Cecil Kimber

He established MG in 1928 but it was never his own company. He had worked for several car companies before becoming sales manager for Morris Garages in 1921, and was promoted to general manager in 1922. The inspiration and motivator of the brand, he was still employed by Morris Motors until sacked in 1941 and died in a 1945 train crash. Although a car enthusiast – he even raced – he had little engineering training but accountancy and draftsmanship skills and initially designed sporting bodywork to be fitted to modified Morris chassis. Managing director from 1930, he was aware of future trends but also had conservative taste (viz. ‘L’ type 'Continental Coupé). William Morris (then Lord Nuffield) prevented him from being more innovative and killed off the racing department in 1935 and Kimber was demoted. The founder and driving force behind MG, he was perhaps the Caroll Shelby of his age!