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Click here to view sample pages
Kim: A Biography of M.G. Founder Cecil Kimber
by Jon Pressnell
Congratulations Jon Pressnell! On October 9th at the Hershey Country Club, Hershey, PA, the Society of Automotive Historians will honor this year's Cugnot Award recipient author and publisher: Jon Pressnell for Kim: A Biography of M.G. Founder Cecil Kimber, published by Dalton Watson Fine Books.
M.G., the world’s most-loved make of sports car, was created in the 1920s by Cecil Kimber – invariably known as Kim. Rising above disability, with his energy, enthusiasm and vision Kimber became a leading figure in the British motor industry.
Initially placing sporty bodies on Morris chassis, within a few years he had built M.G. into the leading European manufacturer of sports cars, with an impressive record of competition successes.
He survived industrial upheaval only to fall victim to the venomous internal politics of M.G.’s parent company. Sacked from his high-profile job, he was preparing to bounce back when he lost his life in a needless accident.
Respected businessman, wayward husband, fallible parent – Cecil Kimber was a man of surprising contrasts. Here for the first time is the colourful story of the man behind those famous initials.
- 536 pages
- Hard cover with dust jacket
- 290mm x 254mm (landscape format)
- 750 images
- ISBN: 978-1-956309-11-9
- First Published 2023
Thank you, Octane magazine, for making us 'Book of the Month'!
Thank you, Hemmings, for the review!
Click on the image or this link to access the review
Thank you, Ken Martin, and Morris Monthly, for the wonderful review!
Click on the image or this link to download a readable PDF
Thank you, Sabu Advani, and Speedreaders.info, for the fantastic review!
Click on the image or this link to be taken to the Speedreaders.info website for the review.
CONGRATULATIONS Jon Pressnell, 2023 Royal Automobile Club "Motoring Book of the Year Award" finalist and winner! 'Kim' has been nominated and won for "Books About Motor Cars & Motoring With No Price Limit".
Simon Taylor, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club Motoring Book of the Year Committee, said: “It’s been a bumper year for submissions, with 56 entries representing 36 publishers – from major houses to small independents and self-published authors. It’s been a delight to see such impressive and diverse titles across all categories, as well as so many debut authors. The judges had a healthy debate scrutinising each book for subject originality, writing style, depth of research, quality of illustrations and production before finalising the shortlist of contenders.”
The annual awards ceremony took place on Wednesday, 1 November 2023, and we are pleased to announce that 'Kim' has won! Congratulations, Jon.
Thank you for the review, The Automobile. October 2023
Click the image to view at full size
Thank you for the review, Classic Car Weekly
Thank you, Pete Vack, for the review in VeloceToday.com.
Click here or on the image above for the full review Thank you, Jürgen Lewandowski, for the review on the Bulletin of Motorworld.
Here is the English translation:
Today, the rights to the MG label are held by a Chinese
manufacturer that offers its electric models under the once-famous logo. But
there was a time when millions of (mostly) men were driven by one of M.G.'s
small British sports cars. dreamed. Sports cars that were not too expensive and
still won plenty of races in their classes, thus ensuring a sporty image that
boosted sales of street sports cars.
1923 in Oxford as "Morris Garages" - M.G. – was
founded, Cecil Kimber, as the first managing director, was the driving force
behind the successful brand until 1945. With models such as the M-Type Midget
and the C-Type Midget J3/J4, which were extremely successful in motorsport, it
became an integral part of the belonged to British car history. Kimber died in
1945 and was unable to witness the brand's resurgence after the Second World
War with models such as the MGA, MGB, MGC, Midget or limousines such as the
Magnette. Later M.G. Acquired by BMW, then sold and then slowly disappeared
until the Nanjing Automobile Group took over the trademark rights in 2005.
Jon Pressnell has written an impressive work (536 pages -
750 photos and illustrations) about Cecil Kimber that leaves no questions
unanswered about this impressive personality. On the rise and fall of the M.G.
after the Second World War, the large volume is only rudimentary. But if you
want to learn more about the British automotive industry and motorsport of that
time, "Cecil Kimber - a Biography of M.G. Founder" well served.
Motor Sport, September 2023
Click to view at full size. MG Enthusiast, September 2023
Click to view at full size.
Classic Cars, September 2023
Classic & Sports Car, August 2023 - Book of the Month
Click on the image to view at larger size.
MG Owners Club, July 2023
Click on the image to view larger.
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