For some folks, cars are like potato chips.  One is simply never enough.  In the background of the pictures of this MG, you can see that it is surrounded by an eclectic assembly of antique, classic, and performance cars.  This is the collection of a doctor who seems to have passed on.  Sadly, the doctor had many unfinished project cars and also had at least one finished car that doesn’t seem to have received much attention after its restoration.  If you want a very nice example of MG’s most popular full-fendered sports car, then this 1952 MG TD for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Lawton, Oklahoma is fresh out of nine years of storage and is being offered at a reasonable $12,000.  Would this be a car you would drive frequently?

The doctor’s estate going up for sale is just one example of what has come to be a passing of the torch from the older generation to the new regarding collectible automobiles.  It wasn’t very long ago that a full-fendered MG in great shape brought a lot more money than the $12,000 asking price on this car.  Even if you do not factor in inflation, you begin to see that the values of these cars have dropped like a rock.  Part of the problem is that the newer generations don’t tend to gravitate towards cars like this.  MG TDs are slow, cramped, and technological dinosaurs compared to the sports cars of today.  Where would you even put your phone?

If they would just slow down for a minute to see the opportunity placed before them, they might conclude that the MG TD delivers a completely different experience than that of a modern sports car.  Yet that different experience can bring as much joy to the person behind the wheel.  The whole idea of a sports car is to provide a spirited driving experience.  Most folks today don’t understand the pleasure of driving a slow car quickly.  With an MG TD, the driver can feel the wind in their hair, row through a proper manual transmission, touch leather, wood, and steel, and take a trip back in time to when life wasn’t hurried and needlessly complicated.  The TD provides an elemental experience that few today can comprehend.

If you want to find out what all of the fuss is about when it comes to MG TDs, then this restored and then seemingly forgotten car may be worth your consideration.  The seller states that the car was fully restored with several receipts to back up the claim.  By looking at the pictures, it is obvious that the shiny paint and very new-looking interior are not original from the factory.  If anything, it may be a bit of an amateur restoration.  The steering wheel is leather-wrapped, the seats and door panel are likely vinyl, and the paint doesn’t quite look to be a perfect match for British Racing Green.  Despite these issues, the car presents well and any restoration flaw is easily corrected.

We are told by the seller that the car does not currently run.  The engine does turn over, and the spark plugs seen in the picture above are a clue that someone got interested in making it run recently.  The seller advises the new owner to drain the gas tank before starting it.  The problem is that it may take cleaning out the fuel lines and rebuilding the carburetor as well to get this one going again.  As long as there is no damage to the engine, the car should fire right up once the problems are addressed.  These cars are very straightforward mechanically.

For fans of these cars, it is hard to see a solid MG TD being sold for such a low price.  While some may despair, there is reason to celebrate.  For probably less than the $12,000 asking price, you can add one of the most influential sports cars of all time to your collection.  It may be slow, its handling may be poor compared to a contemporary sports car, and it may take some coaching from a contortionist to get in.  The good news is that this TD will still make you smile when you drive it, just as it did for everyone who has owned it.  A good sports car will always do that.

Have you ever owned an MG of this vintage?  What was the driving and ownership experience like?  Are any of you sports car lovers considering adding an older MG to your collection?  Please share your thoughts in the comments.