The MG Y-Type is a small saloon and limited production open four-seat tourer that was built by MG between 1947 and 1953.
When production ceased, 8,336 "Y" Types had been produced, 6,131 of which were "YA"s, 904 were "YT" Tourers and 1,301 were "YB"s.
The power unit was a single carburettor version of the 1,250 cc engine used in the latest MG-TB. This engine, the XPAG, went on to power both the MG-TC and MG-TD series. The MG Y Type saloon developed 46 bhp at 4,800 rpm, with 58.5 lb ft of torque at 2,400 rpm, the YT Tourer (with the higher lift camshaft and twin carburettors) develop 54 bhp (40 kW). With the exception of only the Rover Ten, which managed 2 additional bhp, the "Y" Type had more power than other British saloons of similar size. Indeed at the time many manufacturers were still producing side valve engines.
The YT Tourer
Overview
Production 1948–1950
Body and chassis
Body style 4-seat open tourer
Powertrain
Engine 1250 cc XPAG 4-cylinder, twin SU carburettors
In 1948 several (currently believed to be 9) "YA" Types (consisting of chassis, engines and some body parts) were imported into Switzerland and given cabriolet bodywork by various coachbuilders, such as Reinbolt & Christé. The idea of the open four-seat tourer had been popular before the war, and in theory there was still a market. As a result a "TC" specification of the XPAG engine was married to a pressed-steel open body with fully folding hood and coach-built doors.
A production tourer, the MG "YT", was launched at the Motor Show in 1948. It was available for export only in both right- and left-hand-drive models. Only 877 of these cars were produced when production ceased in 1950—it was not the success that MG had hoped for, and indeed other British manufacturers were also having problems selling open-tourer versions of their saloons.
The "YT" Tourer did not benefit from ‘displayed’ woodwork but had the same standard of seat trim. It did have more instrumentation, in that there was a tachometer (or rev counter) in front of the driver, the speedometer was positioned in front of the passenger with a central bank of subsidiary dials in the centre, giving a similar sporting appearance to the TC with a "double scuttle" dash.
Peter Welch Collection, mostly MGs
One of 877 built.
Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
