Vehicle Description
1953 MG TD with less than 200 miles on restored motor. car runs and
drives great. Overall very good condition. Asking $18,500/obo.MG's
TC roadster sold well initially and proved American demand for an
English sports car, but the car's right-hand-drive configuration
and 1930s specifications meant it was ripe for a redesign by 1950.
In response, Syd Enever and Alec Hounslow took two weeks in 1949 to
strip a four-seat Y-Type Tourer and shorten the chassis five
inches. Just like that, the MG TD roadster was born.The TD also
carried a few modifications aimed at the U.S. market. Specifically,
left-hand drive was offered, along with rack-and-pinion steering,
smaller, 15-inch steel disc wheels (no wire wheels were offered),
and larger bumpers. In turn, the car was wider and 200 pounds
heavier than the TC. Keeping with its predecessor, the TD's weather
protection was minimal.The MG TD still used the 54-hp, 1,250-cc
XPAG inline-four motor to reach a top speed in the mid-70 mph
range, which meant the second of MG's T-Series cars was a tad
slower than the first. Even so, the TD's modifications conspired
with a newly devalued British pound to make the TD an unqualified
success and 29,664 were sold in four years - three times the TC
production. More than 80% of that figure were imported to the
U.S.In the middle of 1951, the TD received a new engine block and
sump, as well as a larger clutch and a new flywheel, and this
iteration is now commonly referred to as the TD2. MG also
manufactured 1,710 TD Mk IIs, and it was essentially produced for
club racers. The Mk II held 5.5 percent more horsepower (and a top
speed of 83 mph), thanks to increased compression ratio and bigger
valves. Additional friction dampers, badging, a bulge over the
carburetors, and chrome grill bars also differentiated the model.In
general, the MG T-Series delivers a pure 1940s / early 1950s
British driving experience, and the TD is no exception. Its
mechanicals are robust and mostly easy to source, which makes
ownership relatively straightforward. The cars were designed for
weekly maintenance, however, so it is essential that everything is
greased and oiled before putting one on the road.