Just the Thing for the Summer Weather..., a photo from Shropshire, England

Photographer's Note

Now that all of Europe seems to be sweltering in a heat-wave, I thought this picture would be appropriate - this little MG sportscar would be just the thing for enjoying the hot sunny weather. This one was captured in the lovely town of Ludlow during a wonderful TE meeting in Shropshire last year.

The MG Car Company got its name from "Morris Garages", a dealer of Morris cars in Oxford which began producing its own customised versions to the designs of Cecil Kimber, who had joined the Morris Car Company as its sales manager in 1921. He was promoted to general manager in 1922, a position he held until 1941 when he fell out with William Morris (Lord Nuffield) over procuring wartime work. Kimber died in 1945 in a railway accident.

MG produced sporting versions of Morris cars in the late 1920s and in the 1930s started making the MG "Midget" series which were popular sporty two-seater motorcars and which continued in production after World War II. Eventually merging with the British Motor Corporation and then to the strike-ridden and turbulent British Leyland, the marque then passed to the MG Rover group in May 2000, when BMW "broke up" the Rover Group. This arrangement saw the return of MG badges on sportier Rover-based cars, and a revised MG F model, known as the MG TF, launched in 2002. However, all production ceased in April 2005 when MG Rover went into administration.

This is an MG "Midget" dating from around 1973. These were small two-seater sportscars but they were not fast by modern standards, being fitted with a 1275cc engine which produced only 65 hp (48 kW) at 6000 rpm. But they were fairly reliable, they looked sporty and they were economical. Nowadays most cars like this are owned by elderly enthusiasts who, like me, continue to dream of eternal youth!

holmertz, SnapRJW, jester5, jester5, Royaldevon, delpeoples, timecapturer, Sonata11, ourania, Glint has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

lousat (139220) 2013-07-20 4:30

Waaw John,this red is reallt bright,impossible not pay attention at this pic in the main gallery..ehehe...magnificent capture and a great work in PP to have the best from this situation,very original capture of this car typical of the summer days,i like it!! Have a nice weekend and thanks,Luciano

macjake (98438) 2013-07-20 6:17

Hi John
its 6am here in Vancouver, and its not better way to start my day than to have a peek at this beauty!
the shine and sheer is so bright its as if the car just came off of the assembly line!
I have a few personal photos of these MG cars in complete rust and abandonment, so i can totally appreciate the beauty of this fella.

Not sure if its the higher point of view that you took the photo at, but it looks as if the hood takes up more than 50% of the total length of the car!

On a side note, whats with the double yellow line close to the curb????? We don't have that here in Canada.

I'm off to work this morning, too bad we weren't driving this car around the coastline of Scotland today!!! Damn!

cheers
Craig

holmertz (102650) 2013-07-20 7:20

Hello John,
I am surprised to learn that this car is only from the early 70's. I would have thought it to be 10-15 years older, but then of course I don't know a thing about cars. But to my mind there is something "fiftyish" about the whole picture. Maybe you did something to the colours (although i don't understand what), or it's just that you show the car in a manner that reminds me of advertisements from long ago. It's a nice photo anyway, and there is even some interesting street-life going on in the background ;-).
Kind regards,
Gert

SnapRJW (31631) 2013-07-20 10:36

Hello John - Your note here made me smile; the bit about elderly men trying to recapture their youth. My father was a classic car collector and I remember that he bought a red MG, whether it was this model I don't know. It was, he said, a gift for my mum. I don't think she used it much as she complained that it was too low on the ground and she needed to lie down to drive it! I think my dad likes zipping around narrow country lanes with the top down though. Friends of ours did an overland Cape to Cairo in one too, can you believe that they actually got their in one piece? As to the shot, beautiful colours especially that sporty red which features not only on the car but also in the wider view. Summertime and the living is easy. Thanks for the memories. warm regards rosemary

nikkitta (17070) 2013-07-20 12:46

Wuau John, an sparkling note of red that is a MG
Interesting the way you take it

Informative note and appropriated title

Congrats and TFS
Maria

carlo62 (81265) 2013-07-20 15:19

Ciao John
l'auto � molto bella, il suo colore attira l'attenzione e la foto � altrettanto bella, ma sinceramente preferisco le nuove auto con aria condizionata quando fa molto caldo :)
Buona domenica
Carlo

emka (158092) 2013-07-20 23:09

Hi John,

I read your discussion with Craig, very interesting and funny, but I do not know all these car terms, I am afraid, in Polish either.
Beautiful car. You will think I am stupid but it reminds me old Wartburg. But they were not open. it must be fun to go such a car. I can imagine at once a place somewhere in south of France, with curvy road near the sea. Have a beautiful Sunday

MAlgo

Royaldevon (85896) 2013-07-21 2:20

Ha, ha, John, trust you to find an old car. I think I photographed a scooter (still not uploaded)!

These cars do have certain style. I particularly love the wheels. I suppose their low profile is a turn on but (I can testify) they are much harder to get in and out of as you get older!

An excellent vantage point gives a real wow factor to the car, as it dominates the f/g and makes the guide line, along its body, to the rest of the shot.
A fine dof, throughout.

Was that the market where we watched the guy sawing up coins?

Have a lovely w/e,
Bev :-)

delpeoples (60342) 2013-07-21 2:53

Ciao caro Giovanni

As you say, perfect for the latest hot spell you're having, although I can't imagine it'd get much of a run any other time. I like the slightly off-centre angle, the sheen and reflection on the car itself and also the classic details of the MG. You must have been frothing at the mouth when you saw this beauty. A great photo that's captured the spirit of summer and the great weather so well.

Un abbraccio
Lisa

timecapturer (49288) 2013-07-21 3:09

Hi John
glad the weather has reached you at last it been so hot down here and I have to admit I have been flagging a bit. Would love to be out in this little beauty. Always wanted one and in red too, although British Racing Green always looks good too. Superb POV and sharpness make this so enticing and appealing. Stay Cool!

Enjoy your Sunday - Brian.

jester5 (2024) 2013-07-21 12:00

Glorious colour and a lovely sharp image.
Brings back happy memories of zipping down to Lands End on Christmas day in 1973 with my husband of two months, wonderful day, the top down and roads with terrible corners for a few extra thrills :)

Sonata11 (34119) 2013-07-21 22:24

Hello John,
this composition is absolutely beautiful, sharp, clarity and perfectly executed. AWESOME !!!! Tfs. I like it a lot.
All the best,
Barbara

jhm (211736) 2013-07-22 5:11

Hello John,

First; I am everyday biking with my electric bike, a part alone in forenoon and together with my wife during afternoon, I have my bike now more than a year and 13.000km, I am back in better condition after three heavy accidents the last five year.
I know not your age, I am 72 yes I shall have to look to spare parts, joke!
I have received splendid pictures of old cars, I want send to you with email, gives but response.
John, what a lovely car a MG splendid maintain.
Excellent composition, perfect captured.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice new workweek,
John.

marabu61 (11587) 2013-07-22 6:49

Hello John
Oh yes, a real beauty indeed this old car and in such a good shape, polished and shiny. As you say it would be the thing to drive in the present heat wafe. But isn't the car parked in a non parking zone as the double yellow line indicates?
have a great day
Daneil

ourania (51103) 2013-07-23 9:52

Hello John,
the most delicious, substantial red colour so wonderfully matching the design of the car. I like very much the composition, perspective and framing you chose for this presentation as they exalt the charming character of the car. The black details and the shadow provide an effective contrast; all the details and the shiny textures are so lovely. The car parked behind the MG represents a tremendous gap in aesthetics and driving needs. The scene in the background has a carefree and pleasant mood. I love the vigour of the light. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a lovely evening,
Ourania

Silvio1953 (221525) 2013-07-24 10:10

Ciao John, great view of lovely car, fine details, splendid light and wonderful bright colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Glint (6171) 2013-07-26 14:14

Hello John,
apologies for not keeping up with your posts. Wow this is a glossy wee thing! This is such a magaziney stunning shot! Did you have to do lots of pp work? I'm guessing not as you have a great camera. Super sharp and you've framed a good diagonal line. The double yellow lines emphasize the diagonal compo too.
best regards,
Bev

amaryllis (37047) 2013-08-27 22:24

Bonjour
Une belle photo de cette voiture d嶰apotable que les anglais utilisent beaucoup l'彋� en effet et m瘱e en dehors de chez eux
Il faut reconna褾re que ces voiture ont un certain look
Merci de ce partage
Juliette