History
MG J2 -2217 manufactured 26 September 1932 and sold by University Motors London on 11 October 1932 to FR Wells of Digswell, Mill House Welwyn, Hertfordshire UK. Francis (Frank) Wells was a notable film producer in the early years of the UK film industry. He was also an author and wrote a pictorial biography about his father, the famous author HG Wells, of War of the Worlds and The Time Machine fame. In the first few years of Frank's ownership, he encountered a number of issues. According to factory records of the day, this included a faulty crown wheel and pinion, deteriorating chrome plating and an out of balance crankshaft. Frank disposed of the car, and it was subsequently exported to Victoria Australia.
In Australia, the car was sold by 'Select Used Cars', owned and operated by the famous local MG racer Les Murphy. The car was first registered as 203-259 to a Mr McDowell of Nathan Grove Caulfield South Victoria on 26 March 1935. Coincidentally, a few days after the sale, Murphy went on to win the 1935 Australian Grand Prix in a P Type on 1 April 1935. Mr Mc Dowell was a local business man who owned and operated an automotive spare parts business in nearby High Street Armadale. He owned the car until 1945, after which it went through a succession of owners. The car resurfaced in the 1970’s no longer with its original engine or body. It was now fitted with Engine 2993A from J2-4417. This car had been imported to Australia as a rolling chassis along with a number of other J2’s with sequential chassis numbers, some of which went on to be included in the Britannia Motors Race team, competing alongside Les Murphy in the P Type. J2-4417 was later purchased in the late 1950’s by Campbell Bolwell (of Bolwell Sports Cars) who built Bolwell Mk II on chassis 4417 and the engine (2993A) ended up fitted to J2-2217 as a result.
The then owner kept the car for over 39 years and over this time commenced a comprehensive restoration which unfortunately stalled. At that time the car was completely rebodied on a new ash frame, repainted to a high quality in the original black colour scheme and many minor parts refurbished. Engine work included new valves and porting along with fitting a new forged steel crankshaft and new forged conrods and pistons. However, the body and engine became separated and ended up in the possession of different people for many years.
I was able to purchase the body & chassis and the engine separately in 2022, finally reuniting Chassis 2217 and engine 2993A after many years spent apart. I am working towards a total restoration over the next few years.
