Rare 1935 MG PB Airline Coupe Showcased at DFW Car & Toy Museum

The DFW Car & Toy Museum is currently showcasing one of the most exquisite and rare examples of pre-war British motoring artistry: a 1935 MG PB Airline Coupe, now on proud display as part of The Ron Sturgeon Collection. With only 14 known to have been built on the PB chassis, this maroon masterpiece represents not just automotive rarity but a sculptural expression of design at its most refined.

Designed by H.W. Allingham and bodied by Carbodies of Coventry, the Airline Coupe transformed the already nimble MG PB into a rolling work of Art Deco luxury. The vehicle features distinctive touches like cathedral skylights cut into the sliding sunroof, a wind-out windshield, and an elegant fastback silhouette that highlight the coupe's unique blend of function and fantasy. Despite being built on the same compact 87.25-inch wheelbase as its roadster siblings, the Airline Coupe delivers the presence of a much larger car through its graceful, sweeping lines and upright MG grille.

Under the hood lies the final and most refined iteration of MG's famed overhead-cam crossflow-head inline-four "Midget" engine. In PB specification, this 939 cc power plant produced 43 horsepower and breathed through twin SU carburetors, paired with a four-speed manual gearbox. The vehicle also featured adjustable Andre Hartford shock absorbers that allowed drivers to tailor the ride for various road conditions, representing an advanced feature for the era.

Atop the radiator proudly sits the MG "Midge" mascot, a charming period-correct accessory that has become a beloved symbol among MG enthusiasts worldwide. Ron Sturgeon, owner of the DFW Car & Toy Museum, commented that "The MG PB Airline Coupe is everything we love about classic motoring: rare, beautiful, and absolutely brimming with character. It's a showstopper that also begs to be driven."

With just 51 Airline Coupes believed to have been built across all MG chassis and only 14 on the PB platform, this example stands among the rarest survivors. The vehicle represents the perfect union of streamlined coachwork and sprightly British engineering, making it particularly significant for automotive historians and collectors. The museum, now located in North Fort Worth at 2550 McMillan Parkway, offers visitors the opportunity to view this automotive treasure along with other significant vehicles and toys in their 150,000 square foot facility. More information about the museum and its collections can be found at https://dfwcarandtoymuseum.com.

For automotive enthusiasts and design aficionados, the display of this rare MG PB Airline Coupe provides a unique opportunity to witness a pivotal moment in automotive history when Art Deco design principles merged with practical British engineering. The vehicle's combination of aesthetic appeal and mechanical sophistication continues to influence modern automotive design, demonstrating how historical automotive artifacts can inform contemporary design thinking while preserving important cultural heritage.