Diamond in the Rough? 1939 MG SA Tickford Drophead Coupe
In terms of rarity alone, it would be hard to beat this 1939 MG SA Tickford Drophead Coupe. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and listed here on Facebook Marketplace, this classic is available for $12,000. Many thanks to Will Zeier for this tip!
Produced from 1936 to 1939, concurrently with the TA line, the SA was intended to be a more powerful and luxurious offering, competing with the cars of SS and Bentley. Consequentially, a larger inline-six was chosen as a power plant. Although the overhead cam design was originally used in the Wolseley Super Six, for the MG displacement was increased from to 2,026cc– first to 2,288cc, then, in 1937, to 2,322cc. Not surprisingly, power improved substantially, with the engine making 75bhp; a marked improvement over the TA’s four-cylinder output of between 50 and 60 horsepower, yet made necessary by the increased weight of this more upmarket model. The gearbox was a four-speed with synchromesh on the top two gears, and drum brakes provided the stop to the SA’s go. Even with the limited power and increased weight, top speed was over 80 mph.
The “Tickford” in the car’s name comes from the coachwork, courtesy not of MG, but rather Salmons and Sons of Newport Pagnell. These cars are equipped with such comforts as bucket front seats, roll-up windows, and suicide front doors. Passengers in the rear bench seat sit a little higher than the driver and front passenger, allowing a more clear view of the road ahead, and the top can be set in three different positions: either completely retracted, or covering the whole of the passenger compartment, or fixed over the rear seats alone.
The large number of custom fittings used in the Tickford Drophead Coupes make the seller’s claims that “we have about 70 percent of the car” a concern. Still, the engine seems to be with the car, the frame doesn’t seem to be in too bad of shape, and the skills that were employed in the building of the car can be employed in its rebuilding– as long as the new owner has the finances to fund an ambitious project. Just over 2,700 SAs were made, with very few ever exported, and there’s no telling how many survive. For a determined and resourceful MG enthusiast, this could be an amazing opportunity.
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Comments
A couple of years ago, I sold one of these cars, but it was in much better shape.
Thanks to Larry we get to see what a nice looking car that this one used to be. A pile of parts, even if they are all there, doesn’t get anywhere near the asking price that would pull money out of my pocket.
I see no sign of this being an overhead cam engine, OHV yes but not OHC.
What a day, I owned one of these as well as a ’54 Corvette, at the same time, being a car nut, single, and with a good job back in the late
60’s. The pictures here do not do it justice, it is a big car, a very long hood, very low to the ground, the epitome of 1930’s styling. Mine had been brought over to the US by a serviceman after WWII, parts for the pushrod 6 were not available, and he had put in a Hudson Super 6 (the engine of choice in the late 40’s and a V8 would not fit), clutch and overdrive. It ran superbly and comfortably at 50 mph on skinny 4.75 x 19″ tires. But it had also been in an accident and the right front fender did not quite match, and the right rear was clearly home made, as was the panel below the trunk opening. The headlights were Buick, the generator White truck (12 volt system even in 1939), taillights were Ford pickup truck. Black, red leather interior, right hand drive, it was a beautiful and impractical car, no heater, let alone defroster, but, in its original form you could check the oil level from the dash. Had a wife, kids, mortgage, old house, etc., not intervened, friend and I were going to put in a Mopar slant six, redo the homemade body parts, and keep on going, but, I lost its barn, and sold it and had a series of station wagons and Dodge Caravans (5) instead. Alas. Last I looked there were 6 of these in the US registered.
I can’t se this back together in one piece as a Tickford dhc. However, as a 6 cyl complete rolling chassis I think it may actually be good value to someone who would make a VSCC Type racing special out of it.
With a supercharger and skimpy alloy body, engine set back in the frame could be very interesting!
C’mon! Lets have some justice!
Thnx Larry.
/AND/
https://www.classicandsportscar.com/classifieds/classic-cars/mg/other-models/1939-mg-va-tickford-drophead-coupe/9319021
I used to live at 11A Tickford Streer in Newport Pagnell…. 2 houses, a pub and a bakery away from the renowned Aston Martin Factory….. when I saw my virtually unbeatable AM V8 Vantage Top Trumps card in the flesh for the first time, I literally pissed my pants I was so bloody excited!