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| D Type Profile |
The D type MG was introduced at the London Motor Show in October 1931. It represented a four-seat version of the M type, built on a slightly longer version of the C type chassis but with the cross-tube mounting plates riveted, rather than bolted, to the chassis side rails. The engine, transmission and brakes were taken straight out of the M but the car was equipped with a very attractive open four-seat body with front-hinged, slightly cut-away doors and the car electrics were upgraded to 12 volt. A single Rudge type wheel spinner, in the racing style, attached each wheel to its respective hub. The petrol tank, which still only held six gallons, was safely located in the rear of the chassis, with petrol delivered to the engine by the earliest form of SU electric pump, the Petrolift. The spare wheel was attached on the outside to the back of the body, there being no ‘boot’ on this car. The front cycle wings were covered on their inside which prevented a lot of the road dirt from the front wheels being sprayed over the driver and front passenger. Undoubtedly, the extra weight of the body and chassis, and potentially, extra passengers, took the edge of any performance potential the car may have had and the D type, in later years, developed a reputation of being a bit of a ‘gutless wonder’. Taken in the context of the early 1930s, this criticism is unjust. It was very unusual at that time for any small capacity car to exceed 60 mph, the M type being exceptional in that respect, so D type owners were probably quite happy with the 45 to 50 mph top speed of their purchase although surprised that it didn’t go as fast as other MGs. The biggest disappointment would have been the retention of the M type’s three-speed gearbox and subsequent owners would have been able to fit a four-speed unit taken from later MG models, which greatly improves the driver satisfaction of this car. Nevertheless, the four-seat D type did extend the practicality of an MG to owners with young families or people who just wanted more space to carry luggage. The D type was also available as a four-seat saloon, known as a ‘salonette’ on account of its very compact size, but few of these were built.
D type specification
Wheelbase
Track
Steering
Brakes
Wheels
Tyres
Chassis weight
Weight of complete car:-
open four-seat
closed four-seat |
7' 0" (2.13m) the first 100 chassis, then
7' 2" (2.18m)
3' 6" (1.06m)
Adamant
8" drums, cable operated
2.50" x 19" side laced wire, Rudge type
4.00" x 19"
9 cwt 49 lbs (479.4 kg)
12 cwt 77 lbs (644.5 kg)
13 cwt 105 lbs (708 kg) |
Bore
Stroke
Capacity
Power output |
57mm
83mm
847cc
27 bhp |
| 9th October 1931 |
to 5th May 1932 |
Open four-seat
Closed four-seat
Chassis only |
208
37
5 |
D type pictures:
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