MG Y-Type

Magazine Subscription

Subscribe to Classic Motoring Magazine and save over 20%

Subscribe NOW

Available at all good newsagents including WHSmith

In essence, the Y Type is an MG TD roadster, albeit in a saloon body but with the same raffish MG character. Rarer too yet their prices handsomely undercut those of a T Type, are as much fun and almost as easy to own.

Driving

Unless you hanker for a sports car, you may find the Y Type far more pleasing, thanks to an ultra stylish and posher interior decked in wood and leather with just about enough room for four in comfort – plus, they came with a steel sunroof.

In its detuned 46bhp state it is about as peppy as a Morris Minor although it’s easy to bring the unit up to TD tune, if desired. Handling is much like the sports car brother and can be similarly uprated, but you may find some cars still running on period cross-ply tyres. You may well find some uplifted with T Type running gear, and certainly makes the saloon more suited to modern roads.

Pre-war MGs had some lovely touches like self-actuated jacks and a front opening windscreen. The steering column is adjustable for reach adding to the comfort.

Values

When compared to the far more popular T sports cars, Y Type saloons appear utter bargains because even the best you can unearth is pretty unlikely to exceed £15,000 although you may have to double that for a YT drophead, when one of these real rarities comes along, that is.

Average-to-good saloons cost in the region of £8-£11,000 and projects around £3000 chiefly irrespective of model. Aside from the body parts, most spares are relatively easy to obtain, especially the oily bits which are common to the TD. Renowned T Type experts such as NTG Motor Services of Ipswich, Andy King, Barry Walker (cars) MG Automobile Company (parts) and Barrie Carter can help in this respect.

Timeline

1937 Y Type saloon designed sharing certain body panels with the Morris 8 on a stout chassis destined for the MG TD using the T Series running gear. The 1250cc XPAG engine was also used albeit in a detuned 46bhp state. Set for launch in 1941 until the outbreak of WW2

1937 Four seater tourer badged YT launched using twin carb TC engine. Almost 900 were made but all bar three were exported and discontinued in 1950

1951 Facelift saw car gain the YB designation, identified by altered rear wings, covering smaller 15inch wheels. Mechanically, the T Type gained a front anti-roll bar, uprated suspension and better brakes. Only 1301 YB versions were made before the car was replaced by the ZA Magnette as opposed to 6144 YA models

Top five faults

Parts

Availability of body and trim is generally pretty fair from old MG experts such as NTG of Suffolk. Incidentally, few Morris 8 bits fit this MG

Chassis

Stoutly made and oil leaks do the rest but look for past repairs in all the usual areas, especially at the rear. Alas TD chassis and repair sections can’t be employed, says NTG

Engine

XPAG units are dearer than a B-Series to rebuild. Oil leaks (everywhere!), oil pressure, should be 40psi around town

Running gear

Usual MG foibles; trunnions, king pins, dampers and so on. Racks have to be rebuilt. YA/YB brake cylinders, once hard to obtain, are now available from NTG

Cabin

Bringing an interior up to concours standards can be as expensive as a Jaguar Mk2 but thankfully seat covers, trim panels and headlining are all available

Best models

Y type

Early cars are perhaps the most quaint, rarer with their larger wheels although a number have been uprated to YB spec. Car designed to run on cross-ply tyres

YB

A better all rounder and more plentiful. Radials can be fitted to this model but you have to deflate spare slightly to fit its well

YT

Rarest, sportiest (TC engine) and the most expensive (T Type money). Possibly US expat although a fair number of RHDs were exported to Commonwealth countries