My 1947 MG-YA (Special)

Having just posted the story of Bill’s “Special”, I thought it might be of interest to post an account of my own venture into one off Specials.

I was visiting an old friend, Peter Robinson, who had looked after our cars for many years, when he mentioned that Lindsay Head of the famous ‘Racing  Head Brothers’ was now in a factory just around the corner and that he might like to see the newly restored, bright red MG-A I was driving – our latest acquisition.

Now Lindsay had a well earned reputation for being quite abrasive at best and down right rude at worst, not suffering fools kindly and being very opinionated.

But. “Never judge a book by its cover” goes the old saying. First impressions can be deceptive as this short gruff, no-nonsense little man walked out of the door, had a cursory glance at the pride and joy, turned and walked back inside. “I’m having a cuppa, do you want one?” was the introduction to a great friendship which lasted till the end of his life.

At that time he had just finished building extended Holden ‘one tonners’ which had become a benchmark for all other manufacturers. The next project was to be replica Rolls Phantom 11’s based on the extended Holden Chassis, but over in the corner were the shells of three YA sedans.

Months and many “put the kettle on”s later, it was decided that I should buy the Y-Types  conditional on Lindsay building one into something a little special. “Get me a Wolseley 2480 or Austin Freeway” were his only instructions, and so the special was born. The Freeway motor, it turns, out was an MG-A 1600 extended by two pots (cylinders), which he and his brothers had helped design.

Ron, the eldest of the brothers, had worked for MG in the racing division during the 50’s . He had helped design and build the body for the world record breaking MG – EX179  and so was co-opted  for the project.

The six cylinder was duly grafted into the Y’s chassis with a minimum of fuss and with help from the expert, the standard looking body work placed back on the chassis.

85 year old Ron Head at work on the ‘Special’

Larger tyres and an automatic shift were the only cosmetic differences to the standard car, that and the distinctive paintwork copied from a 30’s MG-SA, but that’s where any similarities ended as was demonstrated at its first club outing. The little car went like the proverbial ‘rocket’ – it absolutely flew.  People came running from everywhere to check ‘the beast’ out as I idled it back into the pits.

It really was a wolf in sheep’s clothing which gave enjoyable and reliable service for many years.

Such was its impact on the club scene, that a number of similar projects were born, including MG-B and Morris 1500 powered vehicles, and a Freeway engined roadster, which I had the privilege of helping Lindsay design and build.

Lindsay Head, then in his seventies, polishing my MG-YA Special with the roadster I helped him design parked next to it.

Ron contracted prostate cancer a couple of months after the car was finished and passed away soon after.

During this time I had opportunity to share my faith with Lindsay over many a “cuppa”. I had never ever pressed him on the subject but he had observed, he told me, and was never left in any doubt as to where I stood. It was him who asked me to share  and  I’m sure, though he never made a ‘song and dance’ about it, his faith was rekindled.

Within eighteen months of Ron’s passing, Lindsay was also diagnosed with prostate cancer and after a short illness, he also passed away.

Christopher.