Arnolt-MG

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ARNOLT-MG Body by Bertone

ARNOLT-MG

By Geoff Wheatley

The creation of the ARNOLT MG is interesting if only because the MG Company in Abingdon had little to do with either the design or the marketing of this vehicle. An Italian coachbuilder by the name of Nuccio Bertone teamed up with a young Italian designer in 1951 with the idea of creating a special vehicle for the 1952 Turin Motor Show, one of the top European motor events at the time. Italy had been successful in both design and development in the pre war years but due to war time restrictions and the extensive damage done to Italian industry during the war very little had come out of the once famous commercial cities of Milan and Turin. Fiat were back in production with a limited range of small cars and some of the famous prewar marquees were being reestablished but as far as design and development was concerned there was still a long way to go. The Alfa Romeo factory had started commercial production in 1948 and a series of new fast sports cars were on the drawing board for the 1952 Motor show, however only one made it and that took a further two years to see the light of day.

Bertone ordered two MGTD chassis from Abingdon and asked the designer Scaglione, to dream up a distinctive design for a new post war mid price vehicle. Two hand built cars were produced one in sedan style the other as a convertible. The design was unique to the period and as we now know set a style that lasted for at least a decade perhaps longer as these cars still look attractive and modern fifty five years later.

One visitor to the 1952 Motor Show was a Mr. Harold Arnolt an American dealer from Chicago. He liked the sedan and asked Bertone if he was interested in the US market. In 1952, every manufacturer was interested in the US market so the answer was a firm yes.

Now for the big question: "How many can you produce a month?" The answer was by Aany standards ambitious as there was no real production plant or factory that could put these cars together in an economical manner. However, Bertone promised thirty a month, a figure that was never achieved. The 1953 market price in the USA was $3,585 very high against the selling price of a standard MGTD at $1,850 but they sold reasonably well to a distinctive audience who wanted a touch of European class in their sports car! All of these cars were built with left hand drive exclusive to the US market, the only MG to have this distinction. It would have been interesting to hear what the boys at Abingdon thought about this Italian vehicle but as far as we know there is no recorded information and the British motor press seemed very quiet about the car and its performance.

The American advertising brochure say's; " MG Engine and Chassis for speed and safety" .."Italian Styling by Bertone". "Convertible or Coupe". Well I would agree with the second and third statement but as for speed one has to ask how, where and when? With the TD engine and a weight ratio equal to 200% against the TD, I can't imagine any records being broken. However, there is no doubt that it is a very nice car both to look at and I suspect to drive. As yet the latter experience has eluded me but I know of at least two people who have this car. Need I say more except take pity on an old man and his dreams!

© 2013 Geoff Wheatley Contributing Reporter/Writer

1957 Arnolt Bristol sn-404-X-3043

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