When I was a youngster, it seemed like the picture of the iconic sports car was almost always an MG TD. It didn’t matter where it was: children’s books, toy stores, artwork, and so on – if they wanted to capture the epitome of a sports model, the effigy of the MG TD is what you saw. These days, the general aging out of the car collector population and evolution to a younger audience has seen the shape of the classic sports coupe or convertible give way to other shapes, but it always does my nostalgic heart good to see a classic MG TD come up for sale. This example here on eBay retains its numbers-matching engine and transmission and was sold in the UK in the 70s to a service member before being shipped home.
Before leaving the UK, the owner at the time had the interior restored and it still looks surprisingly decent inside today. The MG was then shipped to New York before making its way down to Florida. It stayed in the northeast until 1976 and was seemingly used regularly during that time. After getting down to the Sunshine State, the MG went into storage. The storage arrangement consisted of a garage spot belonging to the owner’s daughter-in-law, so it stayed in the family the entire time. It’s still in Clearwater, FL at the moment, and the seller reports it hasn’t seen much use in 42 years.
Th interior presents well, especially for a vintage convertible that spent time in a sun-intensive state; I suppose the upside of it not being used much is that the cockpit isn’t heavily sun damaged and in need of its second restoration. The MG TF was loved by enthusiasts everywhere for its simplicity and eager nature, making it one of the first truly accessible sports cars for enthusiasts young and old. I can remember seeing one of these at every car show and 4th of July parade growing up; now, it seems like it’s been years since I’ve gazed upon one in the flesh.
Bidding seems low for a numbers-matching car with an engine that still turns over, sitting at just over $2,500 with no reserve. Like all things, as time passes, so do the collective interests of a major community like that of car enthusiasts. The MG TF spent years as one of the top bananas in the sports car world, written up and celebrated by owners and journalists alike. I suspect it will still deliver the same kind of enjoyment for the next owner who is able to bring this MG back to life, and whatever the price ends up being, the fun factor will likely outpace the overall investment for years to come – not to mention joining one of the most enthusiastic car cultures out there.
I do not know a lot about these, but this looks like a TF to me.
You’re right. Headlights, octagonal instruments, round taillights, etc. All TF.
The headlight for the TD were NOT flared into the front fenders…the TF had them that way.
Right! I have to say TF for sure. My favorite of the MG family. I had an MGB and it was fun for the short time I had it. Had a guy follow me home from the mountains and he asked how much I would sell it for. I told him to make me an offer. He did and I sold it. I went looking for another bike or a TF car. Other things came up and I didn’t do either one. Well, I bought a new truck instead. I don’t think another week passed and there was a TF in the paper. Never fails…
I wonder if this is an early TF with a TD data plate. Since it came from the UK it might have been a transition car. It would be interesting to see a photo of the data plate.
First TFs came to the states in late ’54 as ’54s. The larger engine came with the ’55s but don’t remember when they changed engine capacity.
No, it’s totally TF, with the b/w Guarantee plate (TD and earlier were nickel). The HDP chassis number proves that it was original ivory in color, as if you couldn’t see that where the original color was not masked, like the entire engine compartment! As a 54 it’s a 1250cc engine, not the more desirable 1500.
Nostalgia time- My folks said if I saved my money I could buy a car when I was 16- Mowed lawns, worked after school, sold off my bicycle, go kart and all my slot cars and had $400.00 burning a hole in my pocket at 16 along with a newly minted driver’s license thanks to their 56 International pickup. This was 1963. I then found a 53 MG TD- it was yellow with green leather interior and I thought I was gonna be Stirling Moss. My folks came and looked at it and then asked a German mechanic they knew for his opinion. He said a 16 year old in a 10 year old MG would be a mechanical disaster. So after some discussion and stomping and door slamming, my folks said a newer car was a better idea and they found a 62 MG Midget for 1200.00. They agreed to co-sign for the car loan if I would promise to make the payments and buy the insurance. The German mechanic also offered me a job helping out around his shop cleaning parts and cars, so I had income. There I was- a sophomore in High School with a year old MG. I joined a local sports car club and we had these things we called “tours”, but they were actually impromptu road races. Well the inevitable happened and I went off the road and hit a tree on the passenger door and quarter panel. The insurance company believed my story about swerving to avoid bigfoot and paid the car loan and gave me the wreck. I bought some junkyard parts and learned to do body work and soon I was back driving a now fully paid for MG. By my senior year I owned a Healey 100 and a Jag 120 FHC and never looked back.
I had sorta the same experience only with German cars. I had just gotten to my senior year and went with my father to his old buddy’s German body shop. When I saw the 356 coupe in the corner of the shop I knew that would be the car for me even if it was a little dented. After getting my father over to look at it I thought there might be a chance to be sitting in it sometime before I graduated high school. That was until Mr. Schultz told him that the 356 was a bad idea for a young lad. I was then directed to the 58 Volkswagen that I drove through my senior year.
Bought in the UK in a left-hand drive configuration??? Must have been a military PX-sponsored sale of some kind, and a really one-off to the Brits of that time – definitely a TF (the best-looking one IMHO). Worth a go if the bux to buy stay reasonable…
It is a TF, the plate states it’s a TF.
I used to work at a dealership that sold MG & Jags.
The sellers story does not add up.
Details of the ad and car are inconsistent,
There was No Army presence in IRAQ in the 70’s.
The first presence was in the early 90’s.
Interesting car, decent price, however it will need a lot of body and interior work. As well as most likely engine work.
What does IRAQ have to do with anything… The car was bought in the 70’s in the UK… As per the article…
I just like the looks of this car…. I’ll leave all the details to the experts…. lol
Owner states that the car does not run.
TF’s are a bear to work on compared to the TD. Hood sides are fixed. On the TD, they lift up with the rest of the hood. That said, it’s arguably better looking than the TD. Wonder if it’s a 1250 or 1500 engine. The 1500 had a reputation for throwing con-rods.
TF. I’d say 1955…
Two TD’s in my life. College roommate had one, this is 1962, most memorable trip on I 91 in CT in a snow/sleet storm, 3 of us in the car, yes, a full sized human can fit behind the seats if the top is up. Wiring fire under the dash on the way home, yanked out the wires, fire stopped as did headlights. Made it back. Then it lost one gear in transmission, took it out in snow storm in university parking lot, rebuilt it in dorm room. Roommate sold it shortly thereafter and got something more practical, but had driven it up to CT from Texas where he bought it.
Next one was a perfectly restored one, owned by a pilot, much better than it left the factory, so good, he did not dare to drive it, and it sat, like in a museum, in his garage for years.
Other one was an immactuately restored on
A friend is restoring a ‘54 TF. The TF was a stopgap car as the MGA was not quite ready, so MG slightly redesigned the TD (with headlamps integrated into the front wings, or fenders). The XPAG 1250 engine was carried over, with the ‘55 getting the 1500 XPEG engine. A caution with all T-series cars is the use of ash wood as the structural frame of body panels; floorboards were also wood as they were in the MGA. Replacing the wood frame components is a difficult and expensive undertaking, so one must check carefully for rot and infestation. However, I completely agree that the TF is the prettiest T-series; that and their scarcity relative to the TD have driven up values.
It seems to me that the TD hood stands taller above the front fenders. The TF hood is lower, actually about the same height as the fenders, giving it a lower profile, sleeker look. Am I right? Also, will a small block Chevy or Ford fit under the hood of one of these?
Buy one already restored – that way you’ll know exactly how much you have in it. (Unless you’re a mechanic/body man).
I think most car enthusiasts who learned to read in the 60s & 70s would have read The Red Car. That’s where it started for me.
The Red Car is where it started for me too…
Same. And I recently scored a new copy.
My first car was a ’51 TD back in 1965. Couldn’t afford a top so spent a cold winter with it in Virginia. Drove it across country in ’67 on my way to Vietnam. Stored it in California and drove it back across country to North Carolina when I returned. Wasn’t quite a trouble free trip either way but with the help of a manual I was able to diagnose and solve the problems that came about. That was the start of a 55 year love affair with T-Series cars including a TA, and a number of TC’s, TC’s, and TF’s.
Numbers matching engine on an MG ??? Seems like a stretch comment. Don’t ever remember seeing engine swaps or really on any oldy-time English lumps.
I contacted the seller to see if his title is for a TD or for this TF. I am mainly curious about whose name is on the title. I asked the Seller these questions.
No reply yet. “CLEAN TITLE” doesn’t mean it’s this “Seller’s title.” Some people buy a car and a “title” for a car, and even a “Bill of Sale” which entitles them to own whatever interest that seller has, and then resell it when realize they can’t get it licensed, because the seller wasn’t the owner. “MATCHING NUMBERS” may mean they match for the engine and chassis. But the real question there is whether the VIN ON THE TITLE matches the VIN on both the car and the engine. It’s ok if the car is being sold by someone whose name isn’t on anything, and if the VIN numbers match some other MGTD out there somewhere. I’m just trying to find out who the title owner is and whether the “clear title” with “matching numbers” applies to this MGTF. That’s why I contacted the seller. I’m sure he’ll clarify.
We still don’t know who owns it. Title may be “clear” but in the Seller’s name? Apparently not. And why would a TF be titled as a TD? Does the VIN on the car match the VIN on the Title? – or is it a “clear” Title for some other car?
Ended:
Mar 01, 2023 18:20:18 PST
Winning bid:
US $6,900.00
[ 31 bids ]
There was quite a lot of talk about this car from MG collectors like myself. It was really that title issue, which, if resolved would have easily doubled the sale price.