Michael‘s SuperFinds: The mysterious racer

By Michael Kliebenstein

When I was researching cars in Italy for a client, I got a call from my friend Paolo telling me that he had seen a very mysterious race car in Vicenza. The mystery being that he didn‘t know what it was. He said it could be anything between a Maserati, a Ferrari, an O.S.C.A. or whatever, but there was a chance that it was for sale. So I made my way into the Veneto region, driving all evening in the most gruesome rain you can imagine. Rain in Italy can be very bad, you know.

Only as I got closer to Vicenza was I given the exact address of the meeting point - a dark old warehouse on the outskirts of the city which had no discernible entrance. After much searching, by which time I was wet through, I found the door only to be told that the owner had very little time. He showed me the car in, maybe, four minutes. Then he was gone.

I took some photos, realising that it was an MG Supercharged Special sitting right next to an orange 911S. But I was looking for Italian machinery. So, not for me. Neither car was for sale, but maybe in the future.

I went home and forgot all about it until I received a call recently telling me that the MG was now available. Since I was a bit miffed about the situation and not being an MG guy, I didn‘t care to research it nor did I ask anyone about it.  But more and more I have come to like the car. So what is it exactly and has it got any real history?

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