The MGA With An Attitude
MGAguru.com MGAguru.com
WORKS COMPETITION CARS - VT-104_EX179

EX179 - The first factory "MGA" competition car

This story starts with the EX 172 car built to run at Le Mans in 1952. This was a modified MG TD with narrow frame, high seating, and XPAG engine.

EX172_1952
EX175_1952 EX179_1954

Wheelbase

  95 inches

   Height w/o Canopy

  32 5/16 inches

Height w/ canopy

  40 5/8 inches

Width

  63 1/2 inches

Length

  188 7/8 inches

Front track

  48 inches

Rear track

  48 1/2 inches

Engine

  1466 cc XPEG

Transmission

  Standard TF with
Borg & Beck clutch
 
Later in 1952 two EX 175 cars were built following on the prior EX 172 car styling queues. These cars were the first prototypes for the future MGA, built with widened frame and lowered seating position, but still using the XPAG engine. One was modified with small windscreen and full belly pan for speed trials, but results were disappointing. It was then renamed EX 179 and dramatically modified with a streamliner body and other special mods. In 1954 it went on to challenged land speed records, in the F Class, at the Bonneville Salt Flats, driven by George Eyston. Speed record 153 mph - Also averaged 120.74 m.p.h. for twelve hours, and set seven International and 28 American Class F records.
EX179 tube frame

EX179 cutaway illustration
os - George Eyston's Record Breaking Car 1954 - 0:35 Video
os - EX 179 Utah 1954 - 14:50 Video (silent)
EX179 second frame

Continuing under the EX 179 program, the car was reconfigured once more using the then new Austin B-Series 1500cc engine and switched to right hand drive. During the 1956 test runs, the EX 179, with speeds of 160.4 mph and 177 mph in the two 10 mile runs, set a new record with an average speed of 170.5 mph.

EX179_1956
EX 179 - 1956 with Austin B-series 1500 engine

EX179_1956_Utah_records
MG Records at Bonneville in 1956 -- (Click for larger image)

EX179_1956
EX179_1956 EX179_1956 EX179

In 1957 the EX 179 made its last trip to Bonneville with a 948cc Austin engine and set new records in its class. After an illustrious career, the EX 179 was retired to the Motor Museum at Donnington, England.
EX179_1956
As a point of curiosity here, notice the car was configured for Left Hand Drive in 1954, and right Hand Drive in 1956. This is apparently because the exhaust comes out the top of the bonnet, and the driver does not want to sit with his face in the exhaust stream. Also the steering column needs to clear the exhaust manifold. The earlier XPEG engine had exhaust on the right side, while the later Austin B-Series engine had exhaust on the left side.

HomeBackTopNext
Thank you for your comments -- Send e-mail to <Barney Gaylord>
© 2007-2013 Barney Gaylord -- Copyright and reprint information