Total MX-5 – July 2019

[ SPECIALISTS ]

68 | TOTAL MX-5 |^ Summer 2019

For a while we ran the MX-5
side of things as a separate
company, but it was yet another
set of paperwork and
administration, so ultimately we
brought it back inside the
Abingdon MG fold.’
Today all the classic car
brands sit beneath the David
Manners Group umbrella, and a
team of about 60 people
source, sell, pack and post
hundreds of parts a day from
the Oldbury headquarters.
Though perhaps not the most
glamorous of buildings – its age
accentuated by the nearby
plethora of new retail park and
hotel developments – DMG HQ
is a Mecca for car restorers,
both private individuals and
trades folk alike.
We arrive there at 10.30 on a
very wet and miserable Friday
morning and the car park is
rammed. On a previous visit the
reception area was several deep
at the sales counter, while
behind it a team of at least half
a dozen were on the phones,
the room humming with the

sound of their chatter. Without

doubt it’s a very busy place.

‘Although we primarily sell to

wholesalers, we also receive

plenty of walk-in trade,’ reveals

Paul Grainger, a sales specialist

whose remit includes the MX-5.

‘Local garages and enthusiasts

who are fixing up classic cars

will often order things on the

phone or via the website and

then pop in to collect it rather

than have us ship it to them. In

fact, we’ve just extended our

summer opening hours to run

from 7.30am to 6.30pm to allow

them to pick stuff up on their

way into work or when they’re

heading home again.

‘We also have customers

who’ll make a special diversion

to visit us – one couple travel

over from Ireland in their

camper van to visit family and

collect parts for their classic car

along the way.’

Paul has owned three MX-5s

in the past and although is

bereft at the moment, he

retains a passionate and

intimate knowledge of the car.

In fact, DMG’s decision to get

into MX-5 parts is the reason

that Paul is still with the

company – he’d been on the

brink of moving on to pastures

new when David and Kate

approached him with an offer

to make this new side of their

business his own. And it’s Paul

who leads us on a brief tour of

DMG’s treasure trove of a

warehouse.

‘Not all the MX-5 parts are in

the same place,’ Paul explains as

we weave between tall towers

of boxes and shelves stacked

with trays containing myriad

components catering to all

aspects of classic car

restoration. ‘But I do know

where they all are!’

As we pass rows of generic

boxes Paul glances at the code

numbers and is able to identify

which bits will fit an MX-5, but

it’s not until we arrive at a tidy

stack of mk1 front wings that

we’re able to do the same.

‘Body panels are an important

part of our MX-5 offering these

days,’ Paul reveals, ‘partly

because rust is claiming more

DMG’s fabrication shop is home to the type of classic machinery and tools that make it possible to keep producing yesteryear’s car parts

Paul Grainger: DMG’s MX-5 man

Classic car parts as art There’s variety on every shelf