|
| R Type Profile |
By 1934, the effectiveness of independent suspension was being realised by several manufacturers, none more so that the Mercedes-Benz company with their Grand Prix cars. MG had done some ‘in house’ experimentation with independent front suspension as early as 1933 but H. N. Charles, M.G. Chief Designer, started working officially on an all-independent suspension car in 1934. Charles realised that for independence to work properly, the chassis had to be rigid, something that was completely lacking in most car frames of that time, MGs included. So starting with no pre-conceptions, Charles designed a Y shaped frame, completely boxed in, which was immensely strong and rigid but relatively light. The engine, which was essentially a Q type unit, was mounted in the ‘fork’ of the Y and the suspension was by double wishbones, of unequal length at the front but equal at the rear, connected to steel bars held in torsion and running the length of the boxed chassis. The body was an elegant single seat affair and there was little doubt that the car was potentially a great success and a big improvement on the Q type. While the wheels remained upright on cornering, the body leaned alarmingly and this aspect of the handling disconcerted several drivers. A combination of the early design of fluid dampers, equal length wishbones and the fact that the body roll centre was close to the ground were the main problems and a simple amount of work could have corrected the faults. Unfortunately by this date, Morris Motors owned MG and the edict had come through that all work on racing cars was to cease, with immediate effect. So the radical chassis development, which could so easily have been put into a production car, was lost and it was not until 1946 that Morris introduced his first i.f.s. car with the Morris Minor, ironically fitted with torsion bar suspension. The R type M.G. chassis design of 1935 was not lost on Colin Chapman however, as the chassis of his Lotus Elan of the 1960s bore a very close resemblance. What might have been….?
R type specification
Wheelbase
Track - Front
Track - Rear
Steering
Brakes
Wheels
Tyres
Weight of complete car
in racing trim |
7' 6˝" (2.30m)
3' 10 3/8" (1.17m)
3' 9 ˝" (1.16m)
Cam Gear
12" drums, cable operated
3.00" x 18" side laced wire, Rudge type
4.75" x 18"
12 cwt 44 lbs (629.6 kg) |
Bore
Stroke
Capacity
Power output |
57 mm
73mm
746cc
113 bhp |
| 29th April 1935 |
to 6th May 1935 ? |
R type pictures:
|
|
|
|
