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MG MG Y Type - Cost of a new YB in 1952

Hi Guys

Having completed the restoration of YB 0251 earlier this year.
I have been to quite a few shows with the car and I get asked the same question. How much did it cost when it was new? The car was first registered January 1952.
Can any one help so I can provide the correct answer.

Many thanks
Keith
K Buckley

Keith
I had a little search around and found this but it refers to MGYs in general
I suspect there would be some differences between YA YB -YT during their production but at least this will give you a rough general idea---

The UK price of the car was £525.0.0 ex works plus purchase tax of £146.11.8d.
William Revit

Hi Keith

You can find the answer on http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/imgytr/brochure.shtml - click on Price Lists and open the 1952 price list picture for 1952!

William - that was the price for the MG Y :).

Paul
Paul Barrow

Keith, you might find this calculator interesting: https://www.moneysorter.co.uk/calculator_inflation2.html#calculator
It gives you today's value of yesteryear's prices. Leave the small change off, it doesn't work otherwise. The 1952 YB, at £989.5.6 in today's value is: £19,895.76. Such is inflation. Curiously though, the car has held it's value over the last 65 years.
R Taylor

A better assessment of the cost of a Y Type today is to compare average earnings. I did this some years ago when I first acquired my YB, UMG 576 (YB 0279).

The UK price of the Y Type at launch was £525.0.0 ex works plus purchase tax of £146.11.8d, a total of £672.11.8. At the time, the average annual wage in the UK was about £300. Consequently, it was affordable only by those with above average incomes, typically senior managers, professionals or high-ranking military men.

By 1952, when my YB was first registered, the price of the car on the road, including purchase tax at an eye-watering 66.67%, was £989, about 2.5 times the then average annual wage in the UK. At that time, few women worked, so this was the total income of most families.

This multiple of average annual earnings today would buy a car costing almost £70,000 – a top spec Jaguar, BMW 5 Series, Audi A6 or Mercedes E Class.

The original owner of UMG 576 was Lt Col Philip Jackson, probably a typical buyer, bearing in mind its cost.
M Long

When I purchased my 1948 YA in 1960 I paid £250, it was not the best example around but it was either that or slightly better second hand Ford Popular. My income as a junior BBC engineer was I think £700 pa.
A really good example of a YB would sell for £350, a new Mini, Anglia, Minor 1000 at that time was about £550. Strange to say that when I purchased the 1960 Anglia in 1966 it cost me the same £250 Both cars are still in my garage. Bryan
B Mellem

Cost comparison does not give any help In comparing the true cost of a new car in the 1950's It is more to do with the spare income after food, clothes, accommodation etc is first deducted. These items cost far more than now.
To give some idea my Father was a charge hand electrician in 1950 working at the National Physical Laboratory , and cycled the 8 miles to and from work 6 days a week. As the prosperity of Britain improved by 1952 he could afford a Cyclemaster attachment to his bicycle, and by 55 a motorcycle and sidecar, in 59 he purchased a second hand car. The working day during that period was reduced from 9 to 8 hours with a 2 day weekend. In 1963 he purchased a new car but by then he had been promoted to senior inspector.
Basically in 1950 a new car was for the majority of people just a dream. Bryan
B Mellem

Some adverts from 70/71 might be of interest, you will have to enlarge a little i'm afraid.
John YB0362

JC Jebb

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/investing/news/classic-cars-top-alternative-investment-asset-classes-192pc/

Interesting article on current prices!!
R E Knight

Thank you all for taking the time to respond to my request for information on the cost of the car. It may have been getting a bit dated by the early fifties but it was and still is a real classic.
Again Many thanks.
Keith
K Buckley

This thread was discussed between 21/10/2017 and 05/11/2017

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