'50 MG TD

1950 MG T-Series Description

Mechanically, the TD wasn’t all that different from the TC, including the gutsy 1250cc inline-four cylinder engine. Horsepower is probably around 80, but in such a lightweight package, it’s plenty spirited and makes wonderful sports car sounds. Fed by a pair of side-draft carburetors breathing through a single AC oil bath air cleaner, it’s quite correctly restored and beautifully detailed, from the MG Maroon paint on the block itself to the soft gray finish on the tinwork. During the restoration, it was fully rebuilt to factory specs and thanks to the pros at Black Horse Garage, it runs superbly. Details like the wiring harness, hoses and clamps, fuel pump, and fasteners are all correct, and while it shows a few minor signs of use, it’s still not far from being ready for the show field.
The 4-speed manual gearbox is probably the one thing that makes people fall in love with MGs. With light throws, just the right gear ratios, and a wonderfully precise feel, you’ll find yourself shifting just for the sheer joy of it. The engine is torquey enough to pull 4th gear even from very low speeds, but the fun is in running it through the gears with enthusiasm, letting the engine sing its surprisingly baritone song through the single tailpipe out back. It’s not fast, not by today’s standards, but the fun is in driving it at 8/10ths and still running at a moderate pace without endangering the countryside. You feel like you’re exercising the car and having a ball doing it. The suspension was upgraded on the TD and the rack-and-pinion steering is a wonderful addition, giving improved precision with less effort. Brakes are plenty powerful and with the light curb weight, even those 165SR15 Dunlops on chrome wire wheels are plenty grippy to be entertaining.