The TD (aka Midget) was one of several 2-seat open sports cars built by MG between 1936 and 1955. TDs were produced from 1950 to 1953 with at least two-thirds of them exported to the United States. This 1953 example has been garaged since the death of its owner a few years ago and was running at the time. It will need some mechanical coaxing but the body, paint, and interior are in good condition. Located in Newport, Oregon, this product of English engineering is available here on craigslist for $13,000 OBO. Gunter Kramer comes through once again with another great tip!
For manufacturing the TD, MG borrowed from the existing parts bin for other company products. This included the engine from the MG TC and the chassis and suspension from the MG-Y. But the 4-speed manual transmission was developed specifically for the TD. Because the export market was huge for these cars, most left the factory with left-hand-drive but they could be ordered with steering on the other side (like the seller’s car).
With a 1250-cc inline-4 motor with 50-ish horsepower, the TD could be wound up to about 77 mph. But that potency had a drain on fuel consumption which was a meager 22-23 mpg if you dogged it. Rare in those days, especially in the U.S., was that the little cars used a 12-volt electrical system when 6-volt was the norm. Total TD assembles totaled around 30,000 with just 1,700 staying on the home turf.
As the story goes, this TD was purchased by a U.S. serviceman who was stationed in the UK. That would explain why this car has the rare RHD. The soldier had the car shipped to the U.S. and it may have stayed in the Pacific Northwest as the seller acquired the car from an auction house in Oregon after the owner passed away. We’re told it’s very much an original automobile that was drivable as recently as four years ago. Besides a soft top, it will come with an assortment of spare parts and reading material. The seller is willing to deliver the car up to 75 miles. Sorry about the dark, low-resolution photos the seller provided.
Have driven left hand drive cars in left lane countries and right hand drive cars in right lane countries and didn’t like either one. If I was going to jump on this car I’d start by getting the price down to at least 10K and then convert the steering to left hand driver. They are set up to go either way but you do have to get a left drive steering rack to make the change.
I am in USA – All my fun cars are RHD and just bought a JDM RHD Toyota for a daily driver. RHD should present no problem in USA just as the LHD Mercedes I drove across Australia was no problem. Just remember, stop when the light is red, go on green and you should have no problem.
Newport, Or- my first SCCA race in my Healey 100-6- finished second in E-Production behind Denny Pillar’s Alfa. We raced on the airport thanks to Gen. Curtis LeMay. The next race at Newport I was up against the Kas Kastner prepared Triumph GT6 driven by Carl Swanson. Going down the long back straight we were neck and neck and I didn’t have the sense to back off and broke the crank on the Healey. I had all the Joe Huffaker mods with domed pistons and semi hemi head, and the Healey would rev as high as you wanted. Newport was a favorite because it was a fun party town.
Joe built the first Bugeye race car I’ve ever owned in ’66 in San Francisco. Bought it in ’89 in Oklahoma. Should have seen the work he did on the cylinder head. Pure art and power.