Description
1931 MG C-Type Montlhéry Midget, Ex-Jarvis (Eyston/ Palmes)
C0278, registration PL9386
A very rare opportunity to own one of MG’s dominant racing cars of the era, recently appaired at Heveningham concours, Vintage Montlhery 100, mechanically prepared for race or rally events.
• The ex-Jarvis demonstrator car, developed by Palmes/ Eyston in 1931/ 2.
• Extremely original throughout, complete with factory racing body.
• Recent track use at Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Zandvoort, Goodwood and Montlhéry. Recent concours showing at Salon Privé and Heveningham.
• 750cc with Centric 160 supercharger, Baynton Jones cam, billet crank, Phoenix rods, original cross-tube mounted close-ratio 4-speed ENV racing gearbox. Mechanically refurbished 2023/ 24.
• FIVA certified, VSCC Buff Form ideal for Set 3 championship, or Legends Mad Jack.
• Model used in period at Le Mans, Mille Miglia, Eifelrennen and more; eligible for a huge range of events.
The MG C-Type Montlhéry Midget was created to capitalise on the public's fascination with George Eyston's record-breaking achievements in MG EX120. MG produced a run of just 44 cars in 1931/ 32 with 26 believed to survive today.
These cars closely resembled the famous EX120, featuring a four-cylinder, inline, SOHC 746cc engine paired with a four-speed ENV close-ratio gearbox, all housed within a tiny, 6’9” wheelbase open two-seater body. From the open cockpit, occupants could see scuttle-mounted oil reservoir that kept the magnesium sump supplied by the ride in mechanic, twin fuel pumps were also a feature the option of a nose mounted Supercharger cemented the race car for the road marketing. Even in standard guise, the nimble car boasted a fantastic power-to-weight ratio and excelled at the top race events around the world, from Brooklands and the RAC TT to the Mille Miglia and Le Mans.
Chassis C0278 has its own unique part in this exceptional model’s story. Jimmy Palmes had developed EX120 which, driven by George Eyston at Montlhéry, had first broken the light-car 100mph record for MG to huge acclaim. As they moved on to other projects, they wanted one of the new C-Type Montlhéry Midgets for Jarvis of Wimbledon, the coachbuilding company that they were both directors of. They requested a bare chassis to build their own body design, which wasn't a factory option. However, as P. M. Walters, a later director of Jarvis, explained, a rolling chassis was specially supplied by Abingdon for Palmes due to his significant role in developing the EX120 with Captain George Eyston. On July 28, 1931, the bare C-Type Midget C0278 was delivered to their depot in Victoria Crescent, Wimbledon, SW10, and registered as ‘PL9386’ as their designated company demonstrator. They constructed a 2+2 body in aluminium with a special exhaust system, headlamps, a slab rear petrol tank, and many extras. Jimmy Palmes used it for a few months, refining it as he went before selling it on.
C0278 later passed to a vicar who drove it daily for nearly two decades. In September 1961, art critic Brian Sewell acquired C0278 and took it off the road, around which time the original body was scrapped and then chassis paired with an original factory racing two-seater body from chassis # C0284 as she wears today.
Fast forward
Chassis C0278 came into the care of the Potter family in 2016, who were custodians of three C-Types. The chassis, engine and body were subjected to comprehensive rebuild, maintaining as much originality, creating a very high-quality engine that could be used for touring and track use. This highly detailed two-year restoration included the aforementioned installation of new billet crank, rods, and camshafts from Bayton-Jones, and careful refurbishment of all original parts which include the ENV gearbox, propshaft, axles, sump, radiator and many ancillaries often lost on other examples. Where modern replacements were used, such as the clutch, the original was retained and can be refitted if the next custodian wishes. The rebuild was recorded in detail in the accompanying history file. Where the original head is described as “a Jimmy Palmes development job”. At the same time, the factory two-seater body from C0284 was taken back to bare metal, and both the alloy and frame refurbished. As much of the original material as possible was retained and repaired, the restoration captured in many photographs.
For the next few years, C0278 was raced and rallied all over Europe by the Potter family including outings at Goodwood, Silverstone and Brands Hatch, completed the French MMM club tour of Corsica, and ran in the Zandvoort Historic Grand Prix.
It was purchased by our client during 2023 who, after a few outings last summer, commissioned a refresh that included kingpin replacement, dashboard rewiring, a comprehensive coolant system refurbishment and numerous bodywork improvements before being prepared to national concours standard. FIVA and VSCC papers obtained, and forensic analysis of the engine number conducted. The car has since driven Test Hill at Brooklands, appeared at the Heveningham and Salon Privé concours events and, most importantly, in May 2024 took part in the Vintage Revival Montlhéry, back at its spiritual home near Paris, where it took to the track next to two other C-Types including C0284.
A change in personal circumstances now forces the reluctant sale of C0278. It is a wonderfully versatile car that offers potential entries in some of the world’s top events, is still thrillingly quick and a practical tourer. With the 100th anniversary of MG this year marked around the world and with the Duke of Richmond initiating the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed in his grandfather’s C-Type Midget, the model’s star is rising. These cars very rarely reach the open market and this example is keenly priced; enquiries are encouraged without delay.
