Influential MGB designer Don Hayter dies at 94
Don Hayter, MG's last Chief Engineer, died Friday, October 9, reports the MG Car Club. Hayter played a major role in the design of the MGB, a highly influential and innovative roadster that went on to become the best-selling MG sports car of all time.
Hayter came to MG from Aston Martin in 1956, at which point he was named the company's Chief Body Draughtsman. There, he worked on the MGA Twin Cam, but soon started working on the MGB.
He was later appointed Chief Engineer of MG in 1973, where he stayed until MG's Abingdon facility was closed in 1980.
The MGB was a state-of-the-art design for 1962, when it debuted. It was a unibody car as opposed to body-on-frame, and it was one of the first cars to feature crumple zones that would protect the passenger compartment in collisions under 30 mph.
Hayter was responsible for turning the MGB from a prototype into a buildable car, finalizing the windshield, hood and dashboard designs. The MGB had a long life, remaining in production from 1962 to 1980.
At: https://www.thedrive.com/news/36993/influential-mgb-designer-don-hayter-dies-at-68
British auto engineer Don Hayter, with his 1979 MGB Tourer.
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