1954 MG TF1500

•  #HDE43/6505 was exported to the USA, as were the vast majority of TFs
• Having spent the last 20 years stored in a barn in Nevada, it was shipped back to the UK by its present owner in January 2019
• He owns a body shop and has returned the little MG to top form
• Completely mechanically and cosmetically refreshed with a bare-metal respray in MG Green
• Accompanied by its original tools, side screens, tonneau cover and its V5c
• Lots of classic MG touches, octagonal instruments, beige 'Bakelite' wheel, chrome luggage rack, fly-off handbrake
• A lovely example of a very rare car ready for its next owner to cherish and enjoy

Introduced in September 1953, the MG TF was based on the same chassis and mechanical components as the TD Mark II. The centre section of the body shell remained virtually the same as that of the TD but the most significant change was to adopt a sloping radiator grille that, for the first time, concealed a separate radiator. The bonnet also had a marked forward slope achieved by lowering the radiator shell by three and a half inches in relation to the scuttle top. The front wings were restyled to accommodate faired in headlamps instead of the traditional bolt on fixings on the wing stays as on the TD and the wings, in turn, were faired into the bonnet sides which all in all helped to create a new streamlined image. The rear of the car received some general restyling with modifications to the fuel tank and spare wheel mounting to help tidy up the overall appearance. The end result was very pleasing to the eye but still a little dated compared to the offerings of other manufacturers of the era.

Initially the car was launched with the faithful 1250 cc XPAG engine that made its debut in the TB Midget back in 1939, however, late in the summer of 1954, a new 1466 cc engine was introduced to the TF designated XPEG. It was in the main very similar to its predecessor the XPAG TF. 'Siamesing' of the cylinders allowed a larger bore in the same block and with larger pistons, stronger con-rods and an increase in the compression ratio to 8.3:1, the new engine produced a meaningful 63 bhp which equated to a 10.5% increase in power. Externally there were no visual clues other than engine numbers to distinguish the two power units and there was little on the car to give away its identity as a TF 1500, other than two discreet 'TF 1500' motifs on each of the bonnet side panels and the addition of two rear reflectors. The larger power unit did give the TF a boost in sales mainly in the United States and out of the 3,412 TF 1500s produced, only a handful were sold in the UK. It is well known that Abingdon would rather not have produced the TF had the MGA project been given earlier approval, nonetheless the TF, and particularly the 1500 version have become one of the most desirable classic MGs of all time.

An early production car, the chassis number, # HDE43/6505, denotes that it was exported to the USA after it came off the production line as were the vast majority of TFs. Having spent the last 20 years stored in a barn in Nevada, it was shipped back to the UK by its present owner in January 2019.

Since then, ‘756 XVG’ has undergone a complete overhaul. The vendor lists his extensive efforts here:

• The brakes have been fully stripped, brake cylinders and shoes have been replaced. All wheel bearings have been removed and re-greased
• The wheels have been refurbed and tyres and tubes have been replaced. The track-rod ends have been replaced and wheel alignment carried out
• Suspension bushes have been replaced where required. The radiator has been fully restored and re-cored
• The water hoses have all been uprated and replaced. A new thermostat and housing have been fitted
• All cork engine gaskets have been replaced and the carburettors have been fully stripped, balanced, and rebuilt. The fan belt and spark plugs have been replaced.
• The steering bushes and engine mounts have also been replaced
• The car has a four-speed gearbox and all fluids have been changed and the linkages have been upgraded. A new stainless steel upgraded exhaust has been fitted.
• The bodywork has been fully stripped back to bare metal (the panels showed no signs of rust or corrosion when stripped), and then re-painted in MG Green to give the car a refresh and eliminate some previous poor paintwork. The bodywork was finished off with a protective ceramic coating
• The wheels were also repainted in their original Satin Silver
• The cockpit area has been tidied up – a new (original copy) steering wheel was sourced, but the original was also retained to be kept with the car.
• The clocks and dials have been restored and are all in full working order. The dash has been finished in the original satin colour.
• The seats, hood and carpets are all in pristine condition and have been thoroughly cleaned

All of this work has been carried out to a professional standard with the aim of preserving as much originality as possible and where original parts could not be repaired or restored, period counterparts have been diligently sourced.

Remaining in left-hand drive and looking the part in its gleaming coat of MG Green, this lovely TF is supplied with a complete toolkit of original tools, side screens, a tonneau cover and is now UK registered as ‘756 XVG’. The 1500cc TF is a rare car over here with the vast majority heading Stateside and this pretty example is ready for its next owner to cherish and enjoy.

NB: We welcome and encourage interested parties to book an appointment to come and see the car either at our storage facility before the sale or during the Silverstone Classic weekend itself.