If the American Ford managed to put America on wheels at the beginning of the last century, the European automakers showed the world comfortable, elegant, and stylish cars. One such elegant model was the original MG T-series.
Source: Historics Auctioneers
MG TD certainly deserves attention, even though the model was not very familiar outside Britain. However, its exceptional story deserves special attention. The lacking post-war years were especially harsh for automakers. Because of the very modest resources, the British manufacturer made a roadster that looked like classic British automobiles of the 30s. However, the American soldiers liked it and became the main clientele of the model, thus, promoting the automobile overseas. Not surprisingly, the main share of the produced roadsters went to the US market.
Source: Silver Arrow Cars LTD
The company’s pre-war T series models (TA (1936-1939) and TB (1939-1940) were typical British sports cars in the style of the 30s. They traced their origins to the MG M-Type Midget, a compact roadster (1928-1932), which didn’t look modern because of the conservative design typical for the British automotive industry. Technically it was as conservative as their design, except for the installation of Lockheed hydraulic brakes and a partially synchronized 4-speed manual transmission. The cylinder engine with a single overhead camshaft was replaced by a simpler 4-cylinder MPJG engine from Wolseley 10. In 1939, the TA was replaced by the TB, then after the war, the TC (1945-1949) succeeded the TB. The phenomenal popularity of TC was difficult to explain based on the automotive fashion and technological progress of those years. This British roadster was obsolete in all respects already at the time of its launch, and MG had no reason to expect great demand: before WWII it focused mainly on the local market, and was practically unknown outside of Britain. But in 1945, the British automaker had to choose: export its products or shut down. The MG company chose the first option, counting on the American soldiers who liked their unremarkable sports cars. After the MG TC release and launched sales in the United States (in 1948), hundreds of such vehicles appeared on American roads. So the TC became one of the first sports vehicles available in the US. The successor to the TC was the TD introduced in 1949.
Source: Overdrive
The successor to the TC was the TD model produced from 1949-1953. The 1952 release differed from the previous ones with standard full-width bumpers and smaller 15-inch wheels with metal rims instead of spokes. The double body was still built on a wooden frame and was equipped with a canvas top with clip-on side curtains. The inline 4-cylinder engine with 54 HP remained unchanged, as did the 4-speed manual transmission. Updates mainly affected the chassis: it received an independent front suspension with springs, rack, and pinion steering from the MG Y-Type sedan, as well as a hypoid rear axle. As a result, the car has improved its ride. It was available with left-hand drive, and the speedometer and tachometer were located in front of the driver, and not at opposite ends of the dashboard. However, American drivers often complained about the lack of a fuel gauge and an unusual 12-volt electrical system instead of the then-common 6-volt one. Remarkably, this model became the most popular vehicle of the T-Type Midget series: from 1949 to 1953 about 30,000 automobiles were built, the vast majority of which (23,488) went to the US, and only 1,656 sold in the British market.
Source: SportsCar LA
Exclusive bodies for the TD were developed by three Italian ateliers: Bertone, Ghia-Aigle, and Rocco Motto. Ghia-Aigle, under the direction of Giovanni Michelotti, produced two convertibles, one of which was presented at the 1952 Geneva Motor Show. Also, Rocco Motto built three aluminum roadsters commissioned by American racer Dave Ash to compete in the 12 Hours of Sebring.
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