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LOT 421

Selling on Saturday

1949 MG TC Roadster

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE
  • Beautifully restored early TC in desirable colors
  • Documented in the MG Car Club T Register
  • Numbers-matching and well-sorted 1,250cc OHV four-cylinder engine
  • Dual SU carburetor generating 54 HP at 5,000 RPM
  • The model responsible for launching the British sports car invasion

VIN: TC 10238

Before the start of World War II, MG had released their first midget sports car. The TA of 1936 was really an evolution of the early J-Series cars. After peace had been declared, production was able to resume in the latter months of 1945, and the new and improved TC Midget was released. Powered by the XPAG 1,250cc, overhead-valve inline four-cylinder engine that had been introduced with the pre-war TB series, the TCs were fitted with dual SU carburetors and rated at 54 HP, plenty of power to launch these lightweight jaunty little roadsters down the road. With a top speed of 78 mph right out of the box, the MG TCs featured a slightly widened body with better handling and ride using the Luvax-Girling hydraulic dampers. This relatively small roadster would go on to launch a love affair for British sports cars with motoring enthusiasts in the cash-rich post-war United States. Over its five years of production, the TC roadster saw just over 10,000 examples produced with many of these being exported to the former colonies in America.

This attractive TC has been documented with the MG Car Club's T-Registry showing a completion date of November 29, 1949, which was toward the end of the series production cycle, as this is number 10238 with the highest unit being recorded as 10251. Originally delivered in Clipper Blue with blue soft trim for the seats, it was restored a few years back in a lustrous red livery very similar to the original MG Red that was available for TCs when new. It has been fitted with properly patterned beige vinyl for the bucket seats and door trim. The dashboard is fitted with proper instrumentation including the speedometer to the far left. The odometer shows just over 13,200 miles; however, true miles are not known. Riding on a set of original wire wheels which have been painted argent in color and fitted with chromed "dog-ear" knock offs, it features a matching spare tire and wheel mounted to the rear of the body which is surrounded by a polished luggage rack. As with all MG TCs, it has the right-hand-drive setup and uses a Brooklands four-spoke banjo style steering wheel. The chrome plated radiator shell with the enameled MG badge, along with the bullet style headlights are deep, bright, and reflective. Under the hood, the original numbers-matching XPAG four-cylinder engine is mated to a four-speed manual gearbox.

Driving an MG TC is like magic, and in its heyday, it was the launching pad for many future champion racecar drivers. Try this MG TC and you will be hooked by the wonders of this mechanical marvel just as it has attracted so many enthusiasts from around the world.

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