Description
Every once in a while we come across one of those rare cars that’s the true rare weekend driver, most of the time staying hidden behind gates in a private garage; the proverbial “little old lady from Pasadena” story. This is one of those cars, but instead of Pasadena, it’s resided in it’s de facto sister city to the north, Montecito. Purchased in 1955 by a noted engineer and his wife, both lifelong MG enthusiasts, this incredibly original MG TF has been cared for, garaged and appreciated – a weekend driver for 55 years. Fully restored TFs are out there if you filter through the mess of TDs that populate the enthusiast classifieds and online listings, but many of those cars have been gone through on a largely amateur, often incorrect basis. To find an original example in good shape – just as it left the factory – is truly a rarity. Fully restoring a car of this caliber (with what would inevitably be largely reproduction parts) would in our opinion be a tragedy, but obviously this car is one hell of a platform for it.
As noted, the car is not a perfect restored example. Rather (at least in our opinion), it’s better. The patina of fifty plus years of careful use make the car a true antique, telling the story of a car that was completely loved. But don’t take that the wrong way; the car really is in great condition. Never stored for long periods of time, it’s been hand detailed and babied for all of its life. The paint is ORIGINAL, and therefore not perfect. There are minor flaws throughout, but none of them detract from the cars overall appearance. The bright work too is original, but is in excellent condition, largely free of dings and chipping. The windshield is free of scratches, the rubber in great shape and the original wire wheels showing a similar amount of patina. The interior is also in excellent condition. Replaced with factory-correct materials two decades ago, the seats show negligible wear and the carpets and interior paneling are all in fantastic condition. The soft top is free of wear and the car comes with its curtains (hardly used) as well as it’s original full tonneau and a cover. The car has always been well maintained and the original numbers matching engine fires right up without any smoke or hesitation. Idling consistently, it pulls through each of the gears strongly and smoothly and has excellent compression. The ride quality is excellent and it brings as much joy to the driver on a weekend romp as it does to the scores of people offering thumbs ups and grins from the sidewalks.
As mentioned above, this is a rare car and rarer yet in original, well-looked-after and unmolested condition. The owner wants this car to go to another enthusiast; someone who will cherish and appreciate it for its next fifty years of humble (and grin-inducing) service.
