MG TD (1953)

First registered in July 1953 to a Mr G E Stringer of Cleeve Hill, Gloucestershire this MG TD cost its new owner £825; which included purchase tax of £295. It is unlikely that Mr Stringer realised that production of the TD would cease just one month later. This is an original, home market right hand drive TD, (only 1656 built), with matching numbers. Chassis No. 29228, Original engine number XPAG/TD2/29663, Build date 09 July 1953 making this car one of the last to be produced.

The forerunner to our TD the MG TC is quite accurately described as the (specific) car that caused the Sport Car "craze" in America. The TC was quite similar to the pre-war TB, sharing the same 1,250 cc pushrod-OHV engine with a slightly higher compression ratio of 7.4:1 giving 54.5 bhp at 5200 rpm. The TD Midget announced in January 1950 combined the TC's drive-train, a modified hypoid-geared rear axle, the MG Y-type chassis, a familiar T-type style body and independent suspension on front axle using coil springs from the MG Y-type saloon. A 1950 road-test report described the suspension modification as "most striking" providing the resulting "transformation ... in the comfort of riding". Also lifted from the company's successful 1¼-litre saloon was the (still highly geared) rack and pinion steering. In addition, the TD featured smaller 15-inch disc type road wheels. The car was also 5 inches wider with a track of 50 inches.

This lovely example has one of the most comprehensive dossiers of its life we have ever seen. This includes a full ownership chronology, photographic records of its restoration plus two magazine articles from 2009/2010 where the car was featured in use in the Canaries. The larger of these two articles included quite a grueling road test with some lengthy climbs and there was more than a degree of surprise, from the author of the article, that this robust little car performed very well indeed.

We understand from the last owners that the car is driven at least weekly to keep it in a good running condition. The oil pressure is 60 psi on start-up dropping to about 40 once fully warmed. The engine has been modified to accept unleaded fuel. Recently 4 new tyres were added (with less than 500 miles on them). The car in as original condition as possible; there have been a few changes made such as a MGB plastic fan for better cooling, halogen headlamps, etc. but all original parts have been kept so that the car can be converted back at the next owner's discretion

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