. The 'Morris' independant front suspension system (ifs) was of a
parallel twin wishbone design. It was meant to go onto the companies
Morris 10hp, 12hp, Wolseley and MG variants. WW2 stopped all that in
1938, but not before a NEW MG saloon had been so fitted out. This
'first' for MG was the MG Ten, called the 'Y' Series One and a Quarter
Litre in 1947 when it eventually arrived.
Twin wishbone independant front suspension, with rack and pinion
steering, was under a chassis on a car that looked 1935 in style, with
its flowing wings and narrow body. Complete with running boards, it
certainly did not look up to date, but had a very English charm.
This ifs went onto the MGA almost unmodified, after having been cloned
onto the TD and TF Midgets. It continued onto the MGB with improvements,
and made it to the MGB GT, MGB GT V8, and the MG RV8.
So when FORD UK tried to sell their 'new twin wishbone' ifs on the
Sierra's and Mundane's, in the 1980's and 1990's, who were they trying
to fool? It was NOT new at all, Ford had dumped their MacPherson strut
system and need to fool the public their 'new ifs' was better, quietly
forgetting they had told everyone in the 1950's such a system was too
complex and expensive!!
Today, in the newspaper, low-and-behold HONDA re-invent the
'twin-wishbone' ifs system of our little MG 'Y' series of 1947, on their
new Honda Civic, in 1998!!!!!!!! Yes, it is one of the flagged, up to
date parts, of the car in the full page advert.( Daily Mail 'Weekend'
magazine.)
Dear Mr Honda,
You are just a little too late, see MG 'YA' series
specification for 1947 please, they did it first.
P.S. Fire your media secretary.
(Whilst the 'Y' series was the first mass-produced sedan/saloon with ifs
and rack and pinion steering, there were quite a few specialist sports
cars in the 1930's with such system fitted.)
Neil.
Aha, thats better, got it off my chest.
If anyone knows the email address of Honda, please forward this.
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