Advertisement

Why classic MG sports cars still rule in the USA

Mark McClean is former owner of Brit Bits in New Hampshire and now works there as a mechanic - David Millward
Mark McClean is former owner of Brit Bits in New Hampshire and now works there as a mechanic - David Millward

In a couple of months, the “British Invasion” is coming to Stowe, a picturesque town in Vermont. It will not be overrun by Redcoats or ageing 1960s rock stars, however; instead, the roads will be awash with British cars, reigniting memories of the days when cars were not computers on wheels.

The event is billed as  “A Weekend Celebration and Salute to the Great British Motorcar and British Lifestyle”, paying homage to the days when driving was a more tactile experience than it is now.

There is special affection for the MG, the iconic British sports car dating back to 1924 which was, for decades, built in Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

Alan Magnuson, who handles UK liaison for the MG Car Club in the US, estimates that there could be as many as 30,000 families in America which own MG cars of all ages.

“The company produced more than 511,000 MGs from 1962 to 1980,” he said. “Roughly 60 per cent came to North America. After the Second World War, North America accounted for more than 50 per cent of the MG cars produced. 

Brit Bits US classic car dealership - Credit: David Millward
Business is booming at Brit Bits. The MG Car Club estimates that up to 30,000 families in the US own an MG Credit: David Millward

“MGs stir memories of youth in the Baby Boomer Generation. Baby Boomers and those older recall seeing or driving MGs, Triumphs, Sunbeams or Fiats, Alfa Romeos, Datsuns and more when they were young.  

“Affordable sports cars were plentiful and desirable. Sports cars represent a carefree lifestyle.”

Clubs abound, particularly for the small, nimble sports cars of the immediate post-war era. British Cars of New Hampshire dates back to 1991, when it was set up to fill a gap for enthusiasts in northern New England.

Brit classics in US - Credit: David Millward
Bob Briggs has owned a 1959 MGA since 1994 Credit: David Millward

There are also specialist dealers who sell and fix cars, such as Brit Bits, which operates out of Rye, New Hampshire. Although it is dedicated to a wide array of British cars, which are sold on behalf of owners, it is the MG in its various forms which dominates the forecourt. There are several dozen in various states of repair lined up outside the showroom alongside some rather more incongruous models, including a Morris Traveller.

Inside the showroom, there are more cars and nods to the British heritage, from assorted key fobs to a box of tea and a jar of Marmite.

Norman Michaels, 70, part-owner of the business, said: “Ninety-five per cent of our customers are of an age when the children have been through college. They have always wanted a British car and now they can afford it.”

brit classics in US - Credit: David Millward
Brit Bits evens runs a Morris Minor van. Its cute curves and small size attract plenty of attention for the company Credit: David Millward

His personal collection comprises two MGBs, one from 1966 and the other from 1973, along with a 1976 Lotus Eclat and a 1966 Jaguar 3.8. “What makes them fun? When the car starts and you step on the gas you feel as if you have made it happen,” he said. “The cars are cheap to insure, too. I pay $600 (£452) a year for my four cars. Companies know they aren’t going to be driven more than a couple of thousand miles a year and there aren’t many teenage boys driving them.”

Mark McLean, 68, who once owned part of the company before selling his stake, now works at the business as a mechanic. He said: “I think their appeal is because of their vintage looks. They are fun to drive and easy to work on. I think people like something classic and if they ask if we can fix them, we say yes.”

Bob Briggs, 52, from Rochester NH, who works in biotech, has owned a 1959 MGA since 1994. He said: “I found MGs to be very reliable. If something goes wrong you can remedy it by the side of the road. The cars are not expensive to maintain, parts are very reasonable and there are not many things you can’t find.”

classic Brit sports cars in US - Credit: David Millward
Ralph Littefield is typical of US enthusiasts who dote on the MGB Credit: David Millward

Ralph Littlefield, 62, retired and from Kittery in Maine, now owns and drives a 1963 MGB. He said: “I like the fact you can feel it when you drive. If something goes amiss, you know straight away. They are easy to work and they generate smiles from others.

“We call it the British invasion, like when the pop groups such as the Stones, Beatles and the Who came over. It is very much the same generation who drive the cars now.”

For tips and advice, visit our Advice section, or sign up to our newsletter here

A-Z Car Finder

More classic car stories at Telegraph Cars