Chassis TA/2831
- One of just 252 TA Tickford Coupes produced, with distinctive
three-position convertible top
- Restored by MG specialist Steve Crowley, with Burgundy leather
upholstery by Mike Collingburn
- Handsome Grey coachwork with matching canvas top and elegant
landau irons
- Twin S.U.-carbureted 1,292cc engine paired with a four-speed
manual transmission
- Beautifully detailed with an Art Deco Midge mascot, chrome
horn, driving lamp, and period accessories
The mid-1930s were a time of many changes for boutique sports-car
manufacturer Morris Garages, particularly following W.R. Morris'
sale of his interest in MG to parent company Morris Motors.
Thankfully, MG's chief designer Cecil Kimber retained the necessary
autonomy to continue developing new MG models. The first MG model
developed and produced following the company's change of ownership
was the TA Midget, the first of the famed British marque's
definitive T-Series sports cars, produced from 1936 through
1939.
Lower and wider than the previous PB, the two-seater TA proved very
popular with buyers, thanks to its more spacious and comfortable
cockpit, good handling characteristics and smoother ride. In
contrast to the previous overhead-cam MG powerplants engineered by
Kimber, the TA was powered by a newly adopted and very responsive,
pushrod-type OHV 1,292cc engine derived from the Wolseley
10/40.
Upon release, the TA was well received and appreciated for the
style, comfort, and performance delivered at a most reasonable
price. Importantly, as related by Mike Allison in his book, MG: The
Magic of the Marque, "...even the highly critical trials fraternity
accepted the new T-type Midget as a good car which achieved
everything the P and J-type cars did in standard tune, with a good
deal less fuss." Capable of approaching 80 miles per hour at full
chat, the TA could accelerate from rest to 50 miles per hour in
about 15 seconds - excellent performance for the prewar era.
The TA was a strong commercial success for MG, with 3,002 examples
produced in all, according to published figures. While the
two-seater Roadsters were most numerous, 252 Tickford Coupes were
produced, with handsome coach-built bodies supplied by Salmons and
Sons. Featuring elegant and versatile Drophead Coupe coachwork, the
TA Tickford bridged the gap in MG's model range between the TA
two-seater and 1.5-liter VA.
Additional features characteristic of the well-appointed TA
included a telescopic steering column, a snug three-position
insulated convertible top with elegant landau irons, wind-up
windows and wood-trimmed full-height doors, a handsome wooden dash,
and a windscreen that could be opened for additional ventilation as
required. The TA's modern 1,292cc OHV inline-four engine was paired
with a four-speed manual transmission and the chassis featured
boxed rails up front, a front and rear sliding-trunnion suspension
system, and the stopping power of four-wheel Lockheed hydraulic
drum brakes.
Numbered TA/2831, this 1938 MG TA Tickford Drophead Coupe was
restored approximately 13 years ago by noted MG specialist Steve
Crowley. Finished in a handsome Grey with a matching canvas top,
the Tickford features a Burgundy leather interior restored by Mike
Collingburn. The engine bay and inline four-cylinder, twin
S.U.-carbureted engine are restored and finished in keeping with
the rest of the MG, including period correct accessories,
components, and finishes throughout.
A study in prewar sporting elegance, this TA Tickford is well
accessorized, consistent with its upmarket stature and presence. In
addition to a chrome horn, single driving light, and body-colored
cooling shutters up front, the TA's radiator is crowned by a
striking, Art Deco-inspired Midge - a factory-approved accessory
mascot for the Midget in period. To the rear are a slab-style fuel
tank, spare wheel and tire, tail lamp, and U.K. registration plate,
ERL 625. Despite being restored 13 years ago, this TA Tickford
remains in top form, both mechanically and cosmetically.
Of all the great British sports cars produced, the MG TA is
particularly historic as the foundation of a dynasty that included
the short-lived TB that was halted in 1939 due to wartime, followed
during the postwar era by the progressively updated TC, TD, and TF
- the final classical MG models. Rare, elegant, and well-appointed,
this Tickford Drophead Coupe exemplifies the coach built pinnacle
of the 1936-39 MG TA model range.
Offers welcome and trades considered.
