Supercharged Garage Find: 1951 MG TD
Growing up as a car-nut kid in the ’60s, these MG TD’s always turned my head. They looked like nothing else on the road (or coming out of Detroit). Their separate headlights, vertical grill, thin cutaway doors, running boards, and spare tires on the back just oozed classic British roadster. If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a fun-to-drive vintage sports car, this would be a good one. It’s only had three owners and after spending the last 13 years covered in a garage, it’s been coaxed back to life and is looking for owner number four. You’ll find this MG TD for sale here on Marketplace in Virginia Beach, VA for an asking price of $15,995.
The person listing the car is helping a close friend sell his 1951 MG TD which was purchased in Hawaii in 1983. He’s the third owner and has kept the MG in a garage for 38 years. It’s not stated why, but the car was running and driving well before the owner stopped driving it in 2008. The MG was covered and garaged and remained there until just recently. The car has been driven less than 500 miles over the past 25 years.
There are plenty of photos of the outside of the car from every angle, but not many of the interior and none of the engine which is fitted with a PEPCO aftermarket supercharger. The seller says he did a cursory check and couldn’t find any rust on the body and that it has no dents or body damage. He also gives the current state of the Ivory paint as a 5 on a scale of 1 to 10. He also says the folding convertible top, tonneau cover, car cover, side curtains, carpet and interior are in “great condition.”
The MG is currently running and can be driven. The tires were flat from years of sitting but are holding air after being pumped up. The flat spots cause a rough ride and new tires are recommended. The seller states that most maintenance records have been kept including detailed invoices for an engine and transmission rebuild. Recent repairs are detailed and include:
- Rebuilt carburetor
- Rebuilt brakes (drums cleaned, new wheel cylinders, pads, master cylinder)
- Replaced oil filter assembly
- New coolant pipe, hoses, and clamps
- New fan and supercharger belts
- New engine stabilizer bar and mounting bracket
- Fuel tank cleaned out and repaired
- New fuel sending unit and hardware
- New Interstate Battery
Overall, this looks like a solid example of one of the 29,664 MG TD’s sold between 1950 and 1953 (mostly in the US). The seller says “For an MG enthusiast, this is a perfect project car… only needs a little TLC and you will have a very nice classic.” Based on the photos and the MG’s current condition (and having only 3 owners the past 70 years), I think I would agree. It’s a cool little roadster.
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Comments
after market supercharger? Let’s see pics!! Some sellers will never learn
Exceptional appearance. Appreciate the sellers honesty. Looks like a great price on a nice car.
Under hood photos?
Link?
Nice car. Wonder what happened to the original bumpers. Had a ’53 and it was a lot of fun.
Nice car at a good price. I don’t see many white ones. I’m with the others, a pic of the supercharger would probably bring 50% more calls to the seller.
Front wings appear to have been cut and the splash pan seems to have been reworked in some manner….
Aside from that, I too would like to see the engine/supercharger pictured. Otherwise, seems reasonably priced. Potentially, a lot of fun there!
I agree. These are such pretty little cars, and the homemade bumpers, and modified “wings” (front fenders), and front splash pan really detract from the beauty of this car.
I’ve been around a few TC’s and TF’s, but never had a chance to work on or drive a TD. I don’t care much for the look of the TF’s fender mounted headlights, but I love TC’s and TD’s.
I love the driving experience. I’ve had 2 in similar condition and it took very little to keep them going. They are a lot of easy fun for the dollar. A bonus was it fit in the 2 car garage sideways in front of the small cars I’ve had.
Probably a Judson blower on this. I had a ‘52. You don’t want to open the doors at speed on these!
Jeff… You bring up an interesting point with the doors. We autocrossed our ’53 a couple of times and had to bungee cord the doors shut because the frame twisted just enough to pop the latches.
No Judson…. It says it has a Pepco … which is much better than a Judson, smaller , but its a Rootes design like a 6-71 and has no .vanes. I just sold one a couple months ago
Pre War cars did have a SC option?
Or, was it a after market add on ?
Neat cars.
They were the rage in early 50’s SCCA racing.
John
My factory records show that only ONE supercharged TD came from the factory; all the rest had after-market Marshall-Nordec, Shorrock, Ital, Judson or Wade superchargers added. This car has a PEPCO supercharger, with very strange and convoluted manifolds that can’t help it breathe very well; PEPCO was the brainchild of Lou Fageol, master of the twin-engined 8-cytlinder Porsche!
The incorrect bumpers, chopped front fenders and splash apron, and incorrect dash do this car no favors. It’s been kicking around for sale for some time.
Please define “recent” repairs……?
Pepco made superchargers back in the 1950’s. I think they were Italian. Not as good as Judson and neither as good as what is available today. Also wondering if the running boards, front fenders, and apron below radiator are some fiberglass replacements. Rubber strips on running board are wrong, and shapes of front fender and front apron have an odd shape. Dash is missing glove box. Also wondering if engine is correct “XPAG” type or some replacement. Lots more info needed to access value.