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The MG Century: 100 Years―Safety Fast!
Celebrate and explore 100 years of MG cars with this impressive volume featuring expert commentary, historical images, period ads, and contemporary photography.
For many car enthusiasts, MG is synonymous with “sports car.” It is often credited with igniting a passion for European cars in postwar America at a time when roads were otherwise filled with the lumbering output of Detroit. In MG’s native England, the company’s cars filled roles from family transport to competition driving.
MG, as we think of it today, began in the 1920s, but its roots go back even further with a young William Morris. Initially working in the booming bicycle trade, he eventually branched into motorcycle and car repair with the fledgling Morris Garage (hence, MG) in 1907. By the mid 1920s, the successful Morris Garages was in a position to begin manufacture of its own cars under the MG name.
MG grew significantly in the years before World War II, building and racing its classic Midgets and Magnettes. World War II provided challenging times for the company as it did for the UK and much of the world. In the postwar period, a focus on sales outside England, and particularly in the United States, both defined MG’s product line and ensured its success. Legendary cars followed, including MG TC , TD , and TF followed by thoroughly modern MGA , MGB , MGB GT , and Midget . Magnettes and the 1100 offered options for those wanting sedans and more practical cars.
MG ownership moved through a number of UK companies in the postwar period as well as ownership by BMW and today’s SAIC, a Chinese-based company through which it operates as MG Motor. Highlights along the way included the MGB GT V8 , MG Metro Group B rally car , and MG F . Based on its latest state-of-the-art EV platform, MG will soon launch an all-new roadster coming full circle over its century in business.
Authored by marque expert David Knowles, The MG 100 Years of Safety Fast! is a fitting celebration of one of the automotive world’s oldest and most beloved brands—and a must-have for every car enthusiast.
For many car enthusiasts, MG is synonymous with “sports car.” It is often credited with igniting a passion for European cars in postwar America at a time when roads were otherwise filled with the lumbering output of Detroit. In MG’s native England, the company’s cars filled roles from family transport to competition driving.
MG, as we think of it today, began in the 1920s, but its roots go back even further with a young William Morris. Initially working in the booming bicycle trade, he eventually branched into motorcycle and car repair with the fledgling Morris Garage (hence, MG) in 1907. By the mid 1920s, the successful Morris Garages was in a position to begin manufacture of its own cars under the MG name.
MG grew significantly in the years before World War II, building and racing its classic Midgets and Magnettes. World War II provided challenging times for the company as it did for the UK and much of the world. In the postwar period, a focus on sales outside England, and particularly in the United States, both defined MG’s product line and ensured its success. Legendary cars followed, including MG TC , TD , and TF followed by thoroughly modern MGA , MGB , MGB GT , and Midget . Magnettes and the 1100 offered options for those wanting sedans and more practical cars.
MG ownership moved through a number of UK companies in the postwar period as well as ownership by BMW and today’s SAIC, a Chinese-based company through which it operates as MG Motor. Highlights along the way included the MGB GT V8 , MG Metro Group B rally car , and MG F . Based on its latest state-of-the-art EV platform, MG will soon launch an all-new roadster coming full circle over its century in business.
Authored by marque expert David Knowles, The MG 100 Years of Safety Fast! is a fitting celebration of one of the automotive world’s oldest and most beloved brands—and a must-have for every car enthusiast.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published March 12, 2024
3 people want to read
About the author
David Knowles
95 books7 followersFr. David Knowles, OSB, FRHistS was born Michael Clive Knowles and was given the name 'David' when he joined the Order of Benedict in 1923. He was a historian and professor at University of Cambridge from 1947 to 1968 and served as president of the Royal Historical Society from 1957 to 1961.
*Note: there is more than one author named 'David Knowles,' however this particular individual is the most widely published.
*Note: there is more than one author named 'David Knowles,' however this particular individual is the most widely published.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 11, 2024
Rating: 5* of five
The Publisher Says: Celebrate and explore 100 years of MG cars with this impressive volume featuring expert commentary, historical images, period ads, and contemporary photography. MG Century, authored by marque expert David Knowles, offers a complete and richly illustrated history covering the evolution of this storied British car company.
For many car enthusiasts, MG is synonymous with “sports car.” It is often credited with igniting a passion for European cars in postwar America at a time when roads were otherwise filled with the lumbering output of Detroit. In MG’s native England, the company’s cars filled roles from family transport to competition driving.
MG, as we think of it today, began in the 1920s, but its roots go back even further with a young William Morris. Initially working in the booming bicycle trade, he eventually branched into motorcycle and car repair with the fledgling Morris Garage (hence, MG) in 1907. By the mid 1920s, the successful Morris Garages was in a position to begin manufacture of its own cars under the MG name.
MG grew significantly in the years before World War II, building and racing its classic Midgets and Magnettes. World War II provided challenging times for the company as it did for the UK and much of the world. In the postwar period, a focus on sales outside England, and particularly in the United States, both defined MG’s product line and ensured its success. Legendary cars followed, including MG TC, TD, and TF followed by thoroughly modern MGA, MGB, MGB GT, and Midget. Magnettes and the 1100 offered options for those wanting sedans and more practical cars.
MG ownership moved through a number of UK companies in the postwar period as well as ownership by BMW and today’s SAIC, a Chinese-based company through which it operates as MG Motor. Highlights along the way included the MGB GT V8, MG Metro Group B rally car, and MGF. Based on its latest state-of-the-art EV platform, MG will soon launch an all-new roadster coming full circle over its century in business.
Authored by marque expert David Knowles, MG Century: 100 Years of Safety Fast! is a fitting celebration of one of the automotive world’s oldest and most beloved brands—and a must-have for every car enthusiast.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: Who's your gear/petrolhead giftee? Who loves to drool over Hagerty's Barn Finds on YouTube while hatin' on everyone with a barn to find stuff like an MGB-GT in? Here's us all a book. My father's older brother collected cars. I got to go ride in his 1932 Dual-Cowl Deusenberg! His 1933 Pierce-Arrow, too! He lived in Southern California, was born during World War I, and so had the basic obscene good luck to be in the right place at the right time to get in on those marvies. These cars, especially the MGB (an older friend had one and gave me rides in it...bliss) were around in my childhood, so were available when I was the age at which my uncle began collecting cars...and I never bothered. ::headdesk::
The Table of Contents will show you the gorgeous machines I missed out on, as well as the organizing principle of the entire read. The spreads are a plan view, so to speak, for the design of the text and the images in juxtaposition.
The following images are the presentation view...the way the book will look to your giftee sitting there in a happily absorbed reader/viewer's lap:
I don't show you every beautiful book I'm offered because, sometimes, they have poorly written, or factually incorrect to my own knowledge, text, or boring design, or I just can't think of anyone I'd buy one for. Not the case here...I learned new things from Author Knowles' involving storytelling, and not a fact was out of place to my knowledge.
If I didn't already have one, I'd put this as my big ask to Santa. You might know someone who'd love it too. Great gift to give.
The Publisher Says: Celebrate and explore 100 years of MG cars with this impressive volume featuring expert commentary, historical images, period ads, and contemporary photography. MG Century, authored by marque expert David Knowles, offers a complete and richly illustrated history covering the evolution of this storied British car company.
For many car enthusiasts, MG is synonymous with “sports car.” It is often credited with igniting a passion for European cars in postwar America at a time when roads were otherwise filled with the lumbering output of Detroit. In MG’s native England, the company’s cars filled roles from family transport to competition driving.
MG, as we think of it today, began in the 1920s, but its roots go back even further with a young William Morris. Initially working in the booming bicycle trade, he eventually branched into motorcycle and car repair with the fledgling Morris Garage (hence, MG) in 1907. By the mid 1920s, the successful Morris Garages was in a position to begin manufacture of its own cars under the MG name.
MG grew significantly in the years before World War II, building and racing its classic Midgets and Magnettes. World War II provided challenging times for the company as it did for the UK and much of the world. In the postwar period, a focus on sales outside England, and particularly in the United States, both defined MG’s product line and ensured its success. Legendary cars followed, including MG TC, TD, and TF followed by thoroughly modern MGA, MGB, MGB GT, and Midget. Magnettes and the 1100 offered options for those wanting sedans and more practical cars.
MG ownership moved through a number of UK companies in the postwar period as well as ownership by BMW and today’s SAIC, a Chinese-based company through which it operates as MG Motor. Highlights along the way included the MGB GT V8, MG Metro Group B rally car, and MGF. Based on its latest state-of-the-art EV platform, MG will soon launch an all-new roadster coming full circle over its century in business.
Authored by marque expert David Knowles, MG Century: 100 Years of Safety Fast! is a fitting celebration of one of the automotive world’s oldest and most beloved brands—and a must-have for every car enthusiast.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: Who's your gear/petrolhead giftee? Who loves to drool over Hagerty's Barn Finds on YouTube while hatin' on everyone with a barn to find stuff like an MGB-GT in? Here's us all a book. My father's older brother collected cars. I got to go ride in his 1932 Dual-Cowl Deusenberg! His 1933 Pierce-Arrow, too! He lived in Southern California, was born during World War I, and so had the basic obscene good luck to be in the right place at the right time to get in on those marvies. These cars, especially the MGB (an older friend had one and gave me rides in it...bliss) were around in my childhood, so were available when I was the age at which my uncle began collecting cars...and I never bothered. ::headdesk::
The Table of Contents will show you the gorgeous machines I missed out on, as well as the organizing principle of the entire read. The spreads are a plan view, so to speak, for the design of the text and the images in juxtaposition.
The following images are the presentation view...the way the book will look to your giftee sitting there in a happily absorbed reader/viewer's lap:
I don't show you every beautiful book I'm offered because, sometimes, they have poorly written, or factually incorrect to my own knowledge, text, or boring design, or I just can't think of anyone I'd buy one for. Not the case here...I learned new things from Author Knowles' involving storytelling, and not a fact was out of place to my knowledge.
If I didn't already have one, I'd put this as my big ask to Santa. You might know someone who'd love it too. Great gift to give.
January 27, 2024
I have just completed my read of David Knowles' "MG Century," to be published by the Quarto Publishing Group-Motorbooks. This read is based on an ARC graciously provided to me by the publisher. For me, and many readers my age (I am 71), this slim volume will bring back many memories from my youth; that is, in fact, what first drew it to my attention, but that is by no means its only attraction. It belongs to that category of lavishly illustrated books generally known as coffee table books. This is not to say that it doesn't feature a fascinating text accompanying its many illustrations (most of them in color). In ten well organized (chronologically) chapters, the author traces the MG
marque from its origins in Morris and Kimber garages to its mid-twentieth century ascendance in the United States and elsewhere all the way up to its mutations since then into a major player based in Asia. If you are looking for a comprehensive corporate history, you should look elsewhere, but for an introduction to these cars in their numerous types, this is hard to beat. As I had hoped it would, it took me back to many experiences (mine were principally with the MGB/GT), and evoked the world I grew up in. I hope it can do that for many of you as well as introduce the marque to a new generation of sports car enthusiasts. Enjoy!
marque from its origins in Morris and Kimber garages to its mid-twentieth century ascendance in the United States and elsewhere all the way up to its mutations since then into a major player based in Asia. If you are looking for a comprehensive corporate history, you should look elsewhere, but for an introduction to these cars in their numerous types, this is hard to beat. As I had hoped it would, it took me back to many experiences (mine were principally with the MGB/GT), and evoked the world I grew up in. I hope it can do that for many of you as well as introduce the marque to a new generation of sports car enthusiasts. Enjoy!
February 9, 2024
Thanks to David Knowles, Quarto Publishing Group and Netgalley for access to the advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a must have for fans of the octagon. While the MG brand still exists today, and the cars are well regarded, the golden years of the brand are what so many of us remember. The author takes us through the history of the brand and each of the significant cars along the way. The pictures, many sourced from the author, add to the topic greatly.
The book is comprehensive and thorough while remaining very readable. Recommended.
#MGCentury
This book is a must have for fans of the octagon. While the MG brand still exists today, and the cars are well regarded, the golden years of the brand are what so many of us remember. The author takes us through the history of the brand and each of the significant cars along the way. The pictures, many sourced from the author, add to the topic greatly.
The book is comprehensive and thorough while remaining very readable. Recommended.
#MGCentury
January 12, 2024
MG lovers listen up! This gorgeous book is one to buy in hard copy, put in a prominent place, and refer to again and again. It has EVERYTHING an MG fan would ever want to know about these beloved cars.
February 3, 2025
A must read for any British sports car fan. Exhaustive research and great photographs.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews