No Reserve 1953 MG TD Project
A rash of long-term owners have been selling vintage vehicles lately, and here’s yet another one here on eBay, this 1953 MG TD. Bidding has reached $5300 in a no-reserve auction, and the car is located in Key West, Florida. This seller grew up working on and learning to drive in this car. Some twenty years ago he began a frame-off restoration, changing the color from red over red to black over red, situating the sheet metal over all-new wood, and extensively rebuilding or replacing components. The engine will not cooperate with prompts to engage in its primary function – running – so the seller has decided to let her go. The car comes with a thick file of receipts and other documentation. As the Rolling Stones say (Faraway Eyes), the car is “a little bleary, worse for wear and tear” – perhaps from outside storage – but thus far the price is right.
The seller notes that the engine starts and runs but will not accelerate without backfiring. Here it is, looking mighty innocent in all of its 54 hp, 1250 cc four-cylinder glory. This mill is the same as that used in the TC, though the Nuffield Group upgraded the differential and four-speed gearbox, and gave the car rack and pinion steering. Despite these modernizations, the TD performed only marginally better than the TC. The addition of bumpers, along with increased length and width added 200 lbs to the final product. Nonetheless, buyers in the US were enthusiastic, and almost 30,000 TDs were sold over the manufacturing run from 1950 to 1953. The winning bidder will receive several parts, either brand new or original to this car.
The interior was refurbished using a leather kit from Moss. The top is stained, but it, a tonneau, and the side curtains are all with the car. Many of the gauges and switches are new, and the car has a new wiring harness. The seller notes a few rust spots here and there, but nothing serious. A tool bag and the starting crank are tucked behind the seat back.
The TD made do with disc wheels since the new rack and pinion steering would have called for a re-design of the wheels to accommodate a different geometry, and Nuffield wasn’t going to spend money on that. The trademark vertical-slat grille, fender-mounted headlights, and flowing body lines were familiar to MG fans. The seller notes that the front bumper is only set on its mounts, not screwed down; it is straight and will install normally. If you’re eager to own a TD, you benefit from plenty of examples from which to choose, and ever lower prices as owners vie to find new buyers for these cars. Is this one an attractive prospect?
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Comments
Not a bad looking car. The engine problem sounds like two or three very simple things to fix. Car used to be red but the black is dirty but doesn’t look that bad.
And the trip to Key West would be fun any way! Car or not.
It’s freezing here in New England.
Let’s all go to Key West to look at this MG.
It looks great despite the salt air.
We are 29 miles outside of Key West. If you go down stop by for a beer. It’s 61 degrees right now. Hard winter here.
It’s freezing here in New England.
Let’s all go to Key West to look at this MG.
It looks great despite the salt air.
Take the top fitting off the top of the carbs and pour a little oil in 10w 30. Just a little. Usually stops the backfire and it will accelerate as it should. Try the easy stuff first.
Marval mystery oil…..it will never gum up the carbs
Possibly sacrilege, but what would it take to make this an E-mg? Will GM or Ford ever make affordable electric crate motors the way they marketed the fabled 350 and 351 Cleveland V8s ? I think a lot of people would enjoy the vintage style with 21st century reliability?
Absolute sacrilege!! The EV industry is in it’s death throws according to all the media coverage.
If you ask the Tesla owners in Chicago, they will call BS on EV reliability. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, ‘a lot of people’ were stranded in the snow and cold because their batteries were dead and lines to recharge meant an hour or so wait in the cold to hook up. Then it took 5 times longer than normal to recharge due to the cold weather. I believe not very many people would want to ruin a British Classic like the TD by putting an electric motor in one. In fact, I’d be shocked if there were any besides you.
The dictator of Canada decreed that we will all drive EV’s by 2035 notwithstanding the fundamental incompatibility with our long distances and weather.
Conversation is not cheap. These engines are simple, and when they don’t run properly it always turns out to be something simple basic and stupid.
At least with this car, you’d be able to get out quickly when the battery bursts into flames.
I have no problem with that, would be cool to see one converted and used instead of sitting.
This fellow will hate himself for selling this after all it’s history and work put into it. I suggest he keep it. I wish I kept my old ‘52 TD.
College roommate had one (in 1960’s), very easy to maintain and repair, fun to drive, capable on the interstates of the time (65 mph), totally impractical, barely room for groceries unless just the driver, looks like the big issues with one this old, being rotten wood structure and worn out insulation on the wiring causing shorts, have been dealt with. Engines were simple.
Seller said the wood frame is all new and new wiring harness. Read the ad!!
Back in the 60s, it was popular to put a Volvo engine in the front of these TDs, because you’d get a reliable engine with double the horsepower. For that matter, a Miata engine and transmission totally transform this car. Best idea is to just buy a TD that is already restored, since you can easily spend $20,000 getting a car like this up to decent condition. Speaking from my own experience restoring old cars.
I’d get it running, freshen the mechanicals, and drive it. My wife’s next husband can do the restoration.
Put some oil in the carb reservoirs, may stop the back firing…!!!
US $7,002.00
21 bidsEndedToday 03:42 PM
Condition:
UsedUsed
Ended:
Jan 21, 2024 13:42:57 PST
The size of the car would mean not much room for batteries. So you either have short range and/or extremely nose heavy.
It would remove everything that makes an MG an MG.
And is an EV person going to live with the primitive car like this? I drove a TC once, it was fun as a whole package experience.
Correct me if I am wrong but didnt the 1953 have the headlights built into the fenders ?? This looks more like a 1952 MG / TD !!
Just to clear up any misunderstanding. The TF had the built-in headlights. Began in 1954.
No, the TF had integrated headlights
Back to the carbs. John Twist now uses 89/90 gear oil in the dashpots. I’ve done it to 5 or 6 cars and the difference is amazing. It holds the pistons down during initial acceleration. This speeds up the air going across the bridge and makes the mixture richer.
Try it; it costs you nothing and is easily changed back if you don’t like it.