A continuation of the MG T-series of sports cars since the 1930s, the MG TD was significantly wider than the outgoing TC model. It used the platform of a large (for an MG) sedan model, brought over the engine of the outgoing TC, and introduced independent front suspension. Par for the course when designing cars that could be considered icons is that fans will dislike any change from the formula that works. This is why every Jeep and Porsche 911 looks identical to the one that came before it. The new TD design was intended to increase MG’s popularity in the United States, and it achieved that. Americans had generally positive views of the new sports car, and you can find this true barn find here on eBay.
It is indeed a true barn find, and the seller provides images of it being found in a barn for proof. The body looks decent, but everything is under a thick coat of barn dust. I’d just like to take a moment and appreciate how barn dust immediately makes cars more expensive. What isn’t covered in barn dust is the undercarriage, though, which looks spotless. The rails are straight and there is very little rust. Surprising, since it was stored in a barn since the eighties.
Under the bonnet, you’ll find the stock overhead valve inline-four engine powering the rear wheels through a four-speed gearbox. The seller says the engine is stuck due to the fact the car’s been sitting so long, which makes sense. Any barn find will need a little love, some more than others. All the love this car needs looks to be in the engine after giving it a good once-over car wash. Heck if you wanted to do a swap, I hear the Miata four-bangers are still relatively cheap.
Inside, they provide many pictures, and it looks relatively complete. You’re missing a glovebox cover and some windows, but other than that, everything looks to be there. Having said that, the inside will need some touching up. The seller states that it will need to be redone, but I don’t know. If it were me buying this car, I’d clean it out a bit and leave good enough alone. Nothing beats the experience of originality, and that’s something this car has in spades. Original, unrestored is the best thing for a classic car to be, and once you get this running again, it will have that unique curb appeal that can’t be matched by something ready for a Concours d’Elegance.
My inbox has lit up. No this is not my TD. Being from Ohio and not having washed my red TD since 1976 it does look somewhat like it. Drive them and enjoy. You can polish them later.
Sadly TD’s are not recieving enough love to justify resurrecting them. Prices I see them selling for do not nearly justify any restoration that must be subbed out to a shop. DIY or go buy the ones selling for 25% of the cost to fix em up! Fun little hobby car for entry level player not worried about the so called’investment’!
I’ll take It for that price, delivered. Not an easy find here in the North East.
A squirt of light oil in each cyl daily. After a month wiggle or jack the crank over with a wrench a little each day and it could fire right up in another month while you restore things..
I’ve done some midget engines that way over the years.
Time to once again traipse down memory lane. Think back to the early 1950’s, to the junior high library book “The Red Car”. The teenage kid found a trashed MGTC in Frenchy’s garage and restored it. This is what probably hooked many of us on barn finds.
You better believe it. “The Red Car” – epic.
They call those “Side Curtains” They didn’t deal with windows
The real use would be to leave it as is, some Marvel Mystery oil down the holes, and vintage race it. Raced one at Watkins Glen back in the day-god it was slow-get in, floor it and never let up. Fun
Robert… We autocrossed our ’53 a few times and had to bungy cord the doors shut to keep them closed. Been road racing for a lot of years but never had the gumption to put the TD on a race track. Still, this car notwithstanding, these are neat cars and our was a lot of fun.
I have an friend in N.E. Texas who has a wrecking yard. Inside a barn he has a few rare and vintage cars, one of which is a MGTD I think of 52 model. It was restored by his father before he passed away. Ofcourse all Tony’s cars are for sale but he knows their value and won’t let them go cheap.
God bless America
In my opinion everyone should hold out for FULL value when selling any special interest car. If the value of these doesn’t increase proportionally to costs of preservation no one will be able to justify redoing or even just resurrecting them. Then….they will be GONE! So stop predatory flipping!
Ended: Jul 01, 2021 , 9:23AM
Current bid:US $5,500.00
[ 22 bids ]
reserve no met
Item location:Cleveland, Ohio