Don
Hayter's book on the MGB out in August
Don Hayter's MGB Story - The birth of the MGB in MG's Abingdon Design &
Development Office (Those Were the Days...)
The 96 page paperback, with
76 colour and black & white photos:
• Features models and prototypes
from 1956 to 1980
• Traces the development of the MGB from conception
to production
• Details the challenges and restraints on the MGB design
teams
• Covers the effects of USA safety legislation on the MGB
•
Has behind the scenes anecdotes from MG Design & Development
• Recalls
a personal account of Rally team back-up in the Liege rallies
• Provides
background to the MG record breakers
• Includes a personal account of
the MG Design Department closure
• Features photographs previously unseen
outside the MG Design & Development department.
Veloce
Publishing
For further information from the publisher - price shown as
£14.99 plus postage. More
Amazon
You can pre-order the book through
Amazon now and they say they will deliver it to you when it arrives in stock at
£12.74 delivered free in the UK. Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
Gift-wrap available. More
Development
of the V8 at Abingdon - Don Hayter's recollections
A transcript of Don
Hayter's talk to a group of MGV8 enthusiasts in 2002 on the development of the
V8 engined MGB is available on CD. More
Posted: 180412
Back
to homepage |
 | Don
Hayter's book on the MGB Story is due to be released in August 2012 as
an illustrated 96 page paperback published by Veloce. The book covers models and
prototypes from 1956 to the close of the MG plant in 1980. It features Don Hayter's
behind the scenes anecdotes and personal accounts of MG in its heyday. The RRP
is £14.99 with Amazon offering it at £12.74. |
| This
eagerly awaited book cover the inside story of the MG Design office, from
1956 until its closure in 1980. Explaining how the various models were drawn,
planned, and developed by the small team of engineers, it also shows how the input
and control changed from Morris, Wolseley, Riley Group, Austin-Morris, and Austin
Rover. The effects of the Triumph-Austin merger are detailed in model changes,
alongside the effects of safety legislation, mainly imposed by the United States.
Trying to remain as individual as possible during this period, MG developed record
breakers and a unique Competition Department. Special cars were built and tested,
and prototypes for the MGB replacement were drawn up all in parallel with the
development of MG production cars using engines from any part of the company.
The continuing support of the American market was essential and much valued, but
the Company's market support prioritised the TR7 a decision that, ultimately,
led to the closure of a successful, happy company. |
 | Don
Hayter was educated at Abingdon School, Oxford, winning the Bennett Scholarship
to Pembroke College. With the outbreak of the Second World War he decided to take
an apprenticeship in aircraft design at the Pressed Steel Company, Cowley. Attending
Oxford Technical College and attaining a Higher National Certificate in Metallurgy
and Engineering, he worked at various aircraft manufacturers before moving into
the car industry after the war. He worked on many cars, including the MG Magnette,
in 1954 he moved to Aston |
| Martin
in Feltham, working on the design for the DB2/4 and the Lagonda, before moving
back to MG's Design & Development department. Promoted to Chief Design &
Development Engineer in 1973, he was responsible for the design of the MGB body,
and stayed with MG until the closure of its factory in 1980. Don remains passionately
enthusiastic about this iconic car and still runs one today - an MGB V8 Roadster
conversion. | | |
