1956 MG

[John Trogdon]

This was taken at a Concours d' Elegance car show in Winter Park Florida. It was actually British racing green (of course), but I thought it looked good in BW.

[John Trogdon]

Here is a crop of the original in color. I hope it looks ok.

[Titus213]

Beautiful picture but I fear you have commited an act of sacrilege by changing BRG to B&W! And on a '56 MG? Hide your face in shame! :lol:

[John Trogdon]

Man, I knew that was coming. Guilty!

[Belmondo]

I love the picture, and I think the car is gorgeous, but I question if it's really a 1956. Maybe some of our smarter members might know.

The reason I question it is that by 1956, they were building the MG A, a decidedly more modern looking car than this. In fact, it looks very much like a TC model which they stopped building in 1949. The motorcycle fenders are what has me confused. The TD model did away with those and had a more sweeping fender design that flowed all the way down to the frame rails, although they did retain the open wheel flavor of the design.

I hope somebody knows. This has been bugging me since this thread first appeared.

Thanks,


Tom

[Titus213]

Right, perhaps a 1946?

[jfrancho]

It is indeed a 1956 MG model "TD"

[jfrancho]

I love the picture, and I think the car is gorgeous, but I question if it's really a 1956. Maybe some of our smarter members might know.

The reason I question it is that by 1956, they were building the MG A, a decidedly more modern looking car than this. In fact, it looks very much like a TC model which they stopped building in 1949. The motorcycle fenders are what has me confused. The TD model did away with those and had a more sweeping fender design that flowed all the way down to the frame rails, although they did retain the open wheel flavor of the design.

I hope somebody knows. This has been bugging me since this thread first appeared.

Thanks,


Tom

I'll have to check my back issues of Vintage Motorsport, as I'm pretty sure this very car has been featured. The TD's did have sweeping fenders, but this car was race prepared, hence the "motorcycle" style fenders. I'll also ask a coworker that owns two A's and a TC.

[Andy_T]

I like both pictures very much!

Best regards,
Andy

[KennyG]

It is closer to the type PA or PB circa 1936. We didn't hang onto our old styles into 1956 over here you know, we were ahead of the rest of the world with sports car design with the MGA in 1955/56.

The licence place appears to be original so the MG Register should be able to track the car and provide some history.

[KennyG]

It is indeed a 1956 MG model "TD"

The last TD was made in early 1953, so I am sorry to say you are way off the mark. This is a type TD, nothing like the one above:
http://www.tregister.org/images/cars/TD/drive.JPG

[Titus213]

OK, it looks a LOT like a 1936 MG TA.

[nat869]

I love the picture, and I think the car is gorgeous, but I question if it's really a 1956. Maybe some of our smarter members might know.

The reason I question it is that by 1956, they were building the MG A, a decidedly more modern looking car than this. In fact, it looks very much like a TC model which they stopped building in 1949. The motorcycle fenders are what has me confused. The TD model did away with those and had a more sweeping fender design that flowed all the way down to the frame rails, although they did retain the open wheel flavor of the design.

I hope somebody knows. This has been bugging me since this thread first appeared.

Thanks,


Tom

HMMM.........I own a 1953 TD, not as nice, but it is a lot different looking. I agree. The TC models had much different fenders, sort of higher and rounder I think. The weather is just about nice enough to drag it out and putter about town.

[TSEE]

Its a nice picture of a very nice car. I like older cars, think they're more pretty than what they make these days...but what do I know about these kind of things, I"m just a girl. =oP

[jfrancho]

KennyG,
Thanks for the info. I agree it is an earlier model. My MG owner coworker concurs. I know I saw this very car in VM, and I can't help to think that there was some significance beyond an arbitrary No. 56 painted on it. Now I will definitely have to look for this article. I could be imagining the whole thing...

And yes, the British had it going on during this era of sports cars. Just can't figure out what they were thinking with the electrical systems they employed...

[John Trogdon]

Sorry I stirred up so much controversy about the vintage of this car. I wish I had more pics of this one that would help. I was just amazed at it's condition when I saw it and perhaps made an assumption that it was a 56. The number 56 could have been a number it raced under. If you guys that know say it's not, I certainly won't disagree. Thanks for all of your comments. Maybe I should have simply called the thread OLD MG. . . . ha ha.

[Titus213]

KennyG,
...

And yes, the British had it going on during this era of sports cars. Just can't figure out what they were thinking with the electrical systems they employed...

I understand Brits drink warm beer because the cooling systems are made by Lucas.

And Brits don't make PCs because they haven't figured out how to make them leak oil.

[jfrancho]

I understand Brits drink warm beer because the cooling systems are made by Lucas.

And Brits don't make PCs because they haven't figured out how to make them leak oil.Lucas...I couldn't think of the name when I posted, it was on the tip of my toungue. That's very funny.

I dug through 2 years worth of Vintage Motorsports and could not come up with article I had imagined. I know I saw something about this car. That's my story, I'm sticking to it. I'll have to check some MG sites later.

[KennyG]

To set the record straight - most of us prefer cold beer and our sports cars have not leaked oil since the middle east crisis pushed up the prices. As far as the electrics go, no worse than anything the US or anyone else built. At least ours didn't set the fuel tanks ablaze (Nader, where are you).

[Belmondo]

To set the record straight - most of us prefer cold beer and our sports cars have not leaked oil since the middle east crisis pushed up the prices. As far as the electrics go, no worse than anything the US or anyone else built. At least ours didn't set the fuel tanks ablaze (Nader, where are you).

It makes me long for the good old days of 6-volt positive ground (earth) electrical systems. They all sucked back then. Then, there was the fun of trying to synchronize a pair of SU side draft carburetors.

People who have only lived since the advent of electronic ignition, alternators, electronic fuel injection, etcetera, have little appreciations for the days when things weren’t quite so simple.

[impostersteve]

Hi guys

Was drawn to this forum as our weblogs were showing referrals from this thread. Just for the record, KennyG is spot on. The vintage MG is a PA from the mid-thirties. Lovely photo, by the way!

Best Regards,
Steve
MG TA (http://www.ttypes.org/mgta.php)

[SezzySue]

Wow I really like that. Greats shots.