MG TD: 1950 English Roadster new to the JG Classics Fleet
A true journey into the automotive past
MG TD - Automotive design 30's of the 20th century
We announce the arrival of a new member to the JG Classics family. We have acquired a beautiful MG TD. It is one of the first manufactured. It has the production number 880 (of about 50000 that were manufactured). It left the factory on March 6, 1950. 74 years and six months old as of the publication date of this post! And here you can see it:
Although the first unit of the MG TD left the Abingdon factory in England in 1949, the MG TD is actually – it could be said – the fourth generation of the T series, whose first models were the TA, then the TB – which, after few units produced, was discontinued due to World War II – and the TC (manufactured after the end of World War II in 1945) until 1949.
Although with the same 54 hp 1200CC XPAG engine as its predecessors, the TD incorporated some structural improvements in chassis, braking, and other elements, and was the first T-series model to produce left-hand drive units -although ours is right-hand drive-.
If you want to see more details of the history of the MG TD, this excellent article will provide you with interesting information.
You can click HERE to view it
MG TD - Reconditioning and improvement works
At this moment we are preparing the vehicle to make it available in our fleet.
We have already finished some works such as:
- Brakes: Change of brake cylinders, brake shoes, revision of brake drums and start up of the brake light circuit.
And of course a total replacement of the brake fluid, which came out of a color that denoted many years of not having been replaced. - Rear lights: We have replaced the rear light bulbs (they were in pretty bad shape), and we have added directional lights (turn signals). Thanks to a supplier in Stafford, UK, we have installed the equivalent of the Lucas L875 turn signals. We will update our list of suppliers with their reference, but for the moment you can find them here. It is important to mention that the first MG TDs did not have steering lights. In this unit, during its previous life, they adopted a solution placing them inside the original pilot lampshade with a result that -being benevolent- we can qualify as simply “possible to improvable”.
- The analog tachometer clock. A small jewel of the car’s dashboard: This model has a mechanical clock integrated in the tachometer dial. For some amazing reason, it was stopped and disconnected. To our -pleasant- surprise, we just had to give it voltage and make a permanent 12V power supply circuit to start it up. Now it has been working for a month and a half with millimetric precision :-).
- Temperature thermometer: Replaced.
In this model it is a mechanical thermometer that works by liquid expansion inside a capillary that joins the probe to the instrument. - Fuel tank: We have replaced the gauge that activates the light on the panel that comes on when there is little fuel left (it is activated when there are about 8 liters left).
After this change, and the change of the light itself, now the “Low fuel” warning functionality is operational again.
MG TD - Number TD/0880. March 1950
MG TD - Coming work to complete the vehicle
Although this vehicle is fully functional, fully operational and up to date with technical inspections (MOT), we want to bring it up to our quality standards. That is why the following operations are in process..:
- Restoration of upholstery and carpets (including interior panels).
We have already received the materials, and plan to start work in the next two weeks. - Sealing oil circuit phase I: In this first phase, we will make a change of all the gaskets that do not require removal of the engine.
The idea is to eliminate or isolate as many small oil leaks as possible.
It is true that all English roadsters up to 1960 have a reputation for “sweating” oil, but there are a few points where these can be eliminated with new materials.
For example, MOSS supplies a modern manufactured oil seal that can replace the original crankshaft pulley seal that is made in the original version …. made of rope!!! - Stage II oil circuit sealing: This is a more ambitious stage that requires removal of the engine, so it will be undertaken at a later date.
Trying to follow the “dry engine” philosophy even for these Xpag engines, there is an adaptation also from MOSS to mount at the crankshaft outlet to avoid oil leakage using modern oil seals.
The change will really be worth the effort.
MG TD - Current status
Here are some photos of the MG TD.
In these, none of the work had been done yet, not even those of the first part mentioned above.
Anyway, here you can see it.
Our unit in the RTVE series "Celia" (1993)
This was a nice surprise that our MG TD gave us.
By complete chance we discovered that this unit was the one used in the filming of the RTVE series “Celia” in 1993.
And we knew it by a compilation that someone made titled “Classic Cars in movies : MG TD”.
There we saw it and then watching the series (it is available on RTVE’s own archive channel on Youtube) we could see our unit -which we identified because it has some customization details that were made throughout its existence, and that are all visible in the filming (except, obviously the license plate that was changed to adapt it to the plot of the series, which takes place in the 30’s)-.
Here are three clips from the series where the car appears.
It’s not really relevant, but as I said, it’s still a nice anecdote:
This vehicle is truly a time travel into the automotive past that amazes and astonishes everyone who sees it up closely. We plan to have it in November 2024. We will keep you updated!
