MG TD

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Following on from the successful TC, the MG TD arrived in 1949, introducing some much-needed post-war refinements.

Its rigid box-section chassis frame featured independent double-wishbone front suspension, a well-located 'live' rear axle, four-wheel drum brakes, a hidden reinforced scuttle hoop and perhaps best of all, rack-and-pinion steering. Still constructed on a wooden frame, the car was 5-inches wider than the TC with a track of 50-inches and had a mirror-image dashboard to facilitate either RHD or LHD production.

Sharper handling and smoother riding than its T-series predecessors, the newcomer drew considerable praise from the contemporary press. Powered by a twin-carb four-cylinder XPAG 1,250cc engine allied to four-speed manual transmission, the 54bhp TD was capable of 80mph and 26mpg. Great fun to drive, the TD had a quirky mixture of a vintage body and ‘50s styling cues and sold extremely well until it was replaced in 1953 by the MG TF. Some 30,000 TDs were made in total with all but 1,656 exported, the vast majority being sold to US customers.

First registered in May 1952, this stunning TD is one of those rare UK market cars and has had just seven owners in its 66 years to date. The vendor had owned a TD when he was 21 and had fond memories of the car, beginning a search to acquire another one as he approached his retirement. After looking at several that just weren’t as good as he remembered, he finally came across this beauty which stood out head and shoulders above the rest.

It belonged to a father and son who had painstakingly restored the car together over a period of years, totally rebuilding it from the gound up with the spectacular results you see today. Virtually every part of the car has been restored or renewed and it is as clean and shiny underneath as it is up top.

The son worked for McLaren and there are rumours that the TD was painted there but Ron Dennis isn't supposed to know that so we won't mention it. Although there are no bills for the work carried out, the results are plain to see and MOH 224 is as close to a new car as you could reasonably hope to find.

Unfortunately the vendor is no longer as sprightly as his 21-year-old former self and has come to accept that his TD-driving days are best consigned to memory, hence its appearance in our sale today. Yes, there are cheaper TDs on the market, but you would be hard pressed to find one as good as this. Keep your hand up and it could be you who drives it home.