1952 MG TD

We are delighted to be offering for sale a newly restored TD from 1952. The car left Abingdon and was dispatched to California where it spent most of its life.

It returned to the UK we believe around 2015 and was offered for sale by well known MG parts specialists Brown and Gammons in Baldock, Hertfordshire. The car was in need of full restoration and our seller Tim was looking for just such a car. A deal was soon done and the car soon residing in his garage.

Quite why anyone embarks on a full restoration of a classic car varies from person to person, but from what we can gather, Tim was looking for a challenge. It was undoubtedly a labour of love, a project not to be hurried, the process being an absolute pleasure, never a chore.

Where necessary new parts were sourced, the accompanying raft of invoices giving chapter and verse. Brown and Gammons were also one of the main parts suppliers.

The ground up restoration was finished in April 2020, and we think you will agree that the MG looks absolutely stunning. Worth all those late nights and long weekends.

Since then, Tim and his family have used the car sparingly, though perhaps even that is an understatement. They have covered just 50 miles, though to be fair there was a pandemic to contend with.

With so little use comes the realisation that perhaps it is time for someone else to enjoy this lovely car and that lucky person could be you.

When Tim started stripping the car, he discovered that it was originally red, though had been painted a different colour during its Californian life. The decision was quickly made to paint the car in the striking combination of Brooklands Green and Old English White, which we think suits this classic British motorcar quite perfectly.

Whilst the car was apart, the conversion to right-hand drive was carried out. Sensible and not that difficult to do, especially if you are purchasing new parts anyway.

A professional body shop was charged with carrying out the respray and what an excellent job they did. Since then, the car has been garaged and little used, so the finish is as good as the day the car left the paint booth.

If we are being really picky, we have spotted a small area of chipped cream paint on the door jam on the offside. Almost flawless then…

The multitude on chrome parts were dispatched to the aptly named Quality Chrome Ltd in Hull, who polished and chrome plated it all. Two bills for almost £2,000 were produced. Worth it we say.

A new fawn hood was of course fitted, together with side screens and a half tonneau cover.

Wheels were refurbished and 4 new branded tyres added. They are as new.

The tan leather of the upholstery contrasts nicely with the exterior. The coverings are of course new and look oh so smart. Door cards match as does the covering for the dashboard, though this mixes with a splash of wood for that lovely traditional look.

The dash houses a delightful array of gauges, with plenty of information available so you can keep an eye on the MG’s performance.

Carpets tone in beautifully. On the whole, the attention to detail is top notch and we suspect the interior quality is far improved from what would have been originally fitted to the TD when it rolled off the production line 70 years ago.

The driving position is rather splendid, the view out through the brand new windscreen rather lovely, and once the peppy 1250cc engine has burst into life, all aboard are set for a thrilling ride, especially if the roof and side screens are not in place.

We generally include plenty of photographs of a car’s underside in our picture gallery and that is most certainly the case here. Take your time and inspect closely and we have no doubt that you will be impressed by the finish. With such a low mileage covered since the restoration, there is scarcely a mark or spec of dirt anywhere.

New parts abound, from suspension components to the shiny new stainless steel exhaust and not forgetting the braking system.

As you would expect, the engine bay is an absolute delight to behold. It is rare that we see one in such nice condition. Pride of place goes to the engine, which has undergone a full rebuild. It starts

easily and seems to run well, though perhaps a little gentle running in may still be required. The TD is a light car, so it is easy to keep up with modern day traffic.

Little is known about the car’s life on the other side of the Atlantic, other than the fact that the car allegedly took part in the Seat of the Pants Rally in 1962. However, seeing as a comprehensive restoration has taken place, this need little concern us.

The most obvious change was the conversion to right hand drive, which makes the car far more usable on our ever-crowded roads.

If it needed replacing, it was done. That was our seller’s philosophy, the aim being to create the very best MG TD. We think he succeeded.

We suggest you take time to look through the extensive documentation in our photo gallery, as the parts spend was enormous. What price perfection?

We gather this is a matching numbers car, which is important.

We ought to mention that the engine was taken to a specialist, Dennis Vessey in North Lincolnshire and you will find their invoice in the sum of £3074.40 in the paperwork outlining the rebuild. A further £492 was spent with North Lincolnshire Engineering who also did part of the work, invoice available. A race cam was fitted for the US rally, however this has recently been updated with a new one.

We also understand that the gearbox was renovated at the same time.

The car has not been subjected to an MoT and this is something we would always recommend. It is not that we doubt the quality of the restoration, far from it, but more that it is a useful tool in establishing a car’s condition should an insurance claim ever be necessary.

We would also advise joining either the MG Owners Club or the MG Car Club as both can provide valuations.

A close inspection of this delightful MG TD (something we very much recommend) reveals a car restored to the very highest of standards. Our seller took his time and the results speak for themselves.

If you think this impressive and desirable British sports car is for you, then we would urge you to get bidding right away.

We estimate the car will sell for between £20,000 and £30,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, within government guidelines of course. The car is located at our Abingdon headquarters; we are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’