The Arnolt-MG

A somewhat obscure (then and now) early-1950s multi-national sporting car was the Arnolt-MG.   Information on "Wacky" Arnolt and his Chicago-based car company is here.  According to the link (as of November 2023):

"The Arnolt MG was designed by Giovanni Bertone, his son Nuccio, and Giovanni Michelotti.  Of a planned production of 200 cars, 103 have been documented as built between 1953 and 1954 (67 coupés and 36 convertibles)....  In 1954, MG informed Arnolt that it could no longer supply chassis and engines due to demand for its own complete cars (as well as the replacement of the TD by the TF), so Arnolt began looking for a larger-engined car."  That became the better-known and flashier Arnolt-Bristol that I wrote about here.

Arnolt-MG styling abaft of the front end was typical of classic 1953 vintage Italian coachbuilder design practice.  Frontal design has a slightly old-fashioned look due to the high, somewhat horizontal hoodline capped by a close variation of the MG grille.

In sum, the design is pleasant, yet not memorable (unlike the Arnold-Bristol's).

Gallery

1955 Arnolt-MG Coupe - Hyman Ltd photo
One of the later Arnolt-MGs, having been first registered in 1955. Note the traditional-looking frontal design.

1955 Arnolt-MG Coupe - Bonhams Auctions photos
The grille features a mesh pattern, unlike the vertical strips found on stock MG TDs.

1952 MG TD - car-for-sale photo
This is the configuration Bertone had to work from.

The driver's position seems about the same.  The hood is longer, as is front and (especially) rear overhang.  The fenderline is slightly below the beltline and has a small up-kick to define the rear fender zone.

From this viewpoint, Arnolt-MG styling is much like many other Italian coachbuilt coupes of the day.

1953 Arnolt-MG Cabriolet - RM Sotheby's Auctions photo
Now for some views of the convertible version.

1954 Arnolt-MG Cabriolet - Mecum Auctions photo

1953 Arnolt-MG Cabriolet - via RM Sotheby's