Tales From The Far East Masalat

The MG Car Company dropped the use of overhead camshaft cylinder heads with the introduction of the MG TA in 1936.

Following the takeover of MG by Morris Motors, Wolseley engines replaced the well-developed overhead cam engines that powered the C, D, F, J, K, L, M, N, P and Qs. Before the TA had time to make a name for itself, war came upon the world. MG barely had time to launch the TB in 1939, a car with a totally new engine, the XPAG from the Morris Ten. One made its way into racing in South East Asia when Lim Kok Tai entered his in the 1940 Johore War Effort Grand Prix.

Following hostilities, Abingdon production was ramped up in 1945 to secure much needed foreign currency. The TB now became the TC, with 1250cc XPAG overhead valve motor of somewhat shorter stroke that eked out 54bhp. The TC, which was launched in October 1945, took the US market by storm, as it did in South East Asia. The one thing going for the XPAG motor was that it was immensely tuneable, especially when coupled with a blower.