The mystery of the Netherlands' lost MG streamliner

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MG enthusiasts, look at this! When you think of an MG streamliner many of you will think of the radical EX181 land speed record car with its bubble top, as driven by Stirling Moss on the Bonneville Salt Flats. With a supercharged twin-cam four-cylinder engine plus a highly toxic mixture of flammable fluids, it managed to produce a whopping 290bhp with a capacity of just 1½ litres, reaching almost 250mph (400km/h) and easily taking the land speed record for its class from the previous record holder. It was quite incredible, certainly, but all that took place in 1957.

This picture is said to date from 1934 - no less then 23 years earlier, with the MG supposedly being either a Q-type or a K3. The aluminium body was made by the coachbuilders of Schutter and van Bakel, the photograph being taken outside their workshop in central Amsterdam. Dutch textile heir and sports fanatic Eddie Hertzberger, a keen boxer, yachtsman, skier as well as motorsport enthusiast, is said to be the man behind the wheel here. However, a comment from one Colin Butchers tells us: ‘The body was fitted to Hertzberger's K3031 for the 1937 season and although it was removed from the K3 when it was sold in 1938, it was included in the sale.’

Things get even more confusing as he continues: ‘In 1941 the Q-type was sold to E. Hartmann and the special body was fitted to the Q and was used in this form on the road. It has been suggested that the photograph was taken at the time of the purchase of the car by Hartmann after the body had been fitted to the Q-type and that the proud new owner could be the tall chap standing behind the car.”

So, does this MG streamliner actually date from later than 1934? It does indeed seem very early for a body as aerodynamic as this one. Furthermore, what exactly happened to it? Surely there must be more pictures of this creation in existence?

Words: Jeroen Booij; picture: Museum Van Loon
 

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