1953 MG TD

‘MVC 578’ is a genuine, right-hand-drive MG TD from 1953. Finished in black with steel wheels, a light brown PVC hood, and a tan interior, it’s a combination that gives the MG a subtle yet distinguished look.

Attracted by its condition and history, the seller bought it four years ago from a private sale. Taken together, they enabled him to deduce that the 60,000 miles on the odometer may well be accurate – and that it probably hasn’t been restored either.

He had it lightly recommissioned, and then used it only gently, for runs to the shops when the weather was nice as well as a couple of high school proms and days out with his young grandchildren.

Nicely presented, it’s got a charming and original patina that offers the new owner the opportunity to either leave it as it is and enjoy all the romance of owning and driving an original example of an ever-popular classic, or restore it in his/her image.
 

Black is a helluva colour to pull off, and yet when a car looks this good, it’s easy to see why so many prefer it.

The hue also gives the MG TD a gravitas other colours might not – and when you link that to a tan roof and a matching interior, the result is sublime.

It helps that the panels are both straight and well-aligned, of course, but the finish itself is pretty darned good, especially when you take into account the seller thinks it’s still the paint the factory applied back in the early 1950s.

We love the steel wheels too; while so many prefer wires, we like the simplicity a nice set of steelies give, and these are very nice indeed being free of kerbing marks and scrapes, although there are a few minor dinks to the rims.

They’re fitted with a good set of chrome hubcaps too, and these, like the rest of the brightwork, are only lightly patinated and need nothing more than a dab or two of Autosol every now and then to keep the pitting and scratches at bay.

Brilliantly, the new Dimax Classic radial tyres were chosen because they look like crossplies, so you get all of the advantages of a radial tyre with the classic look we all love. These are fitted to all four road wheels and the spare.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

The vinyl roof was fitted in 1954, when the car was only a year old. It also comes with useful roof and spare wheel covers in addition to the side screens.

The roof and side screens haven’t been used much in recent years, and the seller advises caution when raising it, perhaps waiting for a hot day to let the material warm through first to allow it to stretch a little to meet the windscreen without over stressing it.

This is certainly what we did to photograph it, and the result is a well-fitting roof. However, we’d still suggest caution until it’s been up and down a few times; the seller rarely raised it, preferring to drive the car only in good weather and with the roof lowered.

You probably will too, in which case the tonneau cover will come in very handy, providing good cover when the car is parked as well as decent shelter when you’re driving it in the wind and rain and snow.

What, you don’t fancy that? Are you really going to let the Morgan and Caterham crowd get one up on you? No, thought not; just splash out on a sheepskin flying jacket and a silk scarf, and crack on with it, unlocking Legend Status while you do.  

The imposing Lucas headlamps are free of cracks and other damage, and they have a lovely warm glow to them. An auxiliary spotlamp has been fitted to the nearside, with a matching foglamp fitted on the offside. These too are free of damage, as are the rest of the lamps.

Interestingly, an indicator switch and relay were also fitted to make the front and rear sidelights flash.  The period control unit is now defunct but remains on the offside bulkhead, with a modern replacement unit being fitted on the nearside. We love it when owners leave period fittings in situ as they add immeasurably to a car’s authenticity.

The radiator slats run straight and true, an MG Car Club tax discs and enamel badge have been fitted, the Auster of Birmingham windscreen folds, and the glovebox lid contains stickers from MG rallies from 1971 onwards.

As for stuff you’re going to want to sort out, the rubber seal ‘twixt windscreen and scuttle has perished but if you can live with a few marks and scratches, there really isn’t anything else to do.

And while the yellow rear window has some scuffs to it, its colour suffuses the cabin with such a wonderful golden light you probably won’t be in any hurry to get it changed. 
 

The base of the driver’s seat was fitted with new foam in 2022, so it’s still nice and comfortable. The one-piece backrest is in a fine condition too, and the vinyl that covers it all is in good shape with no rips, tears, or splits. The rake can be adjusted via brackets on either side too, which is a neat touch.

We suspect the seat has also been recoloured at some point, and there are a few light cracks and creases to the surface, but we think these could be chalked up to the car’s developing character and left as they are.

There is plenty of space behind the seat for luggage, plus slim pockets in the doors and a good-sized glovebox.

The instruments are in an excellent condition and include an ammeter and oil pressure/coolant temperature gauges in the centre. These are joined by a number of switches, and while the panel they sit in is a little worn, we don’t think it’s bad enough to need refreshing or repainting.

The seller says the only post-production fittings he noticed were a period heater, which has been removed leaving behind the control switch on the dash and the rerouted water pipes and end jacket. The latter is now blanked off, and the parts are still with the car.

As for flaws, the steering wheel has some cracks to the rim, the rubber seal at the base of the rearview mirror has perished, the inner roof is grubby, and the driver’s seat is marred by what the seller thinks is an oil stain to its base.
 

Recommissioned in the last three years, the MG benefits from an overhauled braking system and carburettor, plus a new waterpump and coolant hoses, a Bell stainless-steel exhaust, and a new oil filter and oil. The greasing points were lubricated too, and the wiper motor fettled into life.

The seller tells us that it “drives well” and suggests that it will need nothing more than “light-touch maintenance’ to keep it so.

As the video shows, it starts well and builds good oil pressure. There’s a healthy charge to the battery too, and the little four-cylinder engine revs as freely and smoothly as it should, with a nice rasp from the exhaust.

The engine bay is in good order. It still sports the factory plaques and plates too, which supports the owner’s theory about its originality.

It’s also decently clean, and the centre-hinged bonnet gives great access. Its engineering is simple too, so if you fancy trying your hand at maintaining your own classic, you could so a lot worse than buy this.

You might need to invest in some tools, of course, but to get you going we are told that the car’s originality even extends to the tool kit, among which are some of the factory-supplied tools.

And, should you want to tweak its long-distance road manners a little, the seller also has an MGA differential (10/43), which would “make the car more usable in modern traffic”.  As they are becoming very rare, this one is available by separate negotiation.

The underside is well protected by a coat of what looks like well-established underseal.

It has been a while since it was last MoT’d, with the last ticket expiring in 2022. However, prior to that it racked up eleven advisory-free passes, and there has never been any mention of structural rust or corrosion. 
 

Not many 72-year-old cars would have a verifiable mileage, and this one’s no different. The seller thinks it’s genuine though, and is convinced it’s never been restored either.

Believed to be one of just 1,600 or so right-hand-drive cars out of a total production run of around 30,000, the green folder that came with the car is so detailed that it even records when the car was washed, with detailed notes having been kept from 1969 until 2006!

The owner’s been trying to piece together its history, and has concluded that it passed from father to son at least once, maybe twice. It was also in the same pair of hands for more than 30 years, so while some of the details might be hazy, there’s no doubt it’s been a much-loved car that’s led something of a pampered life.

This previous owner bought it from Oselli in around 2012. He kept it regularly serviced and MoT'd until he passed away, after which time his wife kept it serviced but didn’t drive it.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the history file includes a bunch of old MoT certificates and tax discs, its original logbook, a receipt for its purchase in 1969, its score sheet for an MG Car Club concours d’elegance in 1983, and plenty of receipts for parts and work carried out over the years.

The MG doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies… 
 

The MG TD is, for many, the quintessential British sportscar. Joyful and jaunty, they’re a great way to move into a semi-vintage classic without the culture shock that buying a pre-war car might bring…

And yet, for all their many virtues, prices are still reasonable.

How reasonable?

Well, we think this one will sell for somewhere between £8,000 and £13,000, which doesn’t feel like much when you consider its originality and condition.

Better still, it’s being offered with no reserve, so will sell from the very first bid, no matter how low that is.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.