| Description | 'Time is important if we are to hold this place in the US sales picture. For this reason, I make my first suggestion a car to the specification below which could be ready for the New Year or Spring; The existing MG body shell to save time and tooling, but the appearance would have to be quite different – this could be achieved by [the] following modifications; A completely new front end from the screen forward, made either on Kirknite? tools or in fibre glass, and the careful use of chrome motif. The cockpit and seating to be changed to incorporate rear ‘seats’ as the 3000.
This proved a big selling feature as it is an excuse for the young to buy a sports car; An ‘easy lift’ hood as the 3000; New road wheel trim; The most important and biggest selling feature, a V8 engine. US buyers look on the six cylinder as an obsolete type, and it is only used in their cheaper models. Our West coast distributor has repeatedly asked us to make use of the Daimler 2½ litre, as he has had such good experience with it. This engine develops approx. 140 BHP and would give a similar performance to the 3000 without the roughness and noise. The four speed syncromesh Jaguar gear box and overdrive would give added appeal; I appreciate these features will cost quite a lot more than the MG ‘C’ but if we can keep the US price under $4000 it will be well placed between the MG ‘C’ and the E type Jaguar; I estimate that a prototype could be completed in 3-4 months and would not cost more than £10,000; This car would be good enough for 2-3 years which would give us time to design and produce an original and outstanding car to take its place.
I put forward outline suggestions below; This a completely new semi open 2+2 sports car with a V8 engine – one of the available aluminium Climax if possible on an improved Daimler. An individual body semi tooled. A completely new design of chassis and body, prototype buildings, with full testing, would take about a year; Secondly we should consider the GT 2+2 of the Alfa type, primarily for the European and home markets. The 2½ litre V8 could be used but would be in competition with the new Rover-Buick 3 litre alloy unit – so thought should be given to a layer engine; These last two projects are long term and would have to be considered from a policy angle, and with reference to the availability of units in the future”.
With covering handwritten note to Geoffrey Healey asking for it to be typed and asking for Geoffrey Healey to make any alterations he thinks are required. |