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The MG-Mistral Special from 1956 - plastic meets traditional chassis

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Created on February 17, 2013

Reading time 6min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Bruno von Rotz

Archiv

Daniel Reinhard

Bruno von Rotz

Archiv

MG Mistral (1956) - elegante Microplas Mistral Karosserie

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MG Mistral (1956) - an der Ennstal Classic 2008

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MG Mistral (1956) - an der Ennstal Classic 2009

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MG Mistral (1956) - beim Start zum AVD-Oldtimer Gradn Prix Nachtrennen 2012

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MG Mistral (1956) - im Rennen für zweisitzige Sportwagen und GT bis 1961 am AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix 2012

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MG Mistral (1956) - beim AVD Oldtimer Grand Prix 2012

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MG Mistral (1956) - auf Zeitenjagd in der Nacht am Nürburgring

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MG Mistral (1956) - im Drift auf dem Nürburgring

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MG Mistral (1956) - bei der Jagd auf Ferrari, Jaguar und Konsorten

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MG Mistral (1956) - eleganter Heckabschluss des sportlichen Wagens

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MG Mistral (1956) - im Clinch auf der Rundstrecke - AVD Oldtimer Grand Prix 2012

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MG Mistral (1956) - schönes Holzlenkrad im sportlichen Interieur

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MG Mistral (1956) - der Drehzahlmesser als wichtigstes Instrument

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MG Mistral (1956) - das MG-Markenzeichen auf dem Bug

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MG Mistral (1956) - FIA-Sicherheitsmerkmale

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MG Mistral (1956) - Heckabschluss des rennsport-orientierten Fahrzeugs

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MG Mistral (1956) - der Motor passt knapp unter die Haube

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MG Mistral (1956) - ohne Querstromkopf, wie die Serienausführung

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MG Mistral (1956) - serienmässige Vergaserbestückung

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Microplas Mistral Kunststoff-Karosserie - um 1956

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Microplas Kunststoff-Karosserien für verschiedene Chassis - Werbung erschien im Oktober 1955 im englischen Magazin "Motorsport"

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Microplas Kunststoff-Karosserien für verschiedene Chassis - Werbung erschien im Juli 1955 im englischen Magazin "Motorsport"

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Microplas Kunststoff-Karosserien für Ford, Lotus und andere Chassis - Werbung erschien im März 1956 im englischen Magazin "Motorsport"

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Summary

Between 1954 and 1960, the Microplas company built lightweight and sporty plastic bodies, which found their way onto a wide variety of chassis and thus provided the basis for interesting and historic specials. One of these specials is the MG Mistral from 1956, which Thomas Matzelberger uses in historic racing. This report looks back on the activities of the Microplas company, describes the 1956 MG Mistral and shows it in many pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

A new market emerges
Microplas as a pioneer
The American version of sports car engineering
The simple elegance of the Mistral body
Cheap, but unfinished
Elaborate construction
For a variety of chassis
Mistral on MG
From England to Austria

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

At the AVD Oldtimer Grand Prix 2012, the race for two-seater sports cars and GTs built up to 1960/1961 featured an MG Mistral at the Le Mans start alongside sports cars from Maserati, Ferrari, Porsche and Jaguar. It was a modest car and in terms of performance, it hardly stood a chance against most of the upgraded sports cars. However, it might even have won the race if it had simply driven on when the other cars had to stop after the first lap to fasten their seatbelts. After all, the MG Mistral had no seat belts, as it didn't have any at the end of the 1950s when it was competing in club races in England.

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