Steve Baker MG T-Series

My first car was an MG Midget – a short lived fantasy which was quickly followed by an MGB GT, which I restored and took to MG events. It eventually became a concours car. At one of the MG shows I saw my first MG TC & a few months later was the proud owner of an MG TA. My wife was horrified when I took all our  savings and returned with a trailer full of cardboard boxes!!! A full rebuild was undertaken and it was only sold on  due to the advice of friends who hated the TA engine. I have now learnt how to understand a good TA MPJG engine, you just have to respect them when building and driving them.

After the TA a TC was bought from Plus 4 motors , again of course all in pieces, I like them that way and always have. That led to joining the Octagon Car Club, building cars for other people and the manufacturing of spares. During that time I entered concours events, winning at Silverstone, Donington and numerous other shows. The novelty of  polishing cars soon wore off, and after meeting Paul Smeeth, and driving his Supercharged TC, I decided racing was the next game to try!

I wanted a Pre War Supercharged MG of course so went hunting for a car to fit the bill. At the time a very good friend of mine had just bought a Q /P Type MG. I loved the look of the car but was not really interested in the engine. Therefore I suggested fitting an XPAG engine on a Q/P Type chassis. That was frowned upon, so I built an MG TA/Q Type. After weeks of messing around a jig was made and the first one was produced. Dave Clewley was talking to me at a race meeting trying his normal, “do us a deal on some parts” and happened to mention he had an XPAG Cross flow head. A deal was struck and I had my own MG Q/T Type car which I took to Cadwell Park for its first outing. That car was raced by me and after a very poor race at Angouleme (hit the barriers) it was sold to the late Jacques Potherat. By then I had managed to find a second head, must have been the only person to ever own two originals. The first head has now been cut up and used to make patterns for more. That TA/Q managed 106 BHP running through a front mounted Volumex Supercharger with a 2 inch carb, you needed more to catch the boys at the front even in those days.

The next race car was an MG TB with an M90 Eaton supercharger.  I believe I was the first to race one in the UK, regardless of what others may say. This was sold to John Clarke after a few seasons, and just recently the car has turned up at my garage for a major engine rebuild after a broken con rod destroyed everything in its path.

The next car was an MG TB /Q Type and I actually managed to win at Angouleme with this car, a real mean machine. Then University fees beckoned for my sons so it was sold via Barry Walker to Frank Mount in Canada , a well known MG man out there. He loves it and has managed to win the Historic Pittsburgh Grand Prix, good on him. That’s what it was built for a good thrashing around a great street circuit.

MGs had treated me well, but like most things in life you need a new challenge. I sold the parts business and ceased to restore cars. After 36 cars I had burnt out, and needed a change. This led me into real estate, I've done well but I can't ignore the itch any longer!

After seven years away I have decided to start up again. I will be building cars for sale again next year. All cars will be owned and checked by me and fully serviced ready to go. There will be no commission sales unless they are cars I have personally built. Cars will always be for sale at any stage of the build. Not every one wants finished cars.

I intend for this website to be a window into my world, you'll be able to see the cars I'm building and also where I've been, past projects and events. I've now finally finished a race TC for my son (complete with Eaton m45 supercharger) and I and hope to be making good use of it.  

          Harry Crutchley and I. He was always known

          as “H” to his friends. He can be seen collecting

            his ex-Reg Harris MG MK11 TD from me.  

         My father and I in an MG TB, travelling at speed.

       Taken from an MG Q/T being overtaken in France.