1947 MG TC

This car comes to us courtesy of a vendor we know very well.

He is a seasoned aficionado of classic cars and has quite possibly forgotten more than we currently know about them.

When he comes to our HQ we dutifully follow him around the unit, jotting down comments such as, “It shouldn’t have those spats on it”, or “That’s not an original colour”, or “No, it isn’t a Proteus replica”, or, just occasionally, “What on earth is that thing doing here?”

The car he has for us today is something he describes affectionately as an ‘oily rag’.

Allow us to elucidate.

This term of endearment refers to vehicles that are resolutely authentic and wear the wrinkles, freckles and scars of venerable service like badges of honour.

‘Oily rag’ classics are the opposite of fastidiously over-restored show-ponies that choke on anything other than museum-quality air, have never seen a rain drop, and are about as original as Trigger’s broom.

This 1947 MG TC, on the other hand, is the real deal.

It is seventy-six years old and has never had a face-lift, tummy-tuck, Botox injections or anything else you might find in or on a Kardashian.

It has had just two owners since 1960, neither of whom, mercifully, saw fit to strip it down, make it over or tart it up.

Grudgingly, we imagine, one of them conceded that it might be better to see and be seen when driving at night, so the headlamps have been converted to sealed beam units, supplemented with a pair of spot lights, and indicators have been added to the front and rear.

Those acceptable nods to the modern world aside, this car is otherwise living in 1947.

If it could, it would be smoking a briar pipe, wearing Oxford bags and co-respondent shoes, enjoying a sherry before luncheon and, quite possibly, sounding more than a bit like Noël Coward.

Auctioned at Hampton Court Palace Concours of Elegance last year, £3,500 of general servicing was subsequently undertaken resulting in the engineer’s final comment on the invoice, “Test drive vehicle for ten miles. Engine, gears, brakes and electrics all working well”.

Since that work another £1,000 has been spent in August 2023, which included fitting a full set of Blockley tyres.

We have driven this splendid vehicle and can attest to its ability to faithfully start, go, corner and stop as the driver requires – and without needing to be asked twice.

It is quite charming.

We think it would thank its next owner for a decent long run and the chance to properly clear its throat.

Only for sale due to the rationalisation of a larger collection, the car is offered complete with hood, side screens, tonneau, starting handle, spare ignition key, history file, tool box and various spare parts.

The 5-digit odometer currently reads 43,864 miles.

The bodywork is fundamentally sound but it doesn’t shy away from the odd dink, dent, scuff or scrape.

Hardly surprising when you consider that when this car rolled off the production line Clement Attlee was in Downing Street.

The only areas we noticed that may need some remedial attention sooner than others are the leading edges of the front wheel arches, where there is a little bubbling in evidence.

The shut lines and panel gaps are as decent as you could expect from machine tools of the 1940s and the doors close with a satisfyingly exact thunk.

The green (its original colour) paint work is something of a curate’s egg - it’s good in parts, less so in others, and not doing so well elsewhere.

Variously, the paint is either good, reasonable, rough, chipped, discoloured, cracked, or missing – depending on where you rest your gaze.

Actually, we think it’s rather good look and one that reflects the lengths previous curators have gone to in order to keep the car honest.

The four wire wheels on the car look to be in good condition and are painted green.

So, too, does the red wire wheel in situ at the back (the colour matches that of the front grille), although the paint has worn off in a few places.

The chrome work, lights, lenses and badging are all very reasonable.

The beige vinyl hood is mostly good but there are three small tears to it on the passenger side.

There is a small patch of what looks like bubbling above the o/s/r wheel arch.

The exterior rubber trim at the base of the windscreen is cracked and perished.

The good news continues uninterrupted on the inside, where everything is dripping with originality, patina and the mellowness of age.

The green leather seats have more creases and cracks than Keith Richards’ face, even though they’re three years younger than him, but they remain intact, comfortable and functional.

The door cards, carpets and mats are making no attempt to hide their age but they’re perfectly serviceable.

The wooden dashboard has held up remarkably well, as have the instruments, dials, steering wheel, gear lever and other controls.

We didn’t tweak every lever, press every knob or flick every switch, but those we did tweak, press and flick did as they were told without complaining.

The engine bay looks clean and dry, and everything seems to be in its right and proper place.

Reassuringly, the undersides of the car appear to have plenty of structural integrity.

This car comes with more provenance and history than the Parthenon.

There are bills, receipts and invoices aplenty – stretching from 1964 to more or less the present day.

There is correspondence from owners to others.

There is a trail of MoTs going back to and including the original manilla-brown Ministry of Transport item.

The car comes with a V5 and a spare ignition key.

If you get more fun from polishing a car than driving it, don’t buy this one.

If a patch of flat paint or some creased upholstery set your nerves on edge and bring you out in a rash, walk away.

If, on the other hand, you believe that a 1947 car should look, feel and smell period-correct and you prize authenticity and originality over aesthetic faultlessness, this could well be just the ticket.

We like this utterly charming MG TC a great deal.

We’re confident to offer this splendid car for auction with an estimate of £18,000 - £22,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.