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This 1953 MG TD Will Survive

1953-MG-TD-in-the-barn

The story of this 1953 MG TD is a classic “barn find” tale. It was discovered in an Iowa barn in 2006 where it had been parked since 1968. The owner had pulled it home from LA and then let their son drive it to college until the weather got bad. It ended up in the barn partially disassembled. There it sat for 38 years until it was purchased from the 87 year old widow of the owner. The next caretaker spent thousands of dollars and hours to restore it back to its former glory. They are ready for a new challenge though so it has been listed here on eBay.

loaded-up

We love original cars, but sometimes a full restoration really is the best way to preserve a car. Because of this enthusiast’s determination and skill, this MG will live on for generations to come. We have listed the photos below so you can see the whole process from the barn to the back roads…

body-removed

frame-painted

components-cleaned

after-restoration

interior-complete

Comments

  1. Avatar Dolphin Member

    Nice story, nice detailed listing. Glad it was painted back to the original white, an underrated colour that goes well on some cars, especially if they are roadsters with a red interior.

    The restorer-seller deserves a good auction result. I hope he gets it.

    Like 0
    • Avatar rapple

      Well put. This is a lovely restoration and while the seller will probably only earn about 12 cents an hour for the time put in, he has amassed a fortune of satisfaction in a job well done.
      I can see why he isn’t motivated to drive the TD as long as he has that nice Healy 100 parked outside his shop.

      Like 0
  2. Avatar sunbeamdon

    WOW! What a labour of love. An underappreciated car – it will be very difficult for the seller to get anywhere close to his restoration costs. The left-hand drive T series cars always have a warm spot in my heart, particularly the TF1500. The seller deserves a “well-done” from us and the MG community!

    Like 0
    • Avatar geomechs Member

      Somebody besides me likes the TF! I knew I wasn’t alone. It seems like everyone I talk to likes the TC/TD but the TF kind of gets left out.

      Like 0
    • Avatar Kman

      The TC is the funky old lady of the 3 T’s, (after the TA), but the TD is the bastard child. Absolutely the worst looking of them all and the TF is the best, most gracefully curved sweetheart of them all. You are definitely NOT alone, Don. I too am a fan. Kman.

      Like 0
  3. Avatar Kman

    Dolphin has the right of it. I have fallen in love with white sports cars with red interiors. My Mustang GT is white with black leather but if I keep it long enough and it “needs” a redo, I’ll go with red leather. Funny how all cars now come with a choice of two very bland interiors – beige or grey…. Yuck! If you choose leather you can have black. Back in the day cars came in a wild and exciting assortment of colours and there were so many options to choose from that it was hard to decide. It meant that there were many more combinations that were original too and that made each a little different and more personable than the rest. I also like tan leather or green with the right cars. White is lovely but had one once and the grime was hard to deal with. k

    Like 0
  4. Avatar jim

    seller also has a healey 3000 up for sale on ebay.

    Like 0
  5. Avatar Sunbeamdon

    Hey Kman – hold out for a TF 1500, if you can, maybe even a supercharged one! Let;s see, found any hen’s teath recently???.

    Like 0
  6. Avatar Chris A.

    I had a chance to buy a restoration project TF 1500 about 50% done. Packed up and decided “no” long before the offers topped $16,000. Sold for $16,500 and there was at least $15,000 of work still to go. What I would really like is a replica 1935 Squire X101 style Vanden Plas body on a MG TF or A chassis mounting taller wire wheels with an MG Twin Cam engine. Hens teeth sure are rare.

    Like 0

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