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Curated Auction

1950 MG TD

At a Glance

2 Former Keepers | Previous ~60 Year Ownership | Usable Recommission Project | Keen Reserve

  • Mileage~14,549
  • TransmissionManual
  • Engine1.3L
  • LocationLeamington Spa

Curated Auction

We’ve visited this car, taken the images and written the description below - we’ve also verified the seller’s ID and actioned a HPi report - learn more

Curated Auction

We’ve visited this car, taken the images and written the description below - we’ve also verified the seller’s ID and actioned a HPi report - learn more

CURATED AUCTION

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CURRENT BID£1,000
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AUCTION LIVE

ENDS IN: 56 Days 12 Hr 51 Min 51 Sec

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£1,000

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Video #2

Introduction

Kulraj Salh
COO

The MG TD blends vintage British charm with a touch of post-war innovation.

The MG TD marked a pivotal moment in British sports car history, blending pre-war charm with post-war engineering advancements. As the successor to the MG TC, the TD brought a host of improvements that made it more refined, reliable, and suited to a growing international audience - particularly the American market, where it found considerable success. The TD retained the traditional open-top, two-seater layout and classic lines that MG was known for, but introduced independent front suspension, rack-and-pinion steering, and a wider chassis, offering a much-improved ride and handling compared to its predecessor. Under the bonnet sat the familiar 1.25 Litre XPAG engine, producing ~54 BHP - enough to deliver a spirited driving experience when combined with the car’s lightweight frame and nimble character. The TD was never about outright speed; it was about the pure joy of motoring, offering a visceral connection between driver, machine, and the open road.

This car comes to market having been dry stored for some time, and only recently recommissioned to start and go once again. The former keeper bought the car back in 1965, and used and cherished the car over that time, as can be seen in the condition the car is in today. The car has been off the road for some time, some recommissioning work has been actioned to get the car moving again, and the car should be considered a usable recommission project for the new owner to "tinker" with.

This listing was written from information supplied by Kulraj after meeting Adam the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Video #2

Meet the owner

The TD has all the classic style I love in a car – it’s a real charmer.

The MG comes to market through Adam, the CEO here at Trade Classics. Adam is a keen fan of all things classic motoring, and this lovely MG is a great example of the type of car he's personally fond of, "The little TD is a really cracking car, its got all the right style I look for in a vintage car, there's so much to love about it". The former keeper has had the car for some ~60 years, and the car has clearly been cherished over that time.

The former keepers passing meant the car stayed in storage unused for some time, and so the car was purchased as a non-running project. Some recommissioning work has now been actioned, so the engine is signing again and moving under its own steam as you'll see in the mechanics section. Adam will be happy to answer any questions about his car in the comments section below.

Adam
Vehicle Owner

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CONTACT OWNER
EXTERIOR VIDEO
Video #2

Exterior

With its upright grille and sweeping wings, it’s a true icon of classic motoring - bringing pre-war style into a new era of driving fun.

Wheels and Tyres

Fitted with 15" steel wheels with chrome hub-caps, it's a classic, vintage look. The wheels are ok shape with some pitting to the chrome hub-caps, and signs of age to the edges, they would probably benefit from some refurbishment to better match the quality of the paint and bodywork.

The wheels are fitted with Vredestein Sprint Classic tyres to the front and rear, these appear to be in good condition, with a good amount of tread remaining and no obvious cracking or signs of age on the sidewalls.

Bodywork

The MG presents in a nice condition overall. The underside and body panels over the car look decent, although some fettling with the door shuts would be a job for new owner to consider. Also to note, there is a hole on the inner side of the offside rear wheel arch.

We've provided more detailed observations through our high-resolution images and videos. Please take the time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer and to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

Finished in black, the car was resprayed in 1982 from its original orange colour and polished up nicely on our visit. The paint coverage and consistency looked good across the panels having not seen much use outside of a dry garage over recent years.

We had no major cause for concern in regard to the paint coat, a fresh polish has really made the car pop, and the car just has some marks to leading edges as pictured. Once again, we've captured high-resolution images and videos of the car for you to assess the condition of the paint for yourselves.

Glass and Trim

The glass on this MG looks good and is in line with the age. During our visit, we didn't notice any chips, cracks or discolouration. The window seals also look good and align with the overall condition of the car. The MG is complete with all of its side screens/windows, and also a tonneau cover in good condition. The roof shows in a respectable condition and we didn't observe any obvious rips or tears during our visit.

The body trim is in good shape throughout and is all intact, no significant concerns were noted, just some slight pitting to the chrome work. Badges, lights and lenses are in lovely condition to the front and rear.

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INTERIOR VIDEO
Video #2

Interior

A largely original and simple interior to this classic British roadster, it's all about the open top experience!

Seats and Carpets

Red vinyl seats create a vintage feel within this cosy cabin. The seats look in good condition, just a few notes of wear to the seat backs in the shape of little marks/nicks to the top half.

The carpets look to have been replaced in recent years and show well without any major concerns. Door cards match the rest of the interior, in great condition on both sides of the cabin space.

Dashboard

The dashboard is finished in black with a brown inlay, showing two main dials and four dials on the centre section. The drivers section shows no signs of any major damage or scuffs, and with no warning lights displayed. The centre section did show a few signs of age and wear although matched our expectations of the car being on the road for ~74 years. The odometer showed a reading of ~14,549 miles during our visit.

We've covered some more detailed shots of the interior in our hi-resolution gallery, take a look over the images where our aim is to take you through the MG's interior as if you were actually in the car.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

A wooden rimmed MG steering wheel is fitted. It presents in vintage condition, a split was observed to the lower section as pictured.

The black gearstick looks good, aligning with the quality of this car. For a closer look, check out the image gallery to see the detail.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO
Video #2

Mechanics

The MG’s XPAG engine produced ~54BHP from factory, delivering a charming and characterful drive with a soundtrack to match.

Engine and Gearbox

Adam reports that the car drives well with its 4-speed manual gearbox powering the car without issue. The selectors for the gearing were noted as feeling good when driving. The new owner may need to consider a little fettling work on the engine as it's been in storage for a long time.

The TD has smaller pedals than more modern cars, as such, you may note a couple of slips in the gears in the on the road video, although this was due to a slightly different driving style required. We worked our way through all the gears out on a very short trip on the road. Take a look at the mechanical video to see the car starting from cold, driving around some local roads, and for a closer look underneath the MG and the engine bay.

Suspension and Brakes

Taking a look underneath the car, all looked to be in a good condition showing us that the dry garage storage has benefitted the car. We didn't hear any untoward noises coming from the suspension whilst on the road.

The brakes looked to be in a good condition and felt very vintage in their operation. The brakes were noted as being slightly spongey on the top end, this is likely due to it not being used for a while, a brake fluid change would be of benefit here as part of further recommissioning work.

The Drive

Out on the road, the MG TD boasts timeless beauty and turns heads wherever it goes, offering an incredibly enjoyable driving experience. With the roof down, it’s the perfect companion for those warm summer days, allowing you to fully embrace the open air and soak in the sights.

The combination of its classic design and thrilling, spirited performance makes every journey feel like a special occasion, whether you're cruising through the countryside or simply enjoying a scenic drive.

Electrics and Other

The electrical sections in the car are relatively simple, in-line with the vintage style of driving. Adam let us know that he has seen no issues with the electrical parts on the car, but also hasn't tested them all extensively. For the aspects we were able to test, we found that the indicators, temperature and oil gauge worked as we expected.

The MG is complete with a rear wheel cover, all screens, tonneau and the retractable soft top roof which functioned as intended.

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Video #2

History and Paperwork

This UK home-market car comes from previous ownership of ~60 years, presents remarkably well and is considered a usable recommissioning project that runs well, and has a low reserve on auction.

This well presented and looked after example of the MG TD is a usable car but also gives an opportunity to an enthusiast to really make it their own. With just 2 former keepers, this lovely MG has been dry stored in a garage and has travelled less than ~1,400 miles since its last noted MOT test in 2012. The TD has had a previous colour noted in its history, where it has changed from orange to black in May 1982.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History
Date Type Mileage
29.05.2012 MOT 13,179
27.05.2011 MOT 12,976
24.05.2010 MOT 12,726
19.05.2009 MOT 12,457
29.05.2008 MOT 12,268
11.04.2007 MOT 12,020
11.04.2006 MOT 11,781
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Key Details
  • Model TD
  • Transmission Manual
  • Reg. Date 08.12.1950
  • CC 1,250
  • Mileage ~14,549
  • Colour Black
  • Interior Colour Red
  • Interior Trim Vinyl
  • Chassis # TD4313
  • Engine # XPAGTDC21406
  • MOT Exempt Yes
  • Road Tax Exempt Yes
  • HPi Clear Yes
  • Former Keepers 2
  • Tyre Tread Good
  • Tyre Brand Vredestein
  • LHD or RHD RHD
  • Visited Yes
  • Sale Type Private
  • Owned Previous ~60 year ownership
  • Key Feature Low reserve, running usable project
  • Auction ID 2606
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VIEW ALL
Video #2

All Images

Exterior

Interior

Mechanics

History and Paperwork

All Videos



Vehicle Location

Leamington Spa

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    Insurance Quote


    Average annual insurance premium for a MG TD like this is £TBC via our trusted partner ClassicLine.
    GET AN INSURANCE QUOTEAnd get 10% off when you mention us.

    *Quote is based on a garaged vehicle in CV32 5QY (Leamington Spa), travelling 3,000 miles per year, 1 driver who is 45 years of age and is free on accidents and convictions – valid Spring 2025.

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    Vehicle Location

    Leamington Spa

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