1939 MG TA Tickford

This 1939 TA Tickford is a factory right-hand-drive vehicle. Exported to Italy when new before being brought back to the UK in 1980, it was then registered here on the 24th of September 1981 and has been in storage ever since.

It is being sold as a partly completed project with all of the original major components, many of which have been refurbished. Said to be “largely an assembly project”, all the panels are also said to be “in excellent condition”.

The body panels and main tub are in great condition, which is what you’d expect given they have been stored in a warm and dry loft above a workshop for 40 years.

The seller bought the car from a friend a couple of years ago and has made a start on reassembling it but he admits it’s a bit too much of a project at his age, so he’s offering it to someone who’s got “a bit more energy!”

The car lived in Italy until 1980, at which point it was driven here, registered with the DVLA, and then disassembled. The chap he bought it from was a journeyman car restorer and he made a start on it, as you can see.

The sunny life it had led reveals itself by way of very good panels. Despite the initial flurry of work, some remedial work is still needed here and there, like the dent you can see on the offside front wing. There is also some light surface corrosion, as you can see.

However, the need for this work is more than offset by the fact the panels aren’t holed and scabbed by corrosion and most are already primed.

You’ll also have the satisfaction of knowing the work has been done to your standard rather than worrying it’s had a quick blow-over to turn a quick profit.

The spoked wheels will need restoring and, of course, the tyres will need replacing as they are perished with age.

The folding fabric roof is in poor condition.

We are told that everything is there with the exception of one of the ‘S’ pram hinges for the roof.

The interior is said to be complete too but it, like the bodywork, will need restoring or refurbishing depending on your attitude towards patina.

The instruments look decent and while the seats and carpets are probably too far gone to be saved, they would be ideal to use as patterns.

Sadly, the sunlight and heat of Italy, while being good for metal panels, is less kind to fabrics.

The engine is said to be free and turns over easily but it hasn’t been running for decades, and disassembly and thorough checking-over would be recommended.

The same is said to be true of the gearbox, but we are told that many of the other mechanical components have already been done and will just need checking over before being refitted.

The chassis is solid and painted, and the seller has made a start on reassembling it.

The MG comes with a number of spares, including carburettors.

Please take a look at the video for the listing – and admire the skill of our tame videographer in being able to shoot a chassis and a box of bits and make it last for 3 minutes and 34 seconds!

The owner tells us that he has correspondence from the MG club to confirm it is a genuine Tickford.

The registration is still on the DVLA database, and the recent Vehicle History Check is clean.

This is an exciting opportunity for the MG or pre-war enthusiast to get their hands on a genuine Tickford for a whole lot less than they would otherwise have to pay – and the satisfaction of being able to build their car from the ground up comes free!

As for its value, we think this MG TA Tickford will sell for somewhere between £15,000 and £20,000 but it is being sold with no reserve, so will sell from the very first bid.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Wallingford, United Kingdom. To arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.