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Dennis Foden of ERF Ltd bought DTU 999 for his wife in 1937 and itwas first registered in Cheshire as a four-door saloon.

In 1946, presumably after little mileage in wartime years, the car passed to Edinburgh ERF dealers, J Bowens & Sons and in 1947was bought for 700 by Edward Burness, Managing Director of theLondon & Edinburgh Shipping Co. and Commissioner for LeithDocks.In 1948, Burness decided to have DTU 999 re-bodied as a dropheadcoupe at the MG factory at Abingdon, shipping her via the SSBelravock and London Docks, while sending his chauffeur by rail toLondon to pick her up and drive to Abingdon.

The Salmons coachwork fitted, (Body No.236/5495), is believed to

have been from a small supply stock-piled by the Salmons family intheir Norfolk holiday home boathouse when war broke out. Burnesssdetailed specification provided for twin side-mounted spare wheels,Lucas spotlights, fuel fillers, Lucas Windtone trumpet horns, golf clubbrackets, SA style seats and a special dashboard and tool box.

The work at Abingdon took two years to complete to Burnesssdetailed specification, the 14 page factory invoice amounting to athen massive 1,230, and the car finally left Abingdon in 1950, some

eleven years after the close of normal production - surely this is thevery last VA.

Some 40,000 or so miles later, many of them chauffeur driven, (DTU999 was used mainly for holidays on Royal Deeside and weekend

jaunts), Burness sold the car in 1963 at which point it was laid-up.

Rescued from a barn by MG enthusiast and author of the MG VAInformation File book, Bill Gardner, restoration commenced in 1986,the car being meticulously restored to the condition and specificationthat it left the factory in 1950.

A complete engine rebuild was carried out, the body frame andcoachwork restored and re-liveried in black with contrasting redRudge Whitworth wire wheels, which were respoked, and allchromium items replated. The hood was replaced by Aston Martins

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senior trimmer at Newport Pagnell, the previous home of Salmons &Co.Since 1995 DTU 999 has covered less than 5,000 miles, winningawards at numerous rallies and concours delegance in Scotland andat Silverstone. The car still sports its original AA, RSAC and SSCCbadges.DTU 999 retains its excellent original red leather upholstery and wasfitted with new carpets in 2004.The only known minor faults include the petrol gauge/sender and revcounter which require overhauling.This exceptional and historic MG, presented in the most versatilethree-position coachwork configuration, is offered with a current MoT,all relevant registration documents, together with an outstandingportfolio including 300 or so pages of bills, factory correspondence,

including the original sales invoice, and with service history from 1950and many restoration bills since.