Fancy Drophead: 1938 MG TA Tickford Project
By the 1930s, MG was on a roll, enthusiastically producing the cars known as Midgets. Midgets of all types were scooting about the British countryside, competing in hill climbs, rallies, and even early Grand Prix. By 1936 the company had followed the beloved PB with the MG TA, incorporating several improvements including hydraulic brakes and synchromesh on the top two gears of its four-speed. These were mostly open two-seat cars with panels hung on an ash frame. But around 250 TAs went off to distinguished coachbuilder Salmons & Sons to be clothed in special bodywork. Salmons & Sons was founded in 1820 to make coaches; its early location was Tickford Street, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, England, thus its product came to be known as “Tickford”. Here on eBay is a 1938 MG TA Tickford drophead coupe for sale, with an asking price of $15,000. We have T.J. to thank for this swanky tip! The car is located sandwiched among many of its brethren in a garage in Beverly Hills, California. The seller indicates he has too many projects to attend to this one, and I would say that’s accurate!
The TA did not inherit the same powerplant as the PB’s 939 cc overhead cam block. Instead, it received a 1292 cc overhead valve engine, eliciting a great hue and cry from enthusiasts who instantly detested the change. But the larger displacement with 50 bhp on tap, a top speed of 80 mph, and a better gearbox and brakes won the day: MG was forgiven for its crude trespass. It didn’t hurt that there was no price increase for a new TA over a PB. The seller notes that this engine has been replaced with another – we don’t know which type, but the change is recorded in a UK logbook with an entry dated 1966. The engine turns by hand.
All TAs were right-hand drive. The seller states that this car’s interior door panels and door caps, drophead top, and tachometer are missing. The Tickford cars had a slightly higher “waistline” to accommodate roll-up windows and a three-position top. The external landau irons are hinged to allow the top to cover just the seats, or the entire car, or recede entirely for a complete top-down experience. The top was insulated to dampen sound and provide even more security against the weather.
The car is missing its running boards and it appears that the left front wing is slightly damaged. While the seller states that Tickford cars can bring $100,000, I believe that’s an out-of-date number. A nice Tickford was bid to $80,000 at Mecum in 2019 at Monterey and failed to sell; a Tickford with TC running gear and some patina sold for just 41,000 GBP at Bonhams in 2021. Other sales scattered through the internet indicate prices far less than $100k over the last few years. What do you think of this one, could it be a worthy project at $15,000?
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Comments
Cars like this need to be displayed somewhere so folks can see the development of the import/sports car history that was important to Europe and the US at the time. This is a nice example of that time period.
Seems well worth the asķing money based on rarity. Sharing mechanical parts with TC means good supply and low prices.
The colours suit this car, it looks more elegant than a typical green or black.
TA & TC motors are two different engines altogether.
Quite an elegant car. The 3 position top has landau irons, roll up windows (MG stayed with side curtains until the MGB on their sport models), nice wood details in the interior and “trafficaters” that pop out on the side scuttles. The engine probably swapped to a XPAG 1250 engine as a practical matter. The original engine was all 1930 technology; poured bearings and a wet, cork clutch.
Whenever I see an MG of this period, I immediately think of my old man. He was a sports car guy, through and through, coming to the States after WWII from a British colony. He loved Jags. The big Saloons. MkVII’s with an occasional MKIX thrown in for good measure. He did all of the work on them and kept them spotless. Meticulous is an understatement. My point is that one day, I casually mentioned, as a 17 or 18 year old, that I was going to look at one of these early MG’s (can’t remember the model, but before the A was introduced) and his comment to me? Those things have sewing machines for engines. LOL….