MG J-type#J2
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox automobile
| name = MG J-Type
| image = J2 advert.jpg
| manufacturer = MG
| production = 1932–1934
2,494 made
| predecessor = MG C-type, D-type and M-type Midgets
| successor = MG P-type Midget
| class = sports car
| layout = FR
| body_style = 2-door roadster
Salonette
}}
The MG J-type is a sports car that was produced by MG from 1932 to 1934. This 2-door sports car used an updated version of the overhead camshaft, crossflow engine, used in the 1928 Morris Minor and Wolseley 10 and previously fitted in the MG M-type Midget of 1929 to 1932, driving the rear wheels through a four-speed non-synchromesh gearbox. The chassis was from the D-Type with suspension by half-elliptic springs and Hartford friction shock-absorbers all round with rigid front and rear axles. The car had a wheelbase of {{convert|86|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} and a track of {{convert|42|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}. Most cars were open two-seaters, but a closed salonette version of the J1 was also made, and some chassis were supplied to external coachbuilders. The open cars can be distinguished from the M type by having cut-away tops to the doors.{{cite book |last= Green|first= Malcolm |date= 1997|title= MG Sports Cars|location= Godalming UK|publisher= CLB International|isbn= 1 85833 606 6}}
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J1
{{Infobox automobile
| name = MG J1
| image =
| production = 1932–1933
380 made
| engine = 847 cc I4
| wheelbase = {{convert|86|in|mm|0|abbr=on|order=flip}}{{cite book |last1=Aspden |first1=Richard |title=The Classic MG |date=1983 |isbn=0861241096 |page=94}}
}}
The J1 was the four-seat car in the range. The engine was the 847 cc unit previously seen in the C-type with twin SU carburetors giving 36 bhp. The car cost £220 in open and £225 in Salonette form.{{cite book |last1=Sedgwick |first1=Michael |last2=Gillies |first2=Mark |title=A-Z of Cars of the 1930s |year=1993 |publisher=Bay View Books |isbn=978-1-870979-38-2}}
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J2
{{Infobox automobile
| name = MG J2
| image = 1933 MG J2 in Grey, front right.jpg
| caption = 1933 MG J2
| production = 1932–1934
2,083 made
| engine = 847 cc I4
| wheelbase = {{convert|86|in|mm|0|abbr=on|order=flip}}
}}
The J2, a road-going two-seater, was the commonest car in the range. Early models had cycle wings, which were replaced in 1933 by the full-length type typical of all sports MGs until the 1950s TF. The top speed of a standard car was {{convert|65|mph|abbr=on}}, but a specially prepared one tested by The Autocar magazine reached {{convert|82|mph|abbr=on}}. The car cost £199.
The most serious of the J2's technical failings is that it has only a two-bearing crankshaft which may break if over-revved. The overhead camshaft is driven by a vertical shaft through bevel gears, which also forms the armature of the dynamo. Thus any oil leak from the cambox seal goes into the dynamo brushgear, presenting a fire hazard.
Rather than hydraulic brakes the car has Bowden cables to each drum. Although requiring no more pedal force than any other non-power-assisted drum brake if they are well maintained, the drums themselves are small, and even in-period it was a common modification to replace them with larger drums from later models.
MG J2 WH 4594 - 1933 (9086257917).jpg|Rear view
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J3
{{Infobox automobile
| name = MG J3
| image = 1932 MG J3 Midget Super Sports (16477052680).jpg
| production = 1932–1933
22 made
| wheelbase = {{convert|86|in|mm|0|abbr=on|order=flip}}
}}
The J3 was a racing version with the engine capacity reduced to 746 cc by shortening the stroke from 83 to 73 mm and fitted with a Powerplus supercharger. The smaller engine capacity was to allow the car to compete in 750 cc class racing events. Larger brakes from the L-type were fitted.
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J4
{{Infobox automobile
| name = MG J4
| image = MG J4 750ccm75PS 1933.JPG
| production = 1932–1933
9 made
| wheelbase = {{convert|86|in|mm|0|abbr=on|order=flip}}
}}
The J4 was a pure racing version with lightweight body work and the J3 engine, but using more boost from the supercharger to obtain {{cvt|72|bhp|kW|0}}.
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References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|MG J-Type}}
- [http://www.mgjtype.com www.mgjtype.com]- {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329043116/http://www.mgjtype.com/ |date=29 March 2012 }}