Lot number	94
Hammer value	£16,500
Description	MG TD
Registration	281 UYP
Year	1953
Colour	White
Engine size	1,296 cc
Chassis No.	TD23196
Documents	V5C; restoration invoices; handbook; parts catalogue; signed Betty Aberlin photo

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 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.

In 1951 the MkII TD entered production alongside the standard model with a more powerful 60bhp engine, offering even better performance. Great fun to drive, the MG 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. In all, some 30,000 TDs were made in total, the vast majority being sold to US customers.

This beautiful left-hand drive TD dates from January 1953 and is one of the many cars exported to America from new. Not much is known of the early history of the car but some time ago it ended up in the hands of Hollywood actress, poet and writer, Betty Aberlin of New York City. Clearly an MG enthusiast, she had the car fully restored in 2004/05 with the spectacular results that you see today.

Recently imported back to the UK with all duties paid, the car remains in stunning condition throughout and is as clean underneath as it is up top. A good file of invoices document the restoration in detail, a quick tot up showing that Betty spent at least $30,000 on the car.

Said to drive beautifully and certainly performing well on the occasion of our visit as we moved it around for these photos, it has only covered some 1,600 miles since the restoration was completed. It also comes with a good hood (although there are no sidecscreens), a V5C, an owner’s manual, two parts catalogues plus a signed photo of Betty herself.