I stumbled on this picture in an Ebay auction. It was a poster that someone was printing on tee-shirts and trying to sell. The printing and the shirts were both of poor quality and the starting bid was way to high. Needless to say I didn’t bid, but I really liked the poster. 1976 was the year I was born and it combines two of my favorite things, hang gliding and British sports cars.
In the late 70's MG and it’s parent company British Leyland were struggling to stay in business. Increased US emissions and safety standards, poor management, quality control problems, and competition from reliable Japanese sports cars were all hurting sales. It’s probably no coincidence that MG chose to put a hang glider in its advertisement. Hang gliding was a new technology then and British Leyland was trying to modernize its image from that of a classic auto maker.
The hang glider appears to be a Rogallo-based planform. Maybe an early Wills Wing Standard? I have no idea, but if someone can identify it please post a comment. The top half of the image reminds me of a flying site in Santa Barbara, but again, I am unsure. The clouds are typical of a Southern California marine layer so it must be somewhere in that region. I can just imagine the conversation taking place on the lower half of the image. I’m sure it started with a "Yeah, man . . . " I’ve had a few of those conversations.
It would be a cool project to try to replicate this picture. Jeff, Adam?? Maybe on the South Side of Point of the Mountain next time I’m in Utah with an MG and a hang glider. The odds of my MG making it 500 miles through the Rockies (which is too small to carry a hang glider anyway) are not good, but stranger things have happened.
Here is what the print on the poster reads:
To everyone who longs to soar free, we dedicate this 1976 MGB.
Like all the great MGs of the past 50 years, wide-open, wind-in-your-hair performance is built into this newest MGB. This car holds the current Sports Car Club of America National Championship in E Production - as it has for four of the last five years. MGB’s lively performance and crisp handling come from radial tires, front disc brakes, sports car suspension, short-throw, four-speed stick, rack and pinion steering and a race-proven 1798cc engine.
There’s a big, wide world out there. And MGB lets you enjoy it all. Just open wide, and say "AH!". For the name of the MG dealer nearest you, call these numbers toll-free: (800) 447-4700, or, in Illinois, (800) 322-4400. British Leyland Motors Ind., Leonia New Jersey - 07605.
2 comments:
It’s probably no coincidence that MG chose to put a hang glider in its advertisement.
During the wintry weather months, Calgary and surrounding regions may be brutal to each power and stay in, and getting caught in a ditch can simply complicate things. It will increase the pressure on a truck motive force who steps out for the lengthy journey. Trucks and heavy cars regularly face trouble and are surprisingly hard to tow.
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