1955 MG TF 1500

The final flowering of the pre-war Midget concept was the 'TF' and, like its predecessors, proved massively popular in the USA. It was a straightforward development of the TD MKll, and the TF"s most obvious differences from the older car are its raked radiator grille, lowered bonnet line and faired-in headlamps. When the TF was first introduced in October 1953, it was powered by the 58 bhp, twin-carb, XPAG 1250cc engine from the TD. From 1954, the demands for more power by customers resulted in the fitting of the larger 63bhp, XPEG 1466cc unit and the new model was marketed as the MG TF1500. With a revised four-speed gearbox and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes, the 1500 was capable of over 90mph and was altogether a more modern proposition for the sporting motorists of the mid-fifties.

Produced from 1953 – 1955, when the MGA was launched, only 3,000 TFs rolled out of Abingdon with the great majority going to the USA. The MG TF is often considered the most desirable by collectors of the T-Series and as Road and Track put it in 1954 “Of all the cars we have occasion to drive, there is one above all others which, by its every characteristic, clearly defines the term sportscar."

This LHD, 1955 MG TF 1500 was manufactured by the MG Car Company Ltd. between the 10th & 14th March 1955 as a North American export. It was despatched to the States on the 15th March 1955, supplied in Chariot Red with red trim, the same combination it sports today. There is paperwork and some photographs in the car"s history file showing that it was in the State of Florida from 1974 until 1990, in which year the odometer reading showed 73,645 miles.

It was repatriated back to the UK in 1990 and passed through a few owners. From the paperwork, in December 1992, the odometer displayed 74,837 miles. In 2002 our vendor"s husband bought the car, with an indicated mileage of 78,793 miles. He had been looking for the best example he could find, and upon doing so, duly joined the MG Car Club. He was fastidious and had the car serviced regularly, carrying out maintenance as required, which is supported by numerous invoices in the history file. He invested in full wet weather kit for the car which is unused and in 'almost new' condition. The car drives and performs well, having always been garaged and comes with a fresh MoT until the 31st July 2017 (with no advisories). The car is believed to be a matching-numbers example but would warrant inspection to be 100% sure.

This endearing little car would seem like a good way into MG ownership, being in ready-to-go condition with lots of enjoyable miles (and smiles) still on offer.