Beschreibung:

KMO 326 has a unique place in MG history as a 1600 Coupe factory development car, adopted at an early stage in its history by M.G’s Senior Designer, Syd Enever. Originally a 1500 car, it was passed, while in Enever’s custody, to Bodies Branch where it was converted as a development car to 1600 Coupe form, the design being influenced in no small way by Enever’s wish to create more space in the back of the cockpit to accommodate his dog! The registration number KMO 326 came from a previous Development Department car used in testing from 1954. Syd Enever specified the unique colour scheme of pearlescent white over golden bronze and chose the magnolia hide interior. Although a factory development car, Syd Enever was to use the car regularly for his private transport. From 1959 to 1964 KMO 326 was used in high speed tests on the German autobahns to prove maximum speed durability over long distances. Technical assistant John Sharp confirmed that the aim was to maintain maximum speed over 25,000 miles of arduous testing. On the Munich to Hof Autobahn KMO was subjected to continuous high speed running at 6,000rpm. KMO was used for development of the 1,622cc engine, suspension, brakes, cooling and exhaust systems. In later tests, when fitted with the MGB engine, old faithful KMO proved 4mph faster than the replacement MGB – perhaps a source of embarrassment to the company. During its latter stages with the Development Department the 1600 Mark II engine was bored out to 1,842cc. Upon leaving the Development Department the original chassis no, E.X.1./197, was re-designated GHD 109071, the next number following the last MGA, and the car was taken on by Syd Enever’s son, Roger, who was to campaign KMO actively at Brands Hatch, Silverstone and Mallory Park. In 1965 ownership passed to K R Clark of Chipstead and just one year later KMO was sold to Peter Cornwall, who drove it to a class win in the Lands End Trial during his ownership. KMO continued a successful race and rally competition history in Cornwall’s hands before he sold the car in 1984. Its condition then reflected its Works testing background and competition history, the car being equipped with close ratio gearbox, deep sump with special baffle, Hoban & Heaton oil pump, special cylinder head and valve gear and ultra-light flywheel, all built around a 1,842cc blueprinted engine. The present owner then embarked upon a painstaking restoration, carefully retaining important historical features, while returning the car in all major respects to the specification as used by Syd Enever. This involved considerable searching of suppliers and autojumbles to find exactly the right period parts, the distributor being located via Lucas in India, while minute attention was paid to such details as sourcing the correct front sidelights and windscreen wipers. The original gold livery was carefully matched from paint beneath the battery box and the original pearlescent white roof restored per Enever’s specification. A complete mechanical restoration was carried out. The outstanding restoration quality can only be judged by careful inspection and this we recommend. The history is well documented in reasearch carried out by the present owner and KMO has been featured in various major publications, notably MG Enthusiast Magazine of April 1997, in which it was featured on the front cover. Since restoration the car has covered a very low mileage but has proved to be capable still of high speed motoring on trips to more distant events. On its several appearances in concours d’élégance events it has proved a consistent winner. Rarely does a car come to the market with such important provenance and restored to such an exemplary standard. KMO 326 is offered with a Swansea registration document, current road fund licence and MoT certificate together with a good history file and photographic record recording its restoration.