Here’s a twist, usually when a review is written, it is up to the author to objectively identify a car’s strengths and weaknesses. This becomes a real task when images are stilted and minimal, and any descriptive text is non-existent. In the case of this 1949 MG-TC, there are pretty good images included, no written description but there is an accompanying inspection report which is fairly detailed. Let’s see if the visuals match the report. This MG is located in New London, Wisconsin and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $8,200, sixteen bids tendered so far.
The MG T series was a long-running model for MG, being produced from 1936 until 1955. Starting with the TA, moving to the TB, progressing to the TC (1945-1950 such as this example), moving on to the TD, and concluding with the TF. Total TC production was about 10K copies. Though the TC saw heavy export volume to the U.S., only right-hand-drive variations were built.
According to the inspection report, the body is in poor condition, with noticeable paint peel and missing mirrors. Not mentioned is the hole in the folding top. I’m not sure how the inspection company developed their ratings, the body condition doesn’t look poor to my eyes unless there are some rot and degradation that isn’t pictorially noticeable. The underside has some heavy scale and grease, but it doesn’t appear to have lost its integrity and the wooden floorboards would seem to be more recent than original. Yes, the paint is not great but it’s not terrible either.
Mechanically speaking, this TC takes a bit of a hit as its 54HP, 1.25 liter, four-cylinder engine is denoted as a non-runner. But there’s more, the fuel system is marked as a “problem”, as is the cooling system. The woes continue with a four-speed manual transmission that “does not engage”, illegal brakes and an illegal suspension that is in need of bushings, illegal tires, an inoperable electrical system, a weak battery, and an inoperable gauge cluster. It would be good to know if the engine at least turns over but no reference is provided.
Inside, the seats are listed as poor with temp and volt gauges that are inoperable but that may be due to the non-running engine status. The horn, headlights, brake lights, and turn signals are all inoperable but that could be the result of the weak battery too. The instrument panel and gauges actually present pretty well but the steering wheel has seen better days. Of note is the installed rollbar. Back to the seats, which don’t appear to be original with their integrated headrests, they actually look OK, so I’m not certain, again, how the rating criteria works.
The MG-TC seems pretty original, except maybe for the noted seats, and its issues aren’t that unusual for a car closing in on almost three-quarters of a century of existence. The report is a bit damning, but maybe it’s more that it’s just the typical problems found considering the subject and its circumstances. I thought of using a car inspection service once to check out a west coast ride that I was eyeing, I ultimately decided against it. But I would be curious to know if any of our readers have employed such a firm and how accurate and thorough the results were; can anyone comment?
Only bought two cars sight unseen and they were new through a dealer. Not a lot to say about this car except the present bid is well above what I would pay for a car that needs everything. One thing I didn’t see in the reports was any history of the car being used for club racing after seeing the rear roll bar in it. A lot of them were… put the top down, drop the windshield, put a number on the doors and have at it.
I know nothing about these MGs (except that those sure are skinny tires) but with only 30 hours left in the auction, I would think this would be a good deal. How many of these true ‘sports cars’ could be left?
As I have been an MG fan and owner over many, many years, I can honestly say that this a a sweetheart of a deal if it stays below $15,000. If I didn’t currently have 3 cars and a motorcycle, I’d be bidding on it now. These cars are super simple to work on, parts, thru Moss Motors and others, are readily available and don’t carry Jaguar prices to buy.
Someone is in line for a treat!
Best I can tell, it’s a Right-Hand-drive car, unlike claimed. How odd to have installed modern seats. Looks like a good one to start a full re-build. I have a TB, looks very much like this.
Wrong year and model
Love to see an honest inspection report. I wish they could go with something more than a box to check but still, I’ve seen cars like this advertised as ‘mint barn find, only needs gas and a battery’. I would like to see this on every old car.
How do u have fun with 54hp?
Barrie Weston,
You would be amazed at how much fun these cars are.Relics of the 1920’s that staggered into the 1950’s.Poor quality engine materials with uncommon levels of wear and oil of doubtful value advertised as the best thing since sliced bread.
As a MG owner of various models over nearly 60 years including TCs this in myopinion will be a money pit. The biggest nightmare/cost is the timber “tub” which based on the cars condition as seen will undoubtedly need attention. That alone bought completely skinned by probably the best (Hutsons in the UK) will set to back getting on for $8000.
Unfortunately, modern condition reports are useless with an old MG. 85% of the problems are because it does not run and there is no working battery, so little can be tested; the body is called “poor” because of the flaking paint, with no mention of the wood condition, which is the TRUE indicator of a poor body. This is a typical $8-10k TC right now, no more (I have sold 2 in the last few months below $12,5k); the amount of dirt and grease on the underside suggest years of neglect, so I suspect pretty much everything will need attention. I doubt the trans is frozen; all the lines and hoses need replacing, but they are easy – the inappropriate report makes the car look worse than it is. All parts one would need are are available from Abingdon Spares in CT, or From the Frame Up in Mesa, AZ.
Perspective. I have a Messerschmitt with 9.7 hp. Plus those skinny little tires wouldn’t take much more.
hay i have a 1958 Messerschmitt too
Well Patrick, quit looking at MG’s. Way too much power for you
After WW2, these were the bee’s knees to American GI’s, my dad being one of them. He and my mom would drive up to Watkins Glen in the late forties and watch MGTCs. They took their honeymoon to Myrtle Beach in a borrowed MGTC, but did not have a chance to own one until the early 1960s when my dad finally bought one, white just like this one. The chassis on these cars flex a good deal. I recall my dad and uncle driving with little me in the space behind the seats and went over the railroad tracks. My uncle was leaning on his door and it opened going over the tracks and he fell out!
The doors on my MG would open going around basic turns on city streets. Latches on drivers’ doors being the first to be tweaked after years of prior owner’s poor maintenance.
What a fantastic place to start with all that oil and grease on the bottom of the car keeping rust away. I know that it will be time consuming but worth it YES.
I’ve used an inspector for a PPI on an Avanti I was considering. I had to educate him as to the “hog troughs” as he was unaware of the issues there. Otherwise, he took excellent pics and did a complete report on the whole car, correcting a few sketchy descriptions by the selling dealer and providing very good information. Cost me $100. which I consider a bargain.
I think in some cases you might have to be VERY specific about issues you want addressed so the inspector doesn’t overlook them.
I also think checking off a box rather than describing problems or
concerns in detail is not enough. The inspection sheet here appears incomplete.
Hope this guy didn’t pay too much for what looks like a less than a thorough inspection.
Wizzy:
Thx, appreciate you sharing your experience.
JO
I admit to being an MG enthusiast and I did own a TC at one time. The current price on this one seems about right as they are not too expensive to restore. Unfortunately, they will never be really valuable and they are cramped if you are six foot or over.
Owned a TD Mk2, ZB Magnette, a 65 B and two 69 MGCs. If you show me a washer from an MG, I’ll tell you where it goes and which end is up. I’d take this restoration on in a heartbeat.
Ended:Feb 22, 2021 , 8:01PM
Winning bid:
US $12,221.21
[ 35 bids ]