1948 MG TC Roadster

1948 MG TC Roadster
Chassis no. TC/7040
1,250cc XPAG OHV Inline 4-Cylinder Engine
Twin SU Carburetors
54bhp at 5,500rpm
4-Speed Synchromesh Manual Gearbox
Solid Front and Live Rear Axles with Leaf Springs
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes

*Wonderful example of an unqualified sporting icon
*Well-preserved and complete older restoration
*Striking livery; accompanied by tonneau cover
*Offered from nearly 10 years of careful single-owner care

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

The first of MG's definitive and long-running T-series "Midget" sports cars – the TA – arrived in 1936. Powered by a 1,292 cc OHV engine, it set MG's iconic styling direction for nearly the next 20 years with its upright grille, rakish deep-cut doors and slab-shaped petrol tank at the rear. As wartime loomed in 1939, the TB introduced the shorter-stroke but more-powerful 1,250 cc XPAG engine that went on to power MG's roadsters through 1954. The TC heralded MG's post-war return at the 1945 London Motor Show. Retaining the beloved styling of its predecessors, the TC was built through 1949 and brought a roomier cockpit and improved comfort with its wider body, while retaining all traditional T-Series MG virtues.

Today, collectors and enthusiasts continue to covet the TC in particular, since it is the MG model that almost singlehandedly inspired postwar America's passion for British sports cars. The relatively affordable TC also made it possible for owners to drive their cars to and from early races, compete there, and often win. Most of America's top racing drivers of the 1940s and 1950s cut their teeth with the TC, including John Fitch, Phil Hill, Carroll Shelby, Dick Thompson, John von Neumann, and many others, at a time when raw enthusiasm and skill often prevailed over horsepower and money. The TC also spawned the sports-car parts and service industry in America, led on the West Coast by early TC owner Al Moss.

Offered from nearly 10 years of knowledgeable single-owner care, this 1948 MG TC is simply a wonderful example throughout. Continuing to benefit handsomely from an older complete restoration, it features a striking black paint finish over rich Burgundy upholstery, accented by a chrome radiator grille with red inserts and comes with a tonneau cover. While carefully preserved and only sparingly used under the current ownership, this MG TC is understood to run and drive as it should, making it an ideal classic sports-car purchase. Timeless, charming, and utterly fun, this 1948 MG TC Roadster is an excellent example of the car that ignited America's sports-car movement and launched the careers of so many of America's greatest racing drivers. As such, no serious collection can be considered complete without this quality example.