1950 MG TD

Road-registered here in the UK - its British number plates are supplied with the vehicle and just need fitting - this lovely left-hand-drive MG TD is a very strong and useable ex-American car that benefits from a recent comprehensive retrim of its interior. Believed to have spent the majority of its life in the United States of America, it is a straight, honest example whose previous MG Owners’ Club member owned it for more than twenty years.

In need of a small amount of TLC, we can see it going to someone who wants an easy recommissioning project, or someone for whom a patinated appearance is an attribute thanks to the freedom it endows to enjoy the car to its fullest without any fear that they’re damaging its value due to the inevitable wear and tear that comes with enthusiastic use.

Three of the four wings are slightly rubbed and dented, and the entire car’s bodywork could do with some love and attention as the paint is old and has a number of stonechips. But as the photos show, there is a lot of promise, and no need to do all this immediately.

That’s the bad news. The good is that the rest of the panels are all in good shape and the car’s structure appears extremely solid. In particular, the suicide doors fit very well, something we think is a good indicator of the car’s underlying health and the care it has received over the years.

The paintwork might need a decent machine polish but what is there is in fine fettle and has been laid on nice and thick, which should make the whole process a breeze. The plain white finish would make localized repairs very straightforward and there certainly isn’t any need to repaint the entire car.

The red beading in between the body panels has been recently replaced (please see attached invoice) and so is still in new condition and looking fabulous.

The painted red steel wheels are in good order and boast both chromed wheel trims and hubcaps. The Classic all-season tyres, which are, of course, matching, are recent, in good shape and have plenty of tread. The spare wheel is in good condition but the tyre is starting to perish with age and so will need replacing eventually.

The chromework needs a polish but it isn’t dented or otherwise damaged and from what we can see it needs only the liberal application of some Autosol and elbow grease rather than the expenditure of vast sums of money in sourcing replacements.

The red folding fabric roof has just been replaced, and while no hood of this era could ever be said to seal tightly (much less be fully water-proof) it’s as good as any we’ve seen and far better than most.

The underside is really solid and doesn’t appear to need any work.

Recently retrimmed, the MG TD’s interior is utterly fabulous and as good as you’d expect given the size of the bill the owner has just paid. The dashboard has been covered to match the red leather seats, which in turn are picked out by the red beading on the car’s bodywork. It’s neat and clean and pitched perfectly.

The seats are obviously firm and supportive having been so recently rebuilt and retrimmed. They look amazing, as do the door cards and carpets.

The steering wheel has been wrapped but still wears a mild patina on its central hub, which we think beautifully offsets the car’s new leather and other interior trim.

Enthusiasts will have spotted that some of the instruments are not original but it does have a heater, which makes the MG much more usable in the winter months!

In fact, given the all-season tyres that are fitted to it, we can't help thinking that a brave owner could use this MG TD as the UK’s most interesting year-round commuting car; an Irvin sheepskin flying jacket would finish the ensemble off perfectly and ensure the driver is warm in even the foulest weather. Just a thought, eh?

The car starts and runs very well, but we haven’t had the opportunity to take it on an extended test-drive and so would suggest that potential bidders come and examine the car for themselves in order to accurately assess its condition and set their bids accordingly.

The owner commissioned MG specialist Motobuild to carry out some work last year, after which it passed an MOT with no advisories. The work included rebuilt kingpins and suspension mounts, an overhaul of the brakes, rebuilt carburettors and a full service. The car also appears to have been fitted with a a new exhaust in its recent past.

The underbonnet area is neat and clean, there are a few fluid leaks that will need attention at some point, although none of them look especially serious (in fact the vendor says that changing the rocker cover gasket will solve most of the problems).

The last MOT certificate, which expired in March 2019, showed no advisories whatsoever. Sadly, the car comes with little in the way of paperwork other than this expired MOT certificate and the invoice for the retrimming work to the interior. Bidders will, therefore, need to set their bids based on the car’s current condition rather than being able to rely on any historical paperwork.

Looking around, our gut feel is that this car was owned, possibly rebuilt, and frequently driven in America by a long-standing, caring owner. On import, all the history to back this up has presumably been lost.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this paperwork.

Re-reading this advert we wonder whether we’ve been overly critical. Always keen to describe our cars as accurately as we can, we really do think this MG TD is a little gem – it just needs someone to lavish some love on it.

Because, in many respects, it is the perfect car for the enthusiast looking for a cheap project; it’s solid enough that it can be used straightaway yet needs enough doing to it that the price is going to be reasonable. It also means that any work the new owner does to it will almost certainly be adding value, which is always nice, isn’t it?

We expect this example to sell for between £10,000 and £13,000, which would be a bit of a steal given its solidity and inherent quality – not to mention the retrimmed interior.

The new owner could either restore the bodywork as time and funds allow, or drive it ‘as is’ and revel in the joy of driving a semi-vintage car that wears its hard-won patina with pride.

And, best of all, it is being offered with no reserve, so it will sell from the very first bid!

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen here at The Market HQ in Abingdon; 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’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.