1951 MG TD

This 1951 MG TD is a bit special, as it’s been fitted with a period perfect Shorrock supercharger. This was a popular tuning modification when the cars were current, and forced induction MGs have a long and successful competition history.

The car has also been the subject of a full mechanical restoration, with the restorer deciding to leave the original interior and paint as it is, retaining the fantastic historic patina. The owner says:

‘Regrettably I need to sell my 1951 MG TD due to unexpected ill health.

I bought this fabulous car in July last year and have just managed to get to grips with it, but now it has to go to someone who is allowed to drive it.

The car was originally sold new in 1951 to a dealer in Los Angeles, USA.

It spent years in the LA sunshine, and was tired and faded in 2020 when the previous owner started work on it as a lockdown project.

The car has been completely restored mechanically, setup on the original twin SU carbs and then swapped out for a fully restored and setup period Shorrock Supercharger, which adds around 50% extra power and transforms the fun factor of this car. (This was professionally installed and setup).

The appeal of this car to me is that the mechanicals have all been replaced or fully refurbed, making it a reliable car, whilst the original faded interior and matt paint on the exterior pay homage to the history this car has. A brand new red leather seat and bespoke turned aluminium dashboard set off the patina wonderfully.' So, in summary:

• Shorrock Supercharger system

• Brand new wiring loom with indicators and LED bulbs fitted all round

• Brand new red leather seat and aluminium dashboard

• Brand new, high quality full tonneau cover

• New braking system

• New fuel system

• Rebuilt suspension all round

• New stainless exhaust

• Brand new tyres

• New seatbelts fitted

Spares include:

• Original twin carb setup including inlet manifold (fully working)

• Front and rear bumpers, side screens (very poor condition), hood frame

The black paint is indeed faded, but that’s the price you pay for LA sunshine. This car is a survivor. It’s been restored mechanically and is ready to drive, but the bodywork and chassis are original.

We absolutely love it. It oozes history from every paint chip and bears the scars of its 71 years proudly. And despite it’s shabby chic, a quick inspection shows that mechanically it’s spot on – there are four brand new tyres for a start.

We love the period, faded, “Shorrock Power” badge on the rear. What a lovely addition to the period supercharger setup.

There’s a brand new red leather seat installed, and new inertia reel seatbelts too, but otherwise the interior has been left alone. Well, recently anyway, although at some point the original dash panel has been replaced with one made from aluminium with a turned finish.

Again, this was a popular modification back in the day, and it sits perfectly with the supercharger installation. The rest of the interior is unrestored, and all the better for it in our view. Jump in, close your eyes and imagine cruising down Hollywood Boulevard with the wind in your hair and the sun on your face (you may need to wait for next August to try this).

This is where things get really interesting. Open the bonnet and look at that beautiful Shorrock blower. It provides a healthy power increase, adding around 50% more grunt and, unlike a turbo, it all comes in seamlessly – it’s just like driving a TD with a much bigger engine.

Underneath, the car’s structure is unrestored and solid, but all the mechanical parts have been replaced or overhauled, and you can spot new parts aplenty.

‘I bought this car on a whim, to be honest,’ says the owner. ‘I’d previously sold an Austin Healey 100/6 that was fitted with a 3000 race tuned engine, and I therefore always like slightly tweaked or unusual cars. If you're going to have an old car for the looks, why not have something fairly swift too? I saw this on eBay last spring and was hooked with the looks and idea of a supercharged 1950s MG that I've always admired.

I've always wanted a T series MG and when this one came up in the gorgeous matt black with red trim I loved the look. I've always wanted to try a supercharged car and this one does not disappoint. Unfortunately I’m unable to drive at the moment due to illness. I have had my licence taken away so I've taken the difficult decision to sell to allow someone else to actually drive the car rather than it sitting. It needs to be driven.

I also like cars to have a bit of history. This car was sold new to an owner in Los Angeles in 1951, it stayed there in the sun until 2012 when it was imported to the UK. The owner I bought the car from totally rebuilt the mechanics in lockdown to make it reliable, and at the same time fitted the supercharger to give it around 50% more power (around 80bhp up from 54 of the original TD). This is a period fitment and to me sets it out from the crowd at shows when I leave the bonnet up – it draws a lot of attention.

As the car had so much history and patina the previous owner decided to keep the tatty interior and original (maroon) paint as he couldn't bear to lose that history. Every dent and scratch tells a story of driving around LA. So the black paint job is matt to avoid a new shiny paint job that would look out of place. The new red leather adds a touch of luxury with the hand turned aluminium dashboard adding a bit of LA glitz.

I've improved the car since owning it (new tyres, seatbelts, brake overhaul and fitted LED lamps and new indicator system). I've also taken it to various shows before I had to stop driving, including the Classic British Breakfast Club at Goodwood.

It’s mechanically excellent (overhauled gearbox and engine, new suspension, fuel system and wiring loom. The supercharger and its carburettor were completely overhauled before being professionally fitted.

The car has been put together really well and it drives beautifully. The handling with the rebuilt suspension takes the extra power from the supercharger in its stride. The overhauled brakes work surprisingly well for a 1950s car, which is a good thing as the car will accelerate pretty well with the extra power.

The supercharger is engineered to a very high standard and being a sealed unit requires no additional oil supply or regular maintenance work, so there’s nothing to worry about over and above a standard MG TD. It still has its original engine and gearbox, too.

This car is so much fun, it just puts a smile on your face and is surprisingly modern to drive, both in terms of power/performance and handling. Of course, it's not practical, it’s a 70-year-old car with no roof or heater, but who cares? There's not much opportunity to find a car set up like this, and with the original patina preserved it feels like it’s ready to add more stories to it.’

We think we’re in love. Shiny restored cars are lovely too, but there’s something about an unrestored classic car that wears its battle scars with pride that fascinates. Of course, all the oily bits have been restored, but the car still looks like a well preserved 71-year-old. And then there’s the supercharger.

And it’s a period correct part, too. You could have seen a car just like this driving around LA in the late Fifties, when its second or third owner had decided that it was time for more grunt, to keep up with those new fangled MGAs. This car has obviously been owned by enthusiasts most of its life. We’re quietly confident that trend will continue.

Our estimate for this car is £15,000 - £20,000. Please login and ‘Watch Auction’ to be alerted when this vehicle is Live.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment 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, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.