1951 MG TD

We are delighted to be offering for sale a newly restored TD from 1951. The car left Abingdon and was dispatched to Alaska where it spent most of its life.

It returned to the UK we believe around 2014 and was purchased by our seller soon after. A newly retired engineer, he was looking for something to fill those long days and decided that restoring a British classic car was the way forward.

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 invoices total over £13,000 – a proper job.

In order to make the TD a little more usable, our seller chose to fit a five-speed gearbox for more relaxed touring. Purists will be pleased to know that the original box and propshaft comes with the car.

Seat belts were also fitted, a sensible idea in our opinion.

The observant will also note that indicators have also been fitted which necessitated the moving of the rear numberplate.

Since completing the ground up restoration, our seller and his wife have completed many touring holidays in the UK.

As they now wish to spread their wings and head overseas, they have recently purchased a more modern Triumph TR3A. All things are relative!

Their lovely MG TD is therefore now up for grabs.

Determined to complete the restoration of the TD to the very highest standard, our seller wisely opted to purchase a new steel body, scuttle and doors. These were sourced from specialists Hutson Motor Company in Bradford.

A sound base is always a good place to begin, and you will also note a invoice for £2,200 from a bodyshop. As a result, the paint finish is as good as you would expect and of course the new shell means that fit and finish is excellent.

The wheels have been refurbished to a good standard and new Continental tyres were fitted which are still as good as new. As we always like to point out, premium quality tyres say a lot about a classic car’s owner and in our opinion should never be stinted upon.

A new hood and tonneau cover were also sourced during the restoration. The hood is a little creased, most likely having been folded away most of the time.

At the rear, the chrome luggage rack is a lovely period detail, and we would be tempted to source some bespoke suitcases to complete the look.

We think the addition of the indicators is a sensible addition and the work has been done well.

There’s lots of gleaming chrome, so best stock up on proprietary cleaner if you are the lucky winner.

The red leather of the upholstery contrasts nicely with the white exterior. The coverings are of course new and are just beginning to get the lovely gentle creases that come with ageing leather. And don’t forget the seatbelts, which should add a level of reassurance if the car is to be regularly used.

Door cards match as does the covering for the dashboard.

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

The keen amongst you may also have spotted that the dash also has a couple of discreetly fitted points for charging a mobile phone etc.

The wood steering wheel, what else, is in lovely order and is a delight to hold.

We are pleased that our seller took plenty of photographs of the car whilst undergoing its extensive restoration. A quick look through them will confirm the extent of the work carried out under the skin.

We have already mentioned the new body, but the chassis itself was shotblasted before being repainted.

We also have included plenty of photographs of the car’s underside as it is now and other than a little surface dirt from usage, the condition is excellent.

The engine itself is beautifully detailed and runs well. It may only boast 54bhp, but it bowls along a fair old lick. The five-speed gearbox will certainly aid open-road cruising. Indeed, the top boss of The Market took this TD out for a road test and was massively impressed, reporting that it drove 'really well', 'starts instantly', and for this type of car - of which he has driven hundreds - is 'very tight'. Over all he described it as an 'excellent version of the marque'. 

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.

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, 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 (as did our seller) or the MG Car Club. Both will provide a professional valuation based on the car’s condition. You may be interested to know that the last one carried out in August 2020 placed a value of £35,000 on the car.

A close inspection of this delightful MG TD (something we very much recommend) reveals a car restored to the very highest of standards. Our engineer seller had not only the necessary skills to undertake the task, but he also had the time.

The work took place over a number of years and was much enjoyed. The time taken shows as nothing was overlooked and the car’s condition now speaks for itself.

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 £25,000 and £35,000.

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’