This 1953 MG TD is a Competition Mark II model that was first refurbished under prior ownership, and it was acquired by the seller on BaT in August 2023. The car is finished in cream over brown leather upholstery and is powered by a 1,250cc XPAG inline-four mated to a four-speed manual transmission. It is also equipped with 15″ steel wheels, a folding windshield, dual fender mirrors, four-wheel drum brakes, and an auxiliary cabin heater. The electrical system was converted to negative ground, a PerTronix solid-state ignition system was installed, and the carburetors and braking system were overhauled under previous ownership. This MG TD is now offered at no reserve with a tool kit, a wood fuel level dipstick, removed wind wings, a spare windshield, parts invoices, and a Pennsylvania title in the seller’s name.
Approximately 1,700 Competition examples of the TD were produced, and this car is finished in cream and features body-color grille inserts and black accents on the leading edges of the front fenders. A replacement left-rear side curtain window, front bumper overriders, and top snaps were installed under current ownership, and exterior details include a louvered hood, Mark II badging, fender-mounted side mirrors, a folding windshield, running boards, and a single polished exhaust outlet. A set of Lucas-style Windtone horns were installed under previous ownership. There are indents in the fenders and front bumper, the windshield is cracked, and a hand-operated wiper has been installed in the place of the stock wiper mechanism. A tan soft top with side curtains is included in the sale, though there are stains and imperfections on the inside of the top.
Silver 15″ steel wheels wear MG-logo hubcaps and are mounted with 165/80 Nexen SB-802 tires that show 2020 production codes. Stopping power is provided by four-wheel drum brakes, and TD/Cs were fitted with supplemental Andrex friction shock absorbers. The wheel cylinders, brake hoses, shoes, rear axle mounts, U-bolts, and suspension bushings were replaced in 2022, and the seller states that a replacement brake master cylinder was installed under previous ownership.
The seat has been retrimmed in brown leather that extends to the door panels. Appointments include a dashboard-mounted rearview mirror, an Arnolt auxiliary heater, door map pockets, a lined glovebox, and a rear storage compartment. Lap belts were installed under current ownership.
Instrumentation includes a 100-mph speedometer, a tachometer with an inoperative inset clock, and auxiliary gauges. The five-digit odometer shows 44k miles, approximately 60 of which were added under current ownership. Total mileage is unknown.
The 1,250cc XPAG inline-four in the TD/C was fitted with larger SU carburetors than in the standard TD, necessitating a bulge in the hood. TD/Cs were also equipped with a second fuel pump. Service between 2022 and 2023 included a rebuild of the carburetors, a valve adjustment, converting the electrical system to negative ground, cleaning the fuel tank, and the installation of a seven-blade cooling fan, a low fuel warning sender, PerTronix solid-state ignition, braided stainless-steel fuel hoses, and Stelling & Hellings-style air filters. The following components were also replaced before the seller’s acquisition:
- Ignition coil
- Voltage regulator
- Starter switch
- Spark plugs
- Ignition wires
- Distributor cap and rotor
- Upper radiator and heater hoses
- One of the SU fuel pumps
- Valve cover
An oil change was performed under current ownership.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission.
The data plate describes the car as a left-hand-drive TD Competition model produced for the North American market. The engine number on the data plate corresponds to the engine identification tag shown in the gallery below.
The current Pennsylvania title lists an “Antique” brand.