Total MX-5 – July 2019

[ SPECIALISTS ]

Summer 2019 | TOTAL MX-5 |^69

and more cars, even those
carefully looked after, and
partly because the MX-5 is now
being recognised as a classic and
more people are taking the time
to restore them. Mainly we do
panels for mk1s and mk2s, but
we’re starting to take a closer
look at mk3s as their popularity
is growing. And body panels
generally is an area we will be
investigating more closely in the
very near future.’
When we ask whether DMG
stocks accessories and tuning
components, Kate interjects
with her trademark frankness.
‘We’re not smart enough for
that,’ she laughs. ‘The others
have been doing the modded
stuff for years and are very
good at it.
‘We don’t have the experience
in that area and it would be
foolhardy to start from scratch.
We prefer to stick with the
things that we’re good at: there

are plenty of those.’

And as if on cue, Paul

reappears with armfuls of

components relevant to the

MX-5 owner. ‘DMG specialises in

servicing items and

consumables,’ he enthuses, ‘and

we do an excellent line in

servicing kits, which we know

our customers really appreciate

• it saves them having to
  research all the little bits that
  they need and then find them in
  the catalogue.
  ‘Our range of high quality,
  good value hoods is also very
  popular, as are our coolant hose
  kits. Replacement headlights
  sell well, too, and we offer a
  first-class range of British
  produced age-appropriate
  engine and transmission oils.’
  As a special treat, Paul escorts
  us to DMG’s fabrication shop, a
  glorious living museum to the
  nearly extinct art of fashioning
  car components by hand. There

are old but magnificent presses

and lathes, metal blanks and

ancient tools, dies and cutters

and templates, the smell of hot

metal and oil in the air.

And Max Hanlon who is in

charge of this hard-working

tribute to craftsmanship, clearly

loves his job. ‘There aren’t many

places left in this country where

components are manufactured

in-house, and this is one of the

things that makes us special. It

means we can supply parts and

panels that nobody else in the

world can.’

Kate is understandably proud

of DMG’s workforce and seems

protective of them. ‘We’re

about to stop opening the

counter on a Saturday,’ she tells

us, ‘because I think everyone

should get a weekend. ‘But

nobody will lose out on their

hours as we’re increasing

opening hours during the week,

which the guys will work in

shifts. We don’t work Bank

Holidays and we shut all the

way from Christmas to New

Year so that everyone has a

decent break to be with family.’

In 2018 DMG was proclaimed

Employer of the Year at the

Midlands Family Business

Awards and was commended

for its approach to Social and

Corporate Responsibility. The

company also involves itself in a

great deal of charity work, and

in conjunction with Sandwell

council runs a well-supported

apprenticeship scheme.

That latter involvement may

impact in the future upon the

world of MX-5 enthusiasts –

whereas DMG’s existing staff

probably grew up with MGs,

today’s apprentices are more

likely to have been influenced

by the world’s best selling

sports car, which may

eventually help reshape DMG’s

offering from within...

Hoods are a big seller from DMG’s MX-5 catalogue Service kits are popular – this one’s a cam belt and water pump kit

Mk1 front wings are in strong demand these days DMG keeps body panels in stock for a wide variety of classic cars