1953 MG TD 1250

Running off the Abingdon assembly line in May 1953 in red over red, this sprightly 1250cc roadster was first registered in Glasgow where it spent twelve years in the hands of Glasgow and Ayrshire locals before catching the eye of a US Air Force officer stationed at Prestwick. The following year he took it back to America - along with a Scottish wife who’d also caught his eye - courtesy of a USAF transporter.

Whilst Stateside, he painted it in British Racing Green - with a checkerboard radiator grille for a ‘racing’ look - before selling it to a fellow officer at Eglin AFB Florida in 1970. Three years later it was sold again to a third USAF officer who owned it for an impressive 18 years. He repainted it light yellow and it followed him from posting to posting including Alabama, Illinois, Virginia, Utah and Missouri.

Done with its service to Uncle Sam, enter an ex-pat British electrical engineer, working in St Louis Missouri, who decides to buy the car in 1991 and repatriate it to the UK when he returns in 1992. The car’s original registration number LGD556 is traced and reissued to the car by the DVLA.

On arrival in the UK the car was used very little before restoration started and the car was returned to red paintwork over red leather and vinyl trim. The recorded mileage at the time was 36,240 miles. The odometer is the correct type and has the patina of the rest of the instruments so it is more than likely, given its tour of the USA, that it has ticked over 100,000 miles and was recording 136,240 miles. It now shows 45,633 miles, so has covered fewer than 10,000 miles since its restoration 28 years ago.

The TD’s latest owner was very thorough and fastidious with the care and maintenance of his cars, as can be seen in the diligent logging of expenditure and use in the history file. Sadly, he passed away earlier this year and the family is now selling the MG TD along with his red MGA Coupé, which is listed separately on The Market.

The car has been garaged throughout the year, with the additional protection of a Carcoon in winter months. See the History Highlights section for more information on ownership and expenditure.

The MG Red (possibly formulated closer to Chariot Red/Tartan Red) bodywork looks rather glorious with the flowing wheel arches and running boards harking back to a pre-war era but giving the car a very British roadster look. There are few if any discernible blemishes or marks on the paint and the body panels look straight and well fitted.

The vanes of the radiator grille are also painted red, correctly reflecting the interior trim colour rather than the outside - although in this case it is pretty much the same.

The 3-bow fabric hood clearly hasn’t been used a great deal and has probably spent most of the time folded away. The frame it sits on is in good condition and operates as it should. The car also comes with a full length black vinyl tonneau cover for the cabin with longitudinal centre zip should you wish to take a drive in unpredictable weather with the hood down. The cover fits well save for one of the securing lugs not quite reaching the stud.

The chrome on this car isn’t perfect but it is good to very good in places with light scratching here and there such as around the octagonal radiator cap which sports a tortoise mascot on top. The tortoise isn’t a reflection of the car’s performance but a nod to the owner’s lifelong tortoise-breeding hobby.

On the badge bar across the front, additional driving lamps have been fitted. Although some might expect a matching pair, it is more correct to have a Lucas SLR spot lamp (clear lens) and SFT fog lamp (fluted lens). You will see that the late owner was someone who wanted things to be as authentic and original as possible.

The 15-inch ventilated steel wheels are in a fair condition, as are the chromed hubcaps and all are fitted with matching Yearling tyres (a defunct brand owned by Kleber/Michelin) showing good tread, although they may be as old as 1992 (fewer than 10,000 miles).

The inside of the car is trimmed all round in red leather-look vinyl which appears in great condition. The seats themselves are upholstered in luscious red leather, look well nourished and show only light creasing through use over the past two to three decades. The back panel is starting to come away from the seatback on the driver’s side which would be worth catching - a stitch (or staple) in time and all that.

In front the ‘banjo’ steering wheel in beige and gold is in good condition and matches with the coloured centre instrument panel. There is a period Radiomobile HMV 100 neatly fitted as per factory specification in the glove compartment, with a removable external aerial.

There is no boot on an MG TD, instead the space behind the seats can be used for stowage or you fit a luggage rack over the spare wheel on the back for additional baggage as in this case. On the rear bulkhead behind the seats is the curtain compartment, intended for storage of the tricky-to-fit side curtains and windows of the folding roof.

To further remind you that you are in an old (and older looking) car, there is a long starter handle clipped to the rear of the seats. We understand that this has largely been just a talking point rather than something in regular use.

The black carpets and linings appear clean and undamaged and have rubber over mats fitted for additional protection.

In keeping with the pre-war look of the car, the bonnet is multi-hinged to access the engine from the sides and can be completely removed if doing more major tinkering. Where the sides hinge on top near the front, there’s a little area where the metal has split and the alignment of the securing catches can sometimes be tricky.

Inside, the maroon-painted XPAG TD2 1250 engine looks in fine fettle and sits in a very clean and tidy engine bay. To help maintain a period look, even the ignition leads are fabric braided. Stowage boxes mounted in both sides of the bulkhead acknowledge the need, in period at least, to carry a few tools and running spares.

Underneath the car, everything looks undamaged and pretty clean. Major mechanicals including drivetrain, suspension components and steering linkages all look in order and the chassis members are well painted and show no signs of corrosion. The exhaust system too looks in a fair condition.

The gallery has many detailed photographs from underneath the car which can be scrutinised but if you’d still like a closer look, get in touch with us via the ‘Contact Seller’ option and we can arrange a personal inspection or a video call.

This car comes with not just a history file, but a bulging box full of files and a carrier bag of relevant magazines too. It includes multiple handbooks and workshop manuals and a huge amount of invoices dating from 1973 showing parts bought and work done by the well-travelled third USAF officer and the most recent owner.

The late owner helpfully created a chronological log of these expenditures and made notes on the car’s usage and any thoughts on running issues. Such is the openness and integrity in this log that it includes such gems as “Pheasant flew into radiator bending shroud and slats”.

The TD also comes with a large number of spare and original parts including dash panel, black trim, fuel pump, prop shaft, exterior chrome fittings, steel wheels, brake drums, leaf springs, cylinder head, clutch plate, chains, sprockets and all manner of sundry items all diligently labelled.

The online MOT record shows that the car passed the test annually despite its exemption from 2005 to 2018 with only one advisory and covered fewer than 400 miles done each year on average, mostly just going to club meets and car shows.

As it stands the car has had no valid MOT since October 2019 and, although exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it tested at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MOT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic car, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner and any subsequent purchasers but is also invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies.

The late owner carried out extensive restoration from 1992 onwards including engine and gearbox rebuild and returned the car to its original colour combination. He’s also ensured that the car has had all the maintenance, repair and renewal it could possibly want in nearly thirty years since.

Please take a look at the documents section of the gallery where you will find photos of all the paperwork which supports our assertions that the last owner was a truly diligent custodian and that this car has been maintained to the very highest standard.

A further photo album documenting the car’s return from the USA and subsequent restoration will also be forwarded to the next owner along with a library of digital photos.

The engine on this MG TD starts and runs well, smooth and quiet despite its pre-war origins and has a pleasingly delicate rasp from the exhaust. It also drives and handles well, nippy up through the gears with light and precise steering.

Restored to a high standard with leather and vinyl inside and not just vinyl - a sign perhaps that the owner hasn’t skimped elsewhere - and in view of its extensive history file, spares, authentic condition and all round integrity, we think this gorgeous MG TD Midget will fetch between £18,000 and £22,000.

There appears nothing is needing to be done by the new owner other than to get out and drive it and continue to cherish it in the manner to which it has become accustomed.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near 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’.