Over its near 100 year existence, MG has built some pretty special vehicles. While the MGA and MGB are probably the most recognizable of their products here in the States, it’s the T-type cars that really kicked things off for MG as a sports car manufacturer. The TA came to market in 1936, well before the American sports car craze of the late ’40s and ’50s, but with the T-type’s production running until 1955 they become very popular with those looking for affordable fun. Today, finding an early T-type is quite rare, but this seller is offering their 1936 TA and a pair of TCs that are still in the barn. You can find the trio here on Facebook in Wichita, Kansas with $20k asking price.
The TA is the car that really grabs my attention, although the TC is without a doubt the car that helped ignite America’s sports car craze. With 10,000 TCs having been built, they are rare, but not as rare as the TA. From 1936 to 1939, MG produced just 3,003 TAs, most of which were sold in their domestic market. Between the war effort and the fact that this car is 84 years old, it’s amazing that it’s still around. Even more impressive is that it retains its factory original engine! According to the seller, it was originally delivered to the Lancashire Constabulary to be used as a police car. There’s no word on how it made it from there to a barn in Wichita, but if I had to guess I would bet that a US serviceman stationed in Lancashire shipped these cars over prior to their return home. Hopefully, the seller can provide more information on their history though.
MG had close ties to Morris, so it really isn’t a surprise that they used a lot of Morris made parts. The engines were pulled directly from the Morris parts bin, although they received dual SU carbs for improved performance over the Morris that shared their engines with. The TA was powered by a 1292 cc engine with 50 horsepower and was paired to a 4-speed with synchromesh on the final two gears. The use of a consumer-friendly drivetrain, hydraulic brakes, and a very conventional leaf spring suspension made the TA easy to drive and bulletproof, which made it appealing to a much broader audience than the sports cars that came before it. The TCs continued with this simple formula but were improved with 12-volt electronics, a revised transmission, and the 1250 cc XPAG engine, which produced 54 hp.
If you’re looking for a simple and charming British roadster, you really can’t go wrong with any of the T-types, but the later cars are the most refined and easiest to restore/maintain. The TA is a special car though and I truly hope that this one finds its way to a good home with someone that will get it back on the road where it belongs. There aren’t enough of these around to just leave it in this barn to rust away. So, if you bought this trio, would you restore all three? Or would you move the TCs along to help pay for the TA’s restoration?
Joshua, 12 volt electronics? Anyway, I never thought much of these when I was younger, but I am really warming to them. What a find. I hope they all find a loving home. Three restorations please!
That first tc looks like a old statue in the park covered in pigeon poop
That is authentic patina. What more could you ask for.
Does it cost more with the birds crap all over the car? LOL
true……..
Ah, I have got to win the lottery ! I only have enough room for one !
It might be helpful to actually buy a ticket.
I owned 2 MG B s many years ago and they were as much fun as one could find on 4 wheels. These three would be equal to my MGB s but with less refinement. I hope all 3 are restored and returned to the highways!
Good luck with the restoration of these three fantastic cars!
My ’39 MG SA had a 12 v system, two 6 v batteries, one under each side of the back seat, in series. These are great cars to drive (albeit slowly by modern standards) but on a twisty rural road, on a nice day, just perfect.
Hey charlie, I seem to recall my brother’s MGB had a similar 12 volt battery setup. Memory of that car is kinda hazy so I can’t be sure.
sorry I meant MGA. See what I mean about hazy?
Close ties to Morris? MG stands for Morris Garages.
I have a restored TC. There is not a host of photos to make a good judgment as to the value for the three. Restored your looking at around $100,000 for the three but restorations could run around $25,000 each depending on what is required. Restoring the gauges and a leather interiors are going to cost $18,000 alone for the three. I would like to know who to contact though. I may be interested if they are complete and have titles.
In 1976 I bought a ’52 MGYA from an employee at the Tower of London.
I really wanted an early Jaguar but the similarity in profile ( if not in overall size)to a German staff car in WWII movies :), sold me. Extremely primitive bucket seats, crank out windshield, semaphores. Had it shipped to Baltimore and driven down to New Orleans where I then lived. Drove it for a couple of years and sold it to move to Cali.
I wonder if anyone knows here where the saloon YA and YB intersects with the TA/TC, drivetrain etc?
My ’39 SA did not intersect drivetrain wise, it had a 6 cylinder push rod engine, sourced from Wolseley, which was a popular police car of the English in the ’30’s, as well as being a somewhat ordinary middle class sedan.
My first car ever was a 1965 MG B bought brand new for $2531. If I remember correctly it also had two batteries behind the seats, but that is a fuzzy memory. Unfortunately I didn’t get to keep it very long – marriage, pregnant wife that couldn’t fit under the wheel. Ended up with a Dodge station wagon. Sad.
Question for the seller – if someone could alert them; I can’t – are they sold yet? I’d be interested in heaving them back across the wet sploshy bit to Scotland.
Bump…
…and again…
D.