Did you know that South Africa was the first and only country outside the United Kingdom to locally assemble some of the most iconic sports car models in MG’s storied 100-year history before the company was taken over by its current Chinese owners?
Yes, during MG’s halcyon days in the 1950s and 1960s, Motor Assemblies Limited in Durban assembled three different MG models locally from CKD kits: the MG TD and MGA, the Magnette ZB sedan, and its Varitone version.
According to M Compton and T J Gallwey in Motor Assemblies Limited: A small South African assembly plant that became a major manufacturer, the MG TD was the first to be assembled here 75 years ago, with 345 units assembled from July 1950 to March 1951. They also mention that as was more or less standard for all vehicles produced in SA at this time, the paint, glass, tyres, batteries and interior soft trim were locally produced.
In 1957, production changed to the MGA roadster, followed by the MGA 1500 Coupe, MGA 1600, 1600 Mk II, the Twin Cam, and the Twin Cam Coupe. In total, 752 MGA cars were assembled in South Africa from March 1957 to 1962. From 1957 to 1959, Motor Assemblies also produced 826 Magnettes. Quite a few of these unique locally built MG examples are still running around on local roads and overseas…
*With acknowledgement to M Compton and T J Gallwey (Motor Assemblies Limited: A small South African assembly plant that became a major manufacturer), the www.mgaguru.com website, and George Dehlen’s MG website.
Report by FERDI DE VOS | Images © RYAN ABBOTT
