1952 MG TD

This 1952 MG TD spent 20 years with the previous owner before the seller acquired it in 1997 and completed a body-off restoration in 2016. The body was removed and sanded to bare metal, all rotten wood was replaced, the frame was coated with POR-15 rust preventive, and Clipper Blue 2-pack paint similar to the car's original finish was applied. Power is provided by a rebuilt 4-cylinder with an upgraded camshaft and valves and it is mated to an aftermarket 5-speed manual gearbox from Hi-Gear Engineering in the UK. Exterior features include a tan soft top, side curtains, and tonneau cover made of Stayfast fabric from Haartz, and the interior has been refreshed with new upholstery from Moss Motors. This MG is offered with receipts and a notebook containing restoration documentation, owner and shop manuals, the factory jack and tools, and a clear Colorado title.

The body was refinished in 2-pack catalyzed Clipper Blue paint during the restoration and has had the chrome trim cleaned and polished. Some trim parts were replaced and the Amco luggage rack has been re-chromed.

The original steel wheels have been replaced with 60-spoke painted wire items with knockoffs and per the seller, the master cylinder and brakes were rebuilt using parts from Moss Motors. Gallery photos demonstrate how the Stayfast fabric tonneau cover can be adjusted to protect the coordinating fabric convertible top, the top and the passenger side of the interior, or the top and the entire interior.

During the restoration process, the interior received a kit from Moss Motors that included vertically ribbed leather seats. Equipment includes a stitched wrap around the rim of the 3-spoke steering wheel, lap belts, an emergency brake handle between the two seats, a glovebox, and an MG-branded grab handle on the passenger side of the dashboard.

The dashboard houses a 100-mph speedometer that has not been calibrated to the aftermarket 5-speed gearbox, as well as a tachometer and other gauges. The odometer reads approximately 40,000 miles, though true mileage is unknown. The seller reports that everything functions except the clock and windshield wiper motor. 

Under the center-hinged hood is a 4-cylinder engine which the seller reports was rebuilt, including the heads, by the Colorado-based company Engine Masters, and it is paired with a period-correct top-end oiler and an aftermarket 5-speed manual gearbox in place of the factory 4-speed unit. The original brass tag attached to the engine was lost during the rebuild, so it now wears a replacement tag. The seller further notes that the car was fitted with a V8 for racing in a previous life.

Undercarriage photos show the work performed during the body-off restoration, including the addition of POR-15 rust preventive treatment, replacement wood, and the stainless steel exhaust. 

Owner and shop manuals, restoration documentation, the factory jack, Whitworth wrenches, and other TD-specific tools will go with the car. The seller notes that this MG predates the VIN system. Its brass firewall tag includes the engine and car numbers and the first four letters and last five digits of the engine number constitute the VIN listed on the title.