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Cecil Kimber
Cecil Kimber (12 April 1888 – 4 February 1945) was a self-taught British businessman, engineer, inventor, race-car driver and the creative motor-car designer best known for having been the driving force behind The M.G. Car Company. Kimber's automotive design philosophy was simple: "A sports car should look fast even when it is standing still".
Kimber was a pioneer of affordable sporting automobiles, starting in the 1920s. Kimber's MG M-type (the first MG "Midget") became the world's best-selling sports car in 1932. His concept of the quick, nimble "open sports car" automobile continues throughout the world.
Kimber was born in Dulwich, Southwark, London on 12 April 1888 to printer's ink manufacturer Henry Frances and his wife Fanny (née Newhouse) Kimber.
In 1898, Kimber attended Stockport Grammar School for more than five years. His interests included photography and sailing. He joined his father's company and took an early interest in motorcycles, buying a 1906 Rex model. After buying the motorcycle, he immediately took the motorcycle apart and reassembled it. Kimber started repairing motorized bicycles and motorcycles at the age of 18.
Kimber was struck by a car during a motorcycle ride. One of his legs was shattered, nearly amputated and shorter than the other after healing from multiple surgeries. Kimber received a substantial insurance award. Kimber's father asked him to give the money to the struggling family business. Kimber refused as he felt the payment for his injury was solely his. In 1914 he left his father's business and struck out on his own.
Now unable to safely ride a motorcycle, Kimber became a motorcar racing enthusiast. Kimber bought a 10 hp Singer in 1913. This interest caused him to leave the family firm in 1914 and get a job with Sheffield-Simplex as assistant to the chief designer. During World War I he moved first to AC Cars and then joined component supplier EG Wrigley. He made a large personal investment in Wrigley and while there, styled the radiator for the Angus-Sanderson line of cars. Those cars did not sell well, Kimber lost his investment and left Wrigley.
In 1921 Kimber was hired as sales manager with Morris Garages, a private company founded in 1909 by William Richard Morris. Primarily an automobile dealership, the business also specialized in customizing cars to order. By 1923, Kimber was named general manager.
While at Morris Garages he developed a range of special bodies for Morris Oxford cars with coachwork of his own design. These cars were sold under the MG brand. In 1924 his modified, higher-performance 14/28 Oxford "Bullnose" was advertised as one of the "Morris Garages Super Sports" and as "our popular M.G. Saloon". Kimber then began producing four passenger Oxford variants with larger motors.
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Cecil Kimber
Cecil Kimber (12 April 1888 – 4 February 1945) was a self-taught British businessman, engineer, inventor, race-car driver and the creative motor-car designer best known for having been the driving force behind The M.G. Car Company. Kimber's automotive design philosophy was simple: "A sports car should look fast even when it is standing still".
Kimber was a pioneer of affordable sporting automobiles, starting in the 1920s. Kimber's MG M-type (the first MG "Midget") became the world's best-selling sports car in 1932. His concept of the quick, nimble "open sports car" automobile continues throughout the world.
Kimber was born in Dulwich, Southwark, London on 12 April 1888 to printer's ink manufacturer Henry Frances and his wife Fanny (née Newhouse) Kimber.
In 1898, Kimber attended Stockport Grammar School for more than five years. His interests included photography and sailing. He joined his father's company and took an early interest in motorcycles, buying a 1906 Rex model. After buying the motorcycle, he immediately took the motorcycle apart and reassembled it. Kimber started repairing motorized bicycles and motorcycles at the age of 18.
Kimber was struck by a car during a motorcycle ride. One of his legs was shattered, nearly amputated and shorter than the other after healing from multiple surgeries. Kimber received a substantial insurance award. Kimber's father asked him to give the money to the struggling family business. Kimber refused as he felt the payment for his injury was solely his. In 1914 he left his father's business and struck out on his own.
Now unable to safely ride a motorcycle, Kimber became a motorcar racing enthusiast. Kimber bought a 10 hp Singer in 1913. This interest caused him to leave the family firm in 1914 and get a job with Sheffield-Simplex as assistant to the chief designer. During World War I he moved first to AC Cars and then joined component supplier EG Wrigley. He made a large personal investment in Wrigley and while there, styled the radiator for the Angus-Sanderson line of cars. Those cars did not sell well, Kimber lost his investment and left Wrigley.
In 1921 Kimber was hired as sales manager with Morris Garages, a private company founded in 1909 by William Richard Morris. Primarily an automobile dealership, the business also specialized in customizing cars to order. By 1923, Kimber was named general manager.
While at Morris Garages he developed a range of special bodies for Morris Oxford cars with coachwork of his own design. These cars were sold under the MG brand. In 1924 his modified, higher-performance 14/28 Oxford "Bullnose" was advertised as one of the "Morris Garages Super Sports" and as "our popular M.G. Saloon". Kimber then began producing four passenger Oxford variants with larger motors.