1953 MG TD
The MG T-Type is a series of body-on-frame open two-seater sports cars that were produced by MG from 1936 to 1955. The series included the MG TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, and MG TF Midget models. The last of these models, the TF, was replaced by the MGA. Although the design was similar to contemporary cars of the 1930s, it came to be considered outdated by the 1950s.
MG’s catch phrase for marketing after the war was “Safety Fast”, this was a very popular sports car in the 50’s and thousand were exported to the US to satisfy the returning service men who had become to love them during their service in the UK at war time.
This 1953 MG TD is finished in ivory over a red leather interior and powered by a 1,250cc XPAG inline-four linked with a four-speed manual transmission. Equipment includes a tan soft top with removable side curtains, a front badge bar, 15″ steel wheels, a trunk-mounted spare, dual SU carburetors, Jaeger instrumentation, and a wood dashboard.
Silver-finished 15″ steel wheels wear polished MG hubcaps and Vredestein Sprint Classic tires. A full-size spare wears a tan cover and is mounted at the rear.
The cabin features a split bench upholstered in red leather as well as matching door panels with map pockets. Appointments include a wood dashboard, a glovebox, a dash-mounted rearview mirror, and a chrome grab bar. The banjo-style steering wheel fronts Jaeger instrumentation that consists of a 100-mph speedometer, a tachometer with an inset clock, and gauges for oil pressure, water temperature, and amperage. The clock is inoperative, and cracks are present in the steering wheel.
The MG TD Midget was a gentle evolution of the MG TC, which was itself based heavily on the pre-war MG TB. However, the TD’s relatively modern engine and chassis mean that the MG TD is a wonderful balance of pre-war vintage and post-war fifties sports car. With plenty of room for two, it is sprightly rather than fast and the comfortable ride and a wide track make it more a touring car than a street racer.
Not that that is damning with faint praise; comfort and stability go a long way to making a sporting car more usable on the road, and the MG TD balances handling and ride better than most of its contemporaries, making it one of the most usable sports cars of its generation. It’s also the perfect introduction to the arcane world of vintage cars; if you love this, then the next step is full membership of the VSCC and all the fun that entails.
