Used 1953 MG TD for sale in Fort Worth, TX

The traditional MG: Light, quick, with cut-down doors and flowing fenders, and that upright MG grille up front. Evolution was slow at The MG Car Company, but there's a reason why cars like this 1953 TD were brought home by the hundreds by GIs returning from Europe, and why they remain wildly popular today. 1953 was also the final year of the TD, and for many enthusiasts, the separate headlights and fenders define the vintage MG look.

The look is pure pre-war, with separate fenders and a long hood, but the energetic handling and performance were quite contemporary. This MG was partially restored in 2017 to the tune of $11k worth of work, but it wasn't over-restored to the point where you're afraid to drive it, which misses the point entirely. The body construction was traditional, but that also means that it's light and easy to repair, and this one shows no signs of serious damage or the MG's arch-nemesis, rust. Hood and door fit are quite good, and the combination of creamy English White paint and black fenders/running boards is a very authentic-looking finish that's neither too shiny nor full of metallic, both of which are instant giveaways to incorrect choices. It shows only a few light signs of use, of course, but the overall presentation is what endears MGs to their legions of fans. Of course, things like the chrome grille, stand-alone headlights, and simple bumpers give it an old-fashioned look, and they're all in excellent shape.

Inside the diminutive cabin, there's adequate room for two, and once you settle into the low-slung bucket seats and assume the proper driving position, you'll find it's easy to spend hours behind the wheel without fatigue. Well, maybe your cheeks will be hurting from grinning so much, but the driving experience is involving without being exhausting. The comfortable seats have been properly reupholstered in pleated brown, which matches the door panels that offer useful storage pockets. The lovely dashboard is genuine wood, not a veneer, and houses a full array of Jaeger instruments that are all-original and have a truly British look. The three spoke, banjo-style steering wheel is still the universal symbol for sports car, and has been restored to a high level, and the carpets below are plush and in great shape. And since MG lovers are serious about their cars, this one offers a brand-new matching black canvas convertible top as weather protection, which quickly separates the men from the boys, along with side windows, and the spare tire out back has a new cover too.

The whole point of an MG isn't brute power, but they're plenty peppy with the 1250cc inline-four, and it has a wonderful baritone exhaust note that's half the experience. Recently maintained and ready for the road and this one really is a wonderful runner, firing up easily through dual side-draft carburetors. The whole engine is scarcely bigger than a briefcase, but all the parts are easy to get at and maintain, which is why MGs are so beloved today. The engine's linked to a slick-shifting 4-speed manual transmission whose light action and progressive clutch are the cornerstone of performance driving and make it a joy to run at 8/10s. The chassis is a simple ladder frame, and as I mentioned before, there's zero rust or rot underneath, just a neatly detailed undercarriage that shows how well this MG has lived, because it's very, very clean. Stock steel wheels with chrome hubcaps look right and wear appropriately tall 5.60-15 whitewall tires.

One drive and you'll see why it's so easy to love an MG, and this TD delivers that old-world fun with the benefits of a lot of recent work behind it. Call us today!