British Motor Car Distributors, Ltd.
In 1947, Kjell Qvale began importing MG sportscars into the US. His British Motor Car Distributors quickly became this country's largest distributor of British cars. Qvale was instrumental in establishing the Sports Car Club of America on the West Coast, and aided in the design of Laguna Seca Raceway. According to Denise McCluggage, it was Qvale who pointed the way for the course to wind down among the oak trees in the famous "corkscrew."
The British Motors competition department was formed in 1960 and headed by Joe Huffaker. They produced Formula Jr racecars, brought out the rear engined Genie sports racer, and went all the way to Indianapolis fielding cars designed by Huffaker in the 1963-1965 Indianapolis 500s.
Morris, MG, Austin Healey, Triumph, Jaguar, Lotus, Bentley, Rolls Royce, and Jensen were a few of the British Marques supported By BMCD. It wasn't all British though, in 1953 Qvale brought the VW Beetle to the West Coast when he established Riviera Motors. Riviera went on to move over 425,000 Volkswagens. He later added Porsche and Audi to the fold. In 1968 he began importing a certain car from Italy, the De Tomaso Mangusta. Later they expanded to Maserati.
For years I'd thought MGTC #3844 was imported by British Motors and sold as a new 1948 model, but have learned that it was most likely delivered to International Motors Inc. in Los Angeles.
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