This 1946 MG TC was restored in England in the 1980s and is powered by a numbers-matching 1250cc XPAG inline-four mated to a 4-speed manual gearbox. 10,000 TCs were produced from 1945-49 beginning with TC-0251, making this the 527th example built. It has been driven about 800 miles since the seller’s purchase eight years ago. Work during the restoration included lighting upgrades for safety, and a seating position change for comfort. Front-end and rear-end rebuilds were recently completed by the seller, and wire wheels were also rebuilt in New England during the seller’s ownership. May 2017 services included a carb refresh, brake system bleed, and new brake master cylinder from Doug Pelton at TC specialist shop From the Frame Up. This MG is offered with full records from the last eight years, some previous records, soft top, side curtains, and a clean Pennsylvania title in the seller’s name.
Paint remains shiny with some nicks, chips, and hard-to-see surface cracking. Notable flaws are captured in gallery photos and include a scratch to the passenger-side rear fender, a paint scrape to the dash surround, and an area where edges of the tonneau cover have rubbed through the finish. The seller reports chrome is in good condition, including headlights which are easily dented during bonnet closing.
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The burled walnut dash features correct and working Jaeger speedo/clock, tach/odometer, amp meter, and oil pressure gauges. The 5-digit odometer shows 195 miles, with actual mileage unknown. A Bluemells Brooklands-type steering wheel and new Moss carpets have been added. Dual wipers are reported working, and the seller has disconnected the “slow running control” cables. Modifications to improve safety include:
- Rear turn signals provided via second tail light
- Front fender-mounted parking lights converted to turn indicators
- Turn signal switch added to dash
- Fog lights upgraded, and headlights converted to British semi sealed-beam units
- Anti-glare dash mirror and dual fender-mounted mirrors added
Leather is reported to be in good condition, with firm seats moved back to accommodate taller divers. This shift provides more legroom and puts the wheel at arms-length rather than in your chest as is common on early MGs. The soft top is in good condition, with some yellowing of the plexiglass windows.
48-spoke wire wheels are powder coated silver and were rebuilt by Fred Belanger at Wheel Repair Service of New England using 0.020” thicker spokes for strength. Excelsior tires have seen little use, while a matching spare and chrome luggage rack are mounted at the rear. The boot includes a stowage cubby holding a set of side curtains in good condition, also shown in gallery photos.
This 1250cc XPAG inline-four has a riveted brass plate stamped 1386, matching the commission tag. Good for 54-55 hp when new, the seller reports 80 psi oil pressure cold and 40 psi after warming. The period aluminum valve cover and upgraded voltage regulator are the only under hood modifications. The original steering box and linkage have been rebuilt.
The seller does most maintenance himself, and just refreshed the twin SU carbs with new sealing washers, jets, and needles. The original air cleaner and intake manifold have been retained.
The fuel tank has been cleaned and sealed, with new low-fuel warning sender installed. Transmission shifts are reportedly smooth and quiet, and wood frame elements are described as solid. The rear-end was previously cleaned and rebuilt to include a sealed case, Moss pinion sealing system and U-joints, and new Doug Pelton hubs, axles, and bearings. The front-end rebuild included:
- Pitman arm, steering arms, and spindles magnafluxed to detect cracks
- Axle straightened, bushed and new kingpins fitted
- New Doug Pelton hubs with tapered bearings installed
- Shocks rebuilt by Peter Caldwell at World Wide Auto Parts