HISTORY OF THE MG TC:
The MG TC, introduced in 1945, was the first postwar MG and the
model that ignited America's love affair with British sports cars.
While closely resembling its prewar predecessor, the TB, the TC
featured a slightly wider body for improved comfort and an uprated
1,250cc inline four-cylinder engine with higher compression and
greater power. Handling was sharpened thanks to revised suspension,
transforming the TC into a lively and engaging driver's car.
Though built exclusively in right-hand drive, the TC captivated
returning American GIs who imported them home in large numbers. Its
simplicity, mechanical honesty, and nimble feel inspired a
generation of sports car enthusiasts and racers alike. By the time
production ended in November 1949, just over 10,000 examples had
been produced-approximately 2,000 of which were sold new in the
United States.
Today, the MG TC stands as a timeless expression of prewar style
blended with postwar performance-an enduring icon that cemented
MG's reputation as the maker of affordable, engaging sports
cars.
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED:
The 1949 MG TC presented here, chassis no. TC6939, is finished in
the striking color combination of Shires Green over T-type Beige
upholstery with a matching Beige folding top. According to records
from the MG T-Register, this example was completed at the Abingdon
Works on October 27, 1948.
While its earliest history is undocumented, TC6939 is believed to
have been delivered new in California, a claim supported by its
accompanying original California black license plate (LSR 910),
which still bears vintage 1970 and 1971 registration stickers.
Beneath those stickers are earlier layers dating back to 1965, the
year that longtime owner Mr. H.R. Highkin is believed to have
acquired the car. The TC appears in the MG TC Provenance List,
noted in 2009 under the ownership of Mr. R.P. Smith of Hawaii, who
acquired it in 2008 from Mr. Highkin-a retired Professor Emeritus
from California State University who had long cherished the
car.
In the mid-2000s, Mr. Highkin commissioned a comprehensive
body-off-frame restoration by David Reisland Auto Concepts, an
artisan known for expert metal and wood craftsmanship. Reisland's
detailed handwritten restoration log documents over 700 hours of
careful work, accompanied by a photo album covering the stages of
disassembly, frame restoration, bodywork, metalwork, and engine
rebuilding.
Completed in 2005, the restoration returned the TC to a
near-concours standard, displaying exceptional craftsmanship and
authenticity throughout. The car remained with Mr. Highkin until
2008, then passed to Mr. Smith, and later to an MG enthusiast in
Des Moines, Iowa. The previous collector-owner acquired the car in
2014, maintaining it with regular service by marque specialists,
including IT'S ALIVE! Automotive. Accompanying invoices document
nearly $3,900 in maintenance and parts, ensuring that TC6939
remains mechanically strong and visually impressive.
When the opportunity arose in 2025 to acquire this exceptionally
well-documented and beautifully restored example, IT'S ALIVE!
jumped at the chance. Today, TC6939 presents and performs every bit
as well as its provenance suggests, with its matching-numbers XPAG
engine finely tuned and fully detailed.
We are proud to offer this exceptionally restored and long-term
collector-owned MG TC-a near-concours example of one of the most
iconic postwar British sports cars, ready for vintage touring,
spirited weekend drives, or addition to a fine collection.
For more information, please contact us at 314-710-6600 ext. 140 or
by emailing
[email protected].
