VotW – MG 1100 and Indy Liquid Suspension Racer

Most folks who own a television set are familiar with Dennis Gage and his show My Cassic Car. Well, our video this week is from a show he shot at the McPherson College C.A.R.S. Club show. It just so happens that two of the cars he featured in this episode are a 1967 MG 1100 and a 1964 Indy car racer featuring MG 1100 liquid suspension.

The cars belong to Richard Morrison who has painstakingly restored them both. The footage of these cars starts at 5:40.

For the 1964 Indianapolis 500 Kjell Qvale, who imported and distributed several British Marques, asked the head of his racing department, Joe Huffaker, to build 3 cars incorporating the hydrolastic suspension from the MG 1100 Sports Sedan. The cars raced at Indy as the MG Liquid Suspension Specials in 1964 and 1965. A. J. Foyt tested one at Phoenix and set a new lap record before even putting on his helmet and fire suit.

MG 1100 Liquid Suspension

In 1965 the cars were driven at Indy by Hansgen in #53, Veith #54, and Jerry Grant #48. Grant said it was one the best handling cars ”right out of the box” he had driven. They finished 14th, 24th, and 27th, respectively. Bobby Unser gave the car its best finish, a second place at the 150-mile road race at Indianapolis Raceway Park in July.

By the way, the 1965 Indianapolis 500 was a historic race, won by Jim Clark in a Ford-powered Lotus. But that is a different story.

Thanks to Richard Morrison of the BMC 1100 Google Group for pointing out this video to us.

Michael Carnell
Editor at Just British

Michael Carnell is the editor and founder of the Just British Online Motoring Magazine. As a lifelong British car enthusiast, he has owned or driven British cars of all ages from Austins and MGs to Jaguars and Triumphs. He currently owns a 1966 Vanden Plas Princess 1100 and a 1977 MGB. But there is always room for more - no matter what his wife says.