Vehicle Description
It's about as British as bangers and mash and as charming as an
open-air classic can be. This 1953 MG TD may likely be the very
vision of what your mind's eye would conjure up upon hearing the
words "vintage sports car". It's ready to put rubber to asphalt
just as soon as you bring it home and comes complete with
maintenance records to document the diligent care it's
received.
Its exterior is draped in a vibrant shade of red - the result of a
repaint a while back - and despite the passage of many years, it
still acquits itself well. Circle the car and you won't find any
concerning dings or blemishes and this appealing color could be
elevated by quite a bit at the hands of a skilled paint shop - just
a detailing session will amplify its already abundant curb appeal.
The set of color matched wheels look great in this setting and the
entire array of chrome on board this classic, from the front grille
back to the rear bumper, has come through the years in strong
fashion. The included black cloth convertible top is in fine
condition and ready to shield you from the elements. Despite more
than 65 years of service, the body alignment on display here is
looking good - the doors close easily, as does its hood. With clear
and functional headlights and fog lights taking their place up
front and the spare tire mounted in back, this compact classic is
ready for action.
The red vinyl interior is still in fine shape and in full
possession of its vintage charm - as you take a peek inside you'll
see a few subtle signs of wear here and there, but this is without
a doubt a road ready driving environment just as it stands. The
cockpit is likely broader than you'd expect - a deliberate
configuration on the part of its manufacturer to accommodate
American standards of comfort, as five out of every six MG TDs
manufactured were shipped to the States. The vintage seating
accommodations split the difference between bench and bucket with
one continuous seat back and individual cushions separated by the
gear shift lever and parking brake. The door panels to each side
show some nice craftsmanship, with sturdily stitched red pockets
surrounded by black vinyl to create a two-tone effect. Beyond the
woodgrain steering wheel, the dash area is in good order, with an
array of still- functional gauges in the instrument cluster.
Up front, the inline 4 cylinder engine sports a pair of side draft
carburetors to extract maximum performance out of its modest
displacement and is in very good form, starting up promptly and
running with surprising smoothness. This car has obviously been
well maintained over the years - those records are on hand to
attest to it - so the powerplant is well-positioned to provide
plenty more miles of driving enjoyment. The accompanying 4-speed
manual transmission shifts without issue and, with the TD featuring
a substantially larger fuel tank than most of its predecessors, it
has a range that makes it well-suited for weekend getaways or other
lengthy excursions, and that relatively wide track equips it with
solid road hugging ability around corners. The view from below
reveals an undercarriage that would be considered solid by any
measure. This fetching British classic rolls on a set 15" steel
wheels with MG center caps that are wrapped with Kumho Power Star
tires.
This 1953 MG TD represents a significant piece of automotive
history, and it comes at a really attainable price, so it's not
likely to be around long. Call today!