This 1947 MG TC was acquired in England by the current owner in 1981, and it was subsequently imported to California. A long-term refurbishment that initially began in 1981 involved repainting the car in red, reupholstering the interior in beige leather, refinishing the walnut dashboard, replacing the 1,250cc inline-four, and refreshing the 19″ wire wheels. That refurbishment eventually stalled, according to the seller, when the shop conducting the work had a fire in a building separate from where the MG was located. Years later, from 2013 through 2015, mechanical refurbishment work was completed by Collins Classics of San Mateo, California. Equipment includes a four-speed manual transmission, a tan soft top, side curtains, knock-off wire wheels, a driving light, a badge bar, side mirrors, an aluminum valve cover, and a stainless-steel exhaust system. This TC is now offered on dealer consignment with removed UK license plates, importation paperwork, service records dating back to the 1980s, Brooklands windscreens, removed and spare parts, tools, an owner’s manual, MG literature, a car cover, and a clean California title in the owner’s name.
The car was repainted in red in 2006. Features include a replacement tan folding soft top and tan side curtains with refurbished frames, as well as a folding windshield, a half-tonneau cover, windshield wipers, windshield-mounted side mirrors, louvered hood panels, rear-hinged doors, and a badge bar that holds an electric horn and a single driving light. Brooklands-style twin windscreens will accompany the vehicle. The seller notes scratches around the hood latches and hinges.
Silver-painted 19″ knock-off wire wheels are mounted with 450-19 Firestone tires, and a matching spare is stored at the rear of the vehicle against the fuel tank. Braking is handled by hydraulically actuated drums at each corner, and the suspension was rebuilt around 2014. The seller notes that the tires were installed in the 2008, prior to a period of long-term storage for the car.
The cabin is equipped with a split bench that was retrimmed in beige leather in 2007. The walnut dashboard has been refinished, and other interior appointments include a passenger-side grab handle, door-panel map pockets, a dash-mounted rearview mirror, black carpeting, and MG-logo carpeted floor mats.
The banjo-style steering wheel is situated at the right side of the dashboard and fronts white-dial instrumentation consisting of a 6,500-rpm tachometer with an inset clock as well as a 105-mph speedometer, an ammeter, and an oil-pressure gauge. The five-digit odometer shows 430 miles, which is said to reflect the distance accumulated since completion of the refurbishment; true mileage is unknown.
The replacement XPAG 1,250cc inline-four was installed in 1985, and it was rebuilt in 2014. The engine has been modified with an aluminum MG-logo valve cover and a cartridge-style oil-filter assembly. Electrical work also was performed during the refurbishment around 2014, and the cooling, fuel, and exhaust systems were refreshed.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission. The seller notes “seeping” fluids from the drivetrain when parked.
Removed UK license plates, removed and spare parts, MG literature, and a car cover will accompany the vehicle along with importation paperwork and service records dating back to the 1980s, as pictured in the gallery below.