The marque was created in 1923 by Cecil Kimber who was the manager of Morris Garages (hence the name MG) in Oxford. Cecil asked coachbuilders to build special bodies for existing Morris models. There were two versions of the J-type: the J1 was available as an open four-seater or a hard-top coupé. But the one that everyone wanted was the open, two-seat J2, costing £199 10s. This was the car that established the style for pre-war MGs and indeed the majority of small sports cars between the 30s and 50s. With its slab-shaped fuel tank, spare wheel mounted on the tail, fold-flat windscreen and cutaway doors, it was copied by many other manufacturers.
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