Like any period sports or hobby car, MG TDs are often missing critical details that make them “complete” in the eyes of collectors. This 1950 example is unrestored, yet retains many details often lost simply due to the passage of time or at the hands of enthusiasts who didn’t know any better. This car, listed here on here on eBay with no reserve, comes with solid wheels that were produced for just two months out of the entire period of TD production.
It’s those sorts of details that make it a stand-out. In addition, the seller notes that the wood frame and floors are in sound condition, and that the suicide doors still open and close as intended. The wooden dash may look tired, but I think it’s surviving incredibly well, all things considered.
The seller admits to not doing much of anything with the car since he came into owning it, other than noting how many original details remained in place. Even features like the soft top are believed to be original: “The car is complete including side curtains, air filter assembly, roof bows, spare tire, all body parts, gauges, etc.”, per the seller.
The engine is unconfirmed as numbers matching. The seller says he believes the four-cylinder is a touch newer than what would have been considered matching, along with a few other details that aren’t specified but believed to come from later TDs. Finding a European-market TD with its RHD configuration in survivor condition is near impossible to repeat, especially with no reserve. Give this one a look if an original TD is on your list of cars to own someday.
Great looking cars, great color also. To bad the current bid is not the BIN. I’d be all in. I never wrenched on one, but with some forum and friends help I bet it could be running shortly. Not only the rare steel wheels but a Tic Toc Tach. It would be fun to run the rural roads around here. The RHD would be Ok also, as the only thing you would pass would be an Amish buggy. Best of luck to the new caretaker.
TD only came with steel wheels, anything else is not original. What happened to glove box?
They can be restored to perfection.
This is my partners uncle’s MG, the green one. He lives just outside London and I saw this car stowed away in his garage many years ago, in very used condition. Can’t imagine what this restoration cost but the car is stunning. He drives it all over Europe as part of an MG club.
Every thing is restorable. They are English made cars with wood added into the frame design. Fun project for the wright price.
Lot less heartache and money spent fixing up an old Doepke. No oil leaks, and I still have a garage bay I can actually use.
Not to be picky. but, the wheels do not look “right”. I realize that they are described as a rare thing.
My one and only brand new car that I ever bought with my money was a 53 TD. Same BRG. It had different wheels in a silver tone. I painted them black. I added a checkerboard in matching colors to the grill. Oh, mine was LHD and had a glove box on the passenger side. And bumpers front and rear!!! .No radio or heater. froze if I did not wear warm clothes… tons of fun. But, utterly lacking in grunt….
The dashboard would have been covered in vinyl or leather when new.
Not so Bill. The 53 TD had a wood dash. No vinyl. The wood dash is original.
You’re right – my ’53 TD had a wood dash – although it might not have been original. But this car is a ’50 model. No glove box = not original!
unique..
I am surprised that the current bid is already up to $6,600 considering there will no doubt be a surprise or two or three in the restoration effort. You can find very nice drivers for $15K – $18K and stunning TDs for $25K – $30K. Has the car world gone a little too crazy over this “unrestored” classification? A few photos of the underside would have been welcomed.
If you go to the eBay listing there are pictures underneath
1962, winter, 3 college guys, snowing, drove the 75 miles on I 91 from New Haven to Amherst MA in search of women. Dumb. Fire under dash, pulled out the burning wires, car kept running, met the women, no real interest on either side, drove back. Snow. Side curtains flapping. Top flapping. Once was enough. Lost reverse somehow, pulled transmission in parking lot in snow storm next day. laid it out in dorm room, ordered parts, put it back together, ran. Yes a full grown man will fit behind the seats, no seat belt, those were the days. We survived.
Hey charlie, sounds like an Animal House trip. Congrats Brother! Sorry you did not score. Glad you did survive.
There’s a double-irony in this listing. Jeff Lavery is wrong: no TD ever left Abingdon with wire wheels. All TDs had “solid” wheels. But NOT THESE wheels! No TD ever left the factory with these wheels either. So, the prospective buyer is not buying the car because of the wheels; he is buying the car in spite of the wheels.
Regarding “numbers matching”: I’ve never met an MG owner who gave two figs about “numbers matching”. “Heritage certificates” are available from the British Motor Industries Heritage Fund, which will reveal the correct engine number for the car. This is an XPAG engine which is correct for an MG TD. The prospective buyer should take it and run with it.
As mentioned above, the plywood dash panel is incorrect. A correct one would have a glove compartment. That makes for a number of dash parts to chase down. If I wanted another TD for myself, this could be a contender. If a guy wanted to restore it and flip it, no way!
I still can’t figure out what Jeff Lavery means in his reference to a European market RHD car. European market cars would all have been LHD, right? I presume this is an ordinary EXU North American market car.
In the 50s, Sweden was RHD. They made the well-announced switch to driving on the right overnight in the 60s.
Britcarguy – thanks for the correction. Come to think of it, I have seen accounts of that occasion. ‘ Bet it was interesting!
Jenn: Wrong, wood dash is not original, original dash was wood covered by Rexine with a glove box.
Allen: Also wrong about wheels, as stated early TD’s had solid steel wheels which were quickly changed to slotted wheels to cool the brakes.
Jim,
Thanks for the correction. But do you mean “slotted” wheels? In my feeble memory, they have round holes around the perimeter – not unlike MGA solid wheels.
Was this a good deal? Kind of looking for something like this. But no real knowledge of them. Looks like they would be great fun. Ended: Feb 24, 2019 , 8:00PM
Winning bid:US $6,900.00
[ 34 bids ]