Long-time Barn Finds submitter Peter R. sent us this nicely driven but not abused 1948 MG TC. It’s located close for you New England readers in Medway, Massachusetts and is advertised here on craigslist. It’s a little lower priced than most TCs I see on the market, but there are some issues as well. Of course, the seller states that their price of $15,500 is subject to best offer, so who knows what they would actually accept. But there’s one small problem for me. More about that later.
What an iconic grille! You can see some paint issues here in the front, but there’s no corrosion that I can see. It’s been in the seller’s family since 1958, but was taken off the road in the mid-seventies and put into storage.
Yes, the hood/bonnet does come with the car in case you were wondering. Back in 2007, it sounds like the car was put back on the road with a pretty decent amount of work being done including new tires and brakes. The car now runs and drives but we’re not sure how well. Of course a quick call to the seller could resolve that question. And no, that’s not my problem.
The interior looks nice too, or at least what we can see of it. I’ve tried fitting my largish body into TCs and have discovered that I just don’t fit under the steering wheel. I suppose I could replace the wheel with a smaller one, but that would lose a lot of character. But that’s not my problem with this car either.
The rear of a TC is just perfect. But this one needs one change.
The cylinder head has recently been overhauled with new valve guides and stainless steel valves, and as stated before it runs and drives. It’s not that often you see an MG TC that’s a nice driver like this. I know it’s not a daily driver for practical reasons, but it sure would be fun on weekends. I’d almost like to have this one over one that is perfect–at least I could drive it anywhere I wanted to. Of course, it’s not red, so as any reader of The Red Car will tell you, a TC has to be red! So this one won’t work for me. Will it work for you?
I could suffer to be seen driving it, I *suppose*.
I automatically figured some variation of racing green was correct. Of course, I’m not all bling and flash like some……
Great car! I really never have deen drawn to the MG style of British cars but I must say, this paticular one is tempting me.
Are we to assume that, what looks to be detached parts in the engine compartment, are all sorted? Did the seller simply post these photos instead of ones that show it’s current state?
Neat car! Wonder how difficult it would be to drive a right hand drive on our roadways?
I’ve driven plenty of right-hookers on our roads, and once you adjust to using your left hand for shifting and looking to the left for the rearview mirror (the hardest part, at least for me), it’s not all that bad. Being in a small, open car is a definite “plus” for getting acclimatized, too.
Looks to me as if the next owner will have to do some sorting in the engine bay. Perhaps even an engine rebuild, but it’s a simple engine….
I want it. The price is too high for me, but if it was more reasonable, someone would already be posting “it’s sold” in the comments here.
Greetings All,
RayT, never have felt comfortable shifting with my left hand.
A Moss box doesn’t help.
Passing a car without a spotter from curbside vantage point sucks.
A Moss box means reverse and first next to each other and even as a kid with good dexterity, never “launched” the car from first without making sure I was not in reverse.
That being said 35 years after bringing the car home from the U.K., the Jag still sits in my garage.
My extended family has had the misfortune of being hit twice by right hand drive cars. Both were RHD hot compacts driven by impatient young fellows attempting to pass large farm vehicles on twisty two lane roads. Not having the advantage of being able to peer left to adequately see oncoming traffic, they guessed on the curves as to whether or not a car was approaching. They guessed wrong at least two times. As usual the few ruin it for the responsible drivers. Based on our unfortunate experiences, I either would like to see future imports of right hand drive vehicles banned, or an additional import levy, or insurance premiums set at a rate that discourages drivers with limited driving experience from insuring RHD cars. Unfortunately this would punish those who drive responsibly. This car is lovely however, even though the steering wheel is on the wrong side :)
Living in New Zealand the car would have been perfect for me. But it’s sold before I got this barn find message. BUGGER eh.
The Red Car is a great read, but I’ve seen so many T series in red that I can’t take it any more. BRG or Ivory for me.
Driving on the right hand side of the car is enough of a challenge….. for most TC’s and earlier MGs, you have to contend with a few inches of play in the steering as well. A Thompkins kit (which this one has) allows for some tightening up, but …… Ad doesn’t mention whether the car retains it’s original motor. As mentioned, the one in the car now needs some sorting. Battery box cover missing, not sure the original air cleaner set up comes with the car. Chrome, for the most part looks nice, except for maybe the interior grab handle. Probably could stand an entire repaint, see rust on the front apron and dings on the front fenders. Having said all of that, IMHO the asking price is probably close to what it’s worth, but it would be a keeper, not a flipper for profit.
My mom had one of these in fifties up in San Francisco. She told us the story of driving across the Golden Gate Bridge when the hood strap broke. She said the bonnet looked like a bird flying through the air as it went over the side of the bridge! Love that story.
The price was not bad, the car is a great toy, and not a museum piece, so you could use it in good conscience to go to the grocery store, or the beach, or out for ice cream on a summer evening with the top down. Top up, in the rain, plastic side windows, water seeping in, Lucas electrics shorting out, skinny 4.75 x 19 or so tires, not a lot of traction on wet pavement, but you won’t be going more than 45 mph anyway.