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MG MG Y Type - LHD Y's

This is a question for the Keepers of All Y Knowledge. As the owner of a 1950 LHD YA I have always wondered how many are currently known to exist. Lawson's book states "Six are known to exist today: three in the USA and three in the Netherlands." My Y was not listed in his list of existing cars, but the book was published, I think, about fifteen years ago. Any updated numbers?
Paul Briggs

Dear Paul,

apologies for not responding sooner but things have been a little hectic lately.

With regard to your query, I have records on our database(M.G. Car Club Y Register) that currently shows the existance of 16 LHD Y types.

The breakdown is as follows :- five in the U.S.A.(including your car), three in Holland (one of these has just been converted to LHD by its owner), six in Denmark, one in Brazil and one in Portugal.

Jack Murray

Thanks, Jack. I like to have fairly concrete numbers when I'm telling someone about the car. Another question, if you don't mind. What does your database say about the total number of Ys in the US? Just from memory Lawson uses a number like 125. I have attended several car shows over the past year and only twice has someone recognized what it was without a lengthy explanation, and one of them was a previous Y owner!
Paul Briggs

Even in the UK, the home of the 'Y', my '52 YB has been mistaken for a small RILEY, many times.

Neil.
Neil Cairns

Many times people are astounded to be told that MG made sedans/saloons. I finally went and mounted an old marker plate from one of my past children, which says, OLDMG. Fewer questions, but still some great facial responses. My Y, 'Wilfred', is also LHD and is the one referenced by Lawson in the text of his book.

Paul
Paul

Hello Paul,
it seems that I'm always responding to your queries a little late. This time my excuse is that I have just returned from our Y trip to Brittany. Much fun was had by all.
In response to your question, the breakdown currently shows 47 YA's, 27 YB's and 77 YT's residing in the U.S.A. If my 'sums' are up to scratch that makes the current total 151.

Best regards
Jack
Jack Murray

Thanks again, Jack, and Neil and Paul also. I have been telling people that my guess was about 150, so I hit it pretty closely. Whimsy, her name passed down from the original owner, generates smiles from nearly everyone who sees her.
Paul Briggs

Interestingly enough we feature 11 of these on Y's on Parade on the website, but I do not recall one from Conneticut! Perhaps, Paul G, you may wish to send in a picture of your car and the necessary details and I will be pleased to welcome you, and your car, to the site.

Looking forward ...

Paul
Paul Barrow

Dear Poul and Jack,

The number given for LHD Y types in Denmark is not correct any longer. At the moment I know of 7 cars, 3 from 1949 and 4 from 1950. In total there are 11 Y types known in Denmark.

The following cars have been sold in Scandinavia through the importers:

Year Denmark Sweden Norway
1947 1 - 2
1948 1 - -
1949 10* - -
1950 13 9 -
1951 1 5 1
* 9 Saloon (YA) + 1 Tourer (YT)

All cars from '49 to'51 have been LHD in Denmark. The Swedish car have been RHD (my gaeth) as Sweden was driving at that time on the "wrong" side of the road. I don’t know anything about the last car in Norway. (the two from '47 are of course RHD)

Also the number of cars in the USA is a little bit out of date. John Lawsens Y Register shows 164 Y types for the USA (02/2002).

Frank
Frank Neumann

Frank, if I can add correctly that means that, at least in theory, we now have 17 known LHDs. I take it that John Lawsens (is that actually Lawson?) Y Register is his own research separate from the MGCC Y Register. To complicate the issue it occurs to me that some cars may be listed in one database and not the other, and so on. Our quest for enlightenment continues...
Paul Briggs

Hi Paul,
To throw a little light on what seems to be rather confusing, John Lawson's Y Register and our own (MGCC Y Register) are, as you correctly assume seperate organisations. However, John and I have been in touch over the past year or so and we do share information on cars. The database that I hold at present is a compilation of both Registers that I assembled earlier in the year.
As you correctly surmise, the two databases duplicated information on some cars and each had cars listed that were not shared.
Inevitably I will have made some tying errors and this could account for the differing figures that are quoted by Frank. I am currently(when time allows) checking for these and will keep you informed.
I hope that this has made things a little clearer.
Best regards
Jack
Jack Murray

Paul,
see what I mean? How can one possibly get TYPING wrong! I put it down to yet another brain cell expiring.
Jack
Jack Murray

Jack, I'm several dead brain cells ahead of you! You should see what gets typed in before I proof read.
Paul Briggs

Dear Paul,
Of course it is John Lawson’s Y type register, which I am referring to. I have sent an updated list of all Y type’s in Denmark to Jack and John.
(Hope my writing/typing is better this time)

Frank
Frank Neumann

This thread was discussed between 01/09/2002 and 22/09/2002

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