Vehicle Description
1951 MG TD Roadster
"Make no mistake: these cars are fun, even in 2022. The TD was in
some respects already a relic when it debuted in 1950, what with
its prewar styling and a 54 hp engine carried over from the earlier
TC. To drive one, though, is to realize that the joys of lively
steering and a tight manual gearbox were not invented by the likes
of Honda and Mazda in the 1980s. Indeed, as much as the Miata is
touted as a modern day Lotus Elan, its simplicity and accessibility
really owes more to MG. These qualities, along with a relatively
low price, made the MG TD the most popular sports car of its era-MG
sold 29,664 of them in four years." Hagerty.com March 2022 "There
Will Always be an MG TD"
For consignment, a 1951 MG TD showing 2,689 miles, but the true
miles are unknown as the title reads Mileage Exempt. It's got a few
upgrades that bring it into the 21stcentury while maintaining its
historic appeal. These were some of the earliest sports cars in the
United States and some professional racers cut their teeth on dirt
tracks driving open TD's.
Exterior
Black was a common color and this one presents with gleaming
inkinesss and the rounded fenders reflect light almost as well as
the chrome accents that include the radiator shell, the headlight
housing, and the bumpers. The headlights have been upgraded to
Lucas halogen. Red grille slats provide an alternate color and the
bar badges give even more. In profile, the long, narrow nose is
flanked by fenders that extend like wings and flow back to a
running board which terminates at the rear fender under a compact
cabin and small, back hinged door. A luggage rack folds just beyond
a spare tire and wheel and diminutive tail lights flank them. The
louvered engine cover is perhaps one of the more iconic design
features and would be a consistent characteristic of MG's from the
TC to the TF, and from 1936 to 1955. The metal work is a mix of
fine condition and others that would benefit from restoration, but
at a distance, looks great. The paint is quite good, and we note a
scuff on one of the front fenders. There's also some unevenness to
the paint on the 15-inch wheels. The canvas top shows some wear,
and the plastic window is hazy but the side windows are clear.
Interior
Lovely Saddle leather greets occupants when the doors are open with
robust coverage on the doors and a bit of smudging on the driver's
side. The seat lowers are split like buckets but the upper is bench
like, all in that saddle leather, and showing some patina,
especially on the driver's side. It's a fine contrast to the black
paint and the driver is greeted with a wood rimmed steering wheel
with lovely flat metal spokes. Ahead of it, a wood dashboard
contours into a double humped shape, housing gauges and an
instrument panel is the center metal back plate. There's plenty of
patina on the dash as well and we find this inviting in terms of
being a driver, not a pristine concours car. There's a Bluetooth
speaker in the glovebox and seatbelts have been added.
Drivetrain
Behind the engine cover, a clean and patina'd 1250cc inline 4
cylinder rated at 54 horsepower and fueled by 2 SU H2
semi-downdraft carburetors. A T5 5-speed manual transmission, which
our consignor states is new, rows this car into motion and sends
power to the rear wheels and 4.33 gears in an upgraded
differential. The consignor also says the ignition has been
upgraded. Drum brakes are found front and rear.
Undercarriage
Driver quality underneath with minimal surface rust and oil present
on the pan, transmission and more residually, on the rear
differential. Suspension here is coil springs in front and leaf
springs in the rear. The single exhaust carries a stock style
muffler then proceeds through a straight pipe to the back. While on
the lift, we note some wear on the bottom of the driver's door
panel where some leather has worn away.
Drive-Ability
Hard to believe that anyone would race this car. It's very low and
very open, and not all that fast, but that's how it was done in the
50's! Today, it's better suited for cruising and enjoying country
roads and Sunday drives. And this car allows it as the straight
four comes to life with that distinctive British sound and great
tracking across our test loop. Despite the 165/80R15 tires, these
cars handle well and being so close to the ground gives a gokart
feeling that is exhilarating, to say the least! We're happy to
report that all functions on this well maintained car work as they
should. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions
were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee
these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.
Whenever we represent an MG from this era, our thoughts go to
Thompson Raceway in Connecticut or the Cumberland Airport in
Maryland where these cars would run SCCA events and of the dozens
of drivers, some would emerge as naturals and move on to faster
cars and professional races. These MG's are legendary, have a huge
enthusiastic following, and are exciting to see at car shows where
they get lots of attention. But you don't have to show it to have
fun with it. A trip around the block will do that for you.
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy
listening. You can also watch on YouTube!
