Lot Ended
Description
Only 50 miles since full engine rebuild; current owner 25 years; rare
Competition model with various factory upgrades; matching numbers; one of only
51 made for the UK market and 1,710 in total
Following on
from the successful TC, the MG TD arrived in 1949, introducing some much-needed
post-war refinements. Its rigid box-section chassis 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. Powered by a twin-carb four-cylinder XPAG 1,250cc
engine allied to four-speed manual transmission, the 54bhp TD was capable of
80mph.
In 1950 MG launched a high-performance MkII version called the
TD/C, developed in conjunction with famous MG racing driver, Dick Jacobs. As W
Jacobs & Son Ltd, Dick owned Mill Garage, the most famous of all MG
dealerships, in South Woodford, Essex, and his exploits on track arguably gave
the MG marque more publicity in the 1950s than the BMC and Nuffield PR men
ever did.
The TD/C featured Andrex shock absorbers in addition to the
standard items; larger 1.5-inch carburettors with increased inlet ports; larger
intake manifold and air cleaner; tear-drop bonnet bulge; larger valves;
increased compression ratio; higher 6,000 rpm rev limit; higher rear axle ratio;
twin electric fuel pumps and a higher performance ignition coil. Round
tail-lights were another distinguishing feature and as a nod to the extra
performance, a passenger grab handle on the dash was standard and bucket seats
and triple windscreen wipers were options (as fitted here).
Easily
identified by the TD/C chassis prefix, only 1,710 were made between 1950 and
1953, all but 51 of which were exported. Quite apart from the fact that most
Brits couldn’t afford a new sports car in the early Fifties, the high
compression TD/C engine was not well-suited for UK use: wartime fuel
restrictions still in place meant that the only fuel readily available was
feeble 72 octane ‘pool petrol’.
As confirmed by
the chassis number, NFF 500 is one of those 51 UK cars, the MG Car Club T
Register confirming that it is a Home Market car built in July 1953. A letter
from the Octagon Car Club also confirms the original engine and chassis numbers
which match those on the car (see photos).
The
V5C states that it was first UK registered in November 1974, so it had
presumably been off the road for quite some time prior to that, or perhaps
residing somewhere offshore like the Channel Islands – who knows?
It has
only had four owners since then, the third being a Shropshire gent who owned it
from 1995 – 2001, old rally plaques showing that he used it on Octagon Car Club
runs in the UK and a couple of long-distance events in France in 1998 and
1999.
The current owner acquired the car in March
2001 to join his collection of classic machines when it was showing 6,900 miles
on the clock. Invoices show that he had the front suspension rebuilt and a new
clutch kit and stainless steel exhaust system fitted before using it fairly
regularly over the next three or four years, adding some 1,200 miles to the
clock, as shown by old MOTs on file.
In 2005 it
was sent to the mechanic who looked after his collection for a more thorough
mechanical overhaul, but ended up sitting at the back of his workshop for the
next several years.
In 2014 work finally started
in earnest and included a full engine rebuild with new pistons, bearings,
reground crank etc, the cylinder head being converted to run on unleaded fuel. A
new water pump was also fitted, the carbs were rebuilt and the whole braking
system overhauled and fitted with Goodrich braided stainless steel hoses.
Various other jobs were also carried out, as detailed by invoices on
file.
Finally back on the road with a new MOT in
September 2016, it was then very briefly used before being put back into storage
where it remained for another decade due to the owner’s advancing years.
The car was subsequently put into his widow's name when he passed away
in 2024.
Shortly before the auction it was taken
out of storage, given some fresh fuel and fitted with a new battery. We are told
that it then fired up readily and performed well on a short test drive.
It has continued to start easily since arriving
on site and was certainly driving nicely as we whizzed it around our yard for
the video, with good 40psi oil pressure – as you might expect from an engine
that has only done about 50 miles since it was rebuilt.
Ten old MOTs on file show the mileage slowly rising from 3,265 in
July 1995 to 8,403 in September 2016 (when it passed with just a couple of minor
advisories for slight play in the front suspension), the odometer currently
showing 8,453 miles.
A tonneau cover and
side-screens are also present along with indoor and outdoor car covers, sundry
useful spares, original handbook and workshop manual, parts catalogues and
technical literature relating to the model.
As
you can see in the photos, NFF 500 looks to be in good shape for a 73-year-old
both above and below, with well-fitting doors, good bodywork and a nicely
mellowed interior with what appear to be original red leather bucket seats. The
paintwork is rather dusty but looks like it will polish up well, although the
chromework on the bumpers is past its best.
On offer
here at a modest guide price (the last TD/C we sold made over double the
estimate shown here in 2022), this rare and sporting ‘matching numbers’ MG
now needs an enthusiastic new owner who can get it back on the roads where it
belongs and reap the rewards of all the good work so recently carried
out.
Consigned by James Dennison – 07970
309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com