A quiet, sunny, midsummer afternoon, where the Adda flows between the banks of Imbersago (Lecco) and Villa D'Adda (Bergamo), joined by the hand ferry which is said to have been designed by Leonardo da Vinci. A steel cable is stretched between the two banks of the river, to which the boat is attached, which draws its movement from the river current, making the use of an engine unnecessary. On the shore there is a coming and going of cyclists among families walking their dogs, lively elderly people sitting on benches spending the evening between one chat and another, idle people admiring the placid waters plowed by canoeists immortalized by tourists' phones and cameras. Suddenly, an ancient roar, almost like a motorcycle, makes the air vibrate. But it's not a motorbike: an old-time spider bursts onto the scene. And all the looks are for her. 
It couldn't be otherwise. Even those who don't have the faintest idea what brand and model it is are fascinated by such an original line. Elegant and, at the same time, aggressively sporty, it features a large radiator, large chrome headlights and, instead of the classic windshield, two aero-screens that look very racing. Or if you prefer Brooklands, given that our beauty, in the best times, didn't mind racing on the most famous tracks.

MG PB SPORT: British perfume

When it was built by MG in 1935, the English company was going through a troubled period. Having passed under the direct control of Morris Motor Ltd, it had seen its racing ambitions drastically reduced. 
The great commitment in competitions had not been accompanied by adequate commercial success. The company was making a loss and this led to the abandonment of technical solutions that were too advanced and expensive, especially if they were aimed only at sporting use. 
In the UK, small, powerful and fast roadsters with one-litre engines were proving popular. Among the models that received the most favor were the Singer Nine with a four-cylinder engine displacing 972 cc. The "base" was the Sport, with a power of 34 HP at 4,600 rpm and a speed of around 115 km/h. There were various versions, including a more advanced one intended for competitions and called Type Le Mans Replica. Power rose to 55 HP at 5,500 rpm. And the speed exceeded 140 km/h. With this car, well-known English drivers took part in the most famous races of the time, obtaining excellent class placings even in the 24 hours of Le Mans.
At Morris Garages it was decided to exploit the excellent sporting results achieved in previous years to launch a car on the market capable of rivaling the Singers. Not having resources for a new project, we worked on what was available, starting from the four-cylinder in-line engine with single overhead camshaft used on the J-Type and the Morris Minor. It was equipped with three main bearings, a larger crankshaft and a double-barrel carburettor. In this configuration, with a displacement of 847 cc, it was capable of developing 36 HP at 5,500 rpm. The traction was rear. Motion was transmitted to the rear wheels via a four-speed non-synchronized gearbox. The suspension was a semi-elliptical leaf spring on the four wheels and included a rigid axle at both the front and rear. The chassis was the stretched version of the one used on the J-Type. The new model was called PA and produced from 1934 to 1935. Two body styles were available: roadster and coupé, both with two doors. In 1935 it was decided to further enhance the engine, for MG PB,  by increasing the bore from 57 to 60 mm, obtaining a displacement of 939 cc. The power reached 43 HP and the speed reached 145 km/h.

MG PB SPORT: British perfume
MG PB SPORT: British perfume
MG PB SPORT: British perfume
MG PB SPORT: British perfume
MG PB SPORT: British perfume
MG PB SPORT: British perfume
MG PB SPORT: British perfume
MG PB SPORT: British perfume
MG PB SPORT: British perfume

MG PB,  ONLY 526 EXAMPLES. THE FINDING
Called PB, only 526 examples were made. It goes without saying that very few have survived intact to this day. The specimen we show you in these pages is a rare, splendid example. 
«The credit for the discovery goes to my son, who like me is passionate about classic cars; – the lucky owner tells us, while a crowd of onlookers surrounds the Beauty – he glimpsed it under a cloth, in the industrial warehouse of a collector who has passed away. The children didn't have the same passion and so we came into possession of it. It was brought to Italy in 1973 by the previous owner and subjected to a quick restoration given that, as we could deduce from the documentation, it was perfectly intact as when it was built in 1936. 
We know little about its history, except that in the early period in England it was also used for sporting purposes, as the aero-screens and the water pump suggest. 
We subjected the car to a further, careful restoration to bring it back to its original conditions." The result is surprising, the PB has regained all its charm starting from the refined biscuit-coloured Connolly stitched leather interior to the briarwood instrument panel with the large central rev counter. The sensation and interest aroused among the people confirmed this.