The MGB marks its 50th anniversary in 2012 and to begin our celebration of this major achievement, we talk to Don Hayter,one of the key players in creating this landmark model.

Report by: Mike Taylor

On the wall in Don Hayter’s study is a stylized poster of the MGF with a personal note to Don that says: ‘From one class act to another.’ It is signed by the MGF’s designer, Gerry McGovern, and is one of Don’s prized mementos.

Born in 1926 in Maidenhead, Berkshire the son of a policeman, Don joined Pressed Steel in 1942 as an engineering apprentice. ‘As well as aircraft parts, I worked on a parachute mine for the navy, parts for a Barnes Wallis sea mine and midget submarines,’ says Don. But when he is asked if he can trace his technical and drawing talent back to any family influence, he shakes his head and admits that he is unsure where his skills came from.

It was pure coincidence, though one that turned into a career-affecting decision, that saw Don joining a company in war time who, in peace time, made motor car bodies. When the conflict was over, all the old pressings were brought out of storage, cleaned up and body manufacture for companies such as Rootes, Jaguar and even Rolls Royce resumed.

‘Aircraft use aluminium pop-riveting, while cars are welded steel so to produce body drawings, I had to learn about welding to make units such as chassis and door frames,’ said Don. ‘Then I began working on large body outlines for Rolls Royce, Jaguar and Rover and realised that these shapes had been designed by someone.’ It was the light bulb moment which took Don on to greater things.

‘I wanted to be involved with the whole car, so when I saw an Aston Martin advertisement for a design draughtsman in 1954, I applied and got the job. I was based at their Feltham headquarters, working for Frank Feeley. The environment of David Brown’s sports car business was the complete antithesis of Pressed Steel – a small team working on coachbuilt bodies with limited production. David Brown was a short, rather abrupt man who always showed a keen interest in everything. The DB 2/4 Coupé was in production, and my first job was to re-design its radiator. I discovered a talent for free hand sketching, which proved useful for creating shapes before producing the engineering drawings.’

To read more about Don Hayter see the January 2012 issue of MG Enthusiast on sale now - available here.

Back issues available here.