1952 MG TD |

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1952 MG TD

This vehicle has now been sold - click ‘Register Similar’ below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

Sold Price

£15,900

Mileage~10,911
TransmissionManual
Engine1.3L
LocationDunstable

SOLD

1952 MG TD

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy

Automotive Editor, Photographer and Consigner

The TD combines pre-war charm with a '50s usability

Despite its slightly old-fashioned styling, the MG TD was a technically advanced car when it was revamped in 1949. MG knew their customers and gave them exactly what they wanted and helped to buck the trend of post-war difficulties experienced by the UK industry at the time. The factory was also fully prepared for exports and MG's efforts were rewarded by excellent sales thanks to the cars reputation for a sporting ride, punchy engine and nimble driving experience.

This 1952 RHD UK-spec car was subject to an extensive restoration in the late 80s, which included seeing the majority of body panels replaced, a rebuilt engine, chassis protection, overhauled wiring and a refitted interior with every aspect of the cabin receiving attention. The car has seen a period of inactivity in recent years but the quality of the work still shines through as pictured. Having seen just six previous owners over its lifetime, it comes with a stack of invoices, documentation and evidence of its restoration, as well as a copy of its original vehicle registration document.

This auction listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting Richard 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.

Meet the owner

The previous owner's widow retained and stored the car for some 15 years before I got the opportunity to purchase it.

Richard decided to purchase this car ~1 year ago as it was in really good condition, the car was part of a small collection. The MG has not been properly used since the mid-2000s but only needed minor mechanical attention to getting it up to scratch.

Richard loves his classics, but personal circumstances have forced the sale of this car. He'll be happy to answer any questions you have in the comments section below.

Richard

Vehicle Owner

Richard saved £2,700* when they
sold their MG with us.

SELLING MADE EASY

We'll take the photos & create the listing.
We'll market it to our 62K buyers & online.
You'll keep your car until it's paid for.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

Subject to a ground-up restoration over 30 years ago, it still presents in great condition today.

Wheels and Tyres

The period-correct steel wheels were refurbished and therefore in good condition, with no significant signs of corrosion or misuse. The tyres have good tread but do show signs of age and are likely to be over 20 years old.

Bodywork

The structure of the car is in very good order. The chassis frame is solid, thanks to it being sand-blasted, primed and synthetically enamelled. As part of the restoration, it received new wooden body members, new front and rear quarter panels and rear bulkhead fitted. Four new wings, running boards and doors were also fitted.

As a result, there is no significant damage observed to the metal, although there are a handful of small blemishes, the most obvious one being a small dent on the near-side front wing. We have taken hi-resolution images and videos of the car for you to assess the condition of the bodywork for yourselves.

Paint

The paintwork has been well applied and displays a decent lustre throughout and has clearly been subject to indoor storage in the past, with no major scratches, hazing or paint fade. However, there are several places throughout the body where the paint finish is starting to crack as is often the case with cars of this vintage, with the top of the driver's door, running boards, scuttle panel and rear section being the main areas.

The images taken are from different angles and reflections to show the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. Please take the time to fully assess the condition.

Glass and Trim

The finishing of the chrome and glass is of a high standard and were likely to have been renewed during the restoration. There are some signs of age creeping through, such as the windscreen frame and evidence of age on the lamination on the actual windscreen, but overall all in good health.

The canvas roof and tonneau cover are in good condition, with no significant damage to the canvas or plastic glass and fits well.

We have captured high resolution photos and videos for you to review and appreciate the condition of the exterior.

VIEW ALL

INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

Tastefully finished, the interior is well presented and feels like home.

Seats and Carpets

The finishing of the seats suggests a high-quality restoration, with no wear or damage noted. The carpets and mats are good, with the door cards in decent order without damage or significant scuffing.

We have captured high resolution photos and videos for you to review and appreciate the condition of the interior.

Dashboard

The dashboard has a pleasing aesthetic, emphasised by its careful finish. The condition of the facia is excellent, with the dials, switches all displaying hardly any suggestion of wear.

Please review the interior media pack for a closer look.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel was said to be a new item, replaced when the car was restored. There are no signs of significant cracking observed on it.

The handbrake and gearstick are in good condition. Please review the images and videos for a closer look.

VIEW ALL

'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

The TD, despite its humble origins, is a remarkably easy car to drive.

Engine and Gearbox

The engine is said to run well and has not covered much more than 10 miles over the last 15 years. It was stripped and cleaned, with a new camshaft, timing chain, cam followers, rocker shafts and gaskets and seals.

The gearbox also received new bearings as part of the restoration. The physical condition of the components is excellent, we weren't able to run the car on the day we consigned the car as there was a fuel pump issue, the seller has since rectified this and provided a video of the car starting and running.

Suspension and Brakes

The running gear has all been subject to renovation. This includes new bushes, reconditioned shock absorbers, refurbed steering rack, new brake cylinders, pipes, hoses and cables.

Thanks to sympathetic storage, all still appear to be in good condition but since the car has not covered much distance over the last 15 years, they may need minor fettling.

The Drive

The MG TD has a huge advantage over many of its contemporaries, it's easy to work on and offers excellent parts availability, making it a surprisingly pain-free experience for all but the novice.

The conventional pedal layout and a familiar gearshift pattern make it as straightforward as driving the MGB but offers a little more individuality. We dare you not to make other road users smile and wave when they see you drive the car!

Electrics and Other

The car shows plenty of evidence of a mechanical overhaul, which also covers the electrical items of the car, which include a new wiring harness, dynamo, distributor and starter motor.

VIEW ALL

History and Paperwork

Fully restored in the 80s, this car comes with an impressive history file for provenance, and presents in great condition to this day from careful storage.

The car comes with a huge file of paperwork, which also covers an extensive restoration, thought to have been carried out in the late '80s. As the car was essentially rebuilt from the ground up with thousands spent on new and refurbished parts, the milometer was reset to zero, as a result, the car has covered just under 11,000 miles since the rebuild.

There is evidence of regular upkeep since the restoration, with paperwork to suggest this. In addition to the stack of invoices and notes, the car also comes with operation and workshop manuals, as well as period books and articles on the TD. It also comes with a paper trail of previous owners, going back to the '60s which could be fun to investigate. Have a look at the paperwork gallery, as there are over 150 items to be viewed.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

Due to holiday commitments the car will be available to collect form 4th July.

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
10-09-2007	MOT	10,904
15-09-2006	MOT	10,887
15-09-2005	MOT	10,869
16-09-2004	MOT	10,823
17-09-2003	MOT	10,806
12-09-2002	MOT	10,789
13-09-2001	MOT	10,739
13-07-2000	MOT	10,719
15-06-1999	MOT	10,665
01-06-1998	MOT	9,364
02-06-1997	MOT	8,391
06-06-1996	MOT	7,435
07-06-1995	MOT	6,148
10-05-1994	MOT	4,446
11-05-1993	MOT	2,943
18-05-1992	MOT	2,262
07-06-1991	MOT	1,438
04-05-1990	MOT	698
05-05-1989	MOT	48