[2] By offering a car with excellent road manners and an entertaining driving experience at a low price (the new MG cost less than double the cheapest version of the Morris Minor on which it was based) despite relatively low overall performance the M-type set the template for many of the MG products that were to follow, as well as many of the other famous British sports cars of the 20th century.

This 2-door sports car used an updated version of the four-cylinder bevel-gear driven overhead camshaft engine used in the 1928 Morris Minor and Wolseley 10 with a single SU carburettor giving 20 bhp (15 kW) at 4000 rpm.

The chassis was based on the one used in the 1928 Morris Minor with lowered suspension[2] using half-elliptic springs and Hartford friction disk shock absorbers with rigid front and rear axles and bolt on wire wheels.

Engine output was increased to 27 bhp (20 kW) by improving the camshaft and a four-speed gearbox was offered as an option.

Most cars had bodies made by Carbodies of Coventry and fitted by MG in either open two-seat or closed two-door "Sportsmans" coupé versions, but some chassis were supplied to external coachbuilders such as Jarvis.