MG Car Club
The MG Car Club celebrates Don Hayter’s 90th Birthday
The MG Car Club today celebrated the 90th Birthday of one of the leading men behind the MGB sports car, ahead of his birthday this Sunday.
Don Hayter played a major part in designing one of Britain’s most popular and much loved sports cars, and today, along with some special guests, the MG Car Club celebrated 90 years of an MG icon.
Don came to work for The MG Car Company as their Chief Body Draughtsman in 1956 after a spell at Aston Martin. After spending some time developing the MGA Twin Cam, he started work on the MGB. Following two prototypes, the EX205 and EX214, the MGB was given the go-ahead, and it was Don’s job to make the car buildable and to finalise the distinctive windscreen and hood, not to mention the dash design.
Following the success of the MGB, Don worked on other projects such as the SSV-1 safety car, the shell of the MGC GT racer, and in 1973 he was appointed Chief Engineer. Don was made an honorary Vice-President of the MG Car Club in 2001 for his incredible work that culminated in designing the best-selling MG sports car of all time.
At the reception that included his family, former colleagues, and various invited guests, the Club presented Don with a framed collection of photos taken down the years.
Don said: “The important thing about life is the people in it. Seeing old people from my department has made my day, and without the MG Car Club this wouldn’t have happened. For that I say thank you.”
Club President John Day unfortunately couldn’t make the celebrations, but had this to say: “You [Don] were only in your early-thirties when you designed the MGB and I imagine you would have had no idea at the time how successful it was to become.
“It is without doubt an icon of the 1960’s and 1970’s which looks as stylish today as it did then. On behalf of MGB fans around the world we would like to say thank you for giving us such a great car to love and cherish in all its different guises.
“Congratulations on your special birthday, and I hope you have a wonderful time.”
Everyone at the MG Car Club would like to wish Don a very happy birthday for Sunday.
