Dave@AutoArcheologist.com

Middletown, CT.

Auto Archeologist

    Does this little car have a story...

   First things first. This car is owned by the original owners who purchased it new in Richmond, VA. The car was built in November of 1952 and imported into the US, via the port at Norfolk, VA in  mid 1953. It is all numbers matching and has remained in excellent working order for all of it's life. There are BOOKS of records and receipts for everything ever done to this car, including gas purchases of how much and what grade.

This is where the story adds some interest and intrigue. Back in 1965, the owner was working at a boatyard in Greenwich CT when he was approached by  BOD member of British Leyland, sailboat racer and fellow resident of Greenwich, Graham Whitehead. (Graham had worked in the automotive industry starting back in 1959 where he trained at Woolsey Motors and later in leading positions at BMC, Jaguar Rover Triumph and eventually Jaguar) Whitehead said he recognized the car as possibly one of 50 specialty cars tweaked during assembly for "special friends" of BMC/British Leyland. 25 stayed in England, 25 were imported to the US into the port of Norfolk. All were painted Silver Streak Gray and wore red wheels. He  took some notes of engine number and  "VIN" and said he'd let our then young owner know what he dug up. In seeing him again, Graham stated that this car met all the standards of those 50 "tweaked" MK II's, however, there was no official factory record of these cars being built.

Years later, 1998 to be precise, the engine was pulled apart for a rebuild and it was found to have fully polished and ported head and manifolds (this was NOT stock and the owners had never had the engine apart). The car was always known  around town among those who noted such things, as the quickest TD they had ever seen and it would regularly, easily pull away from other TD's and British cars of the day. 

Aside from the above, this car is a TD/C  which stands for Competition. Roughly 1700 MKII TD's were built to these C specifications which included  twin lever action shock absorbers at each wheel, twin fuel pumps, larger wheels and a reported 57 HP compared to a stock TD at 54 HP  from the XPAG 1250 cc I4 engine.

Just a few years ago the engine was pulled apart again after a faulty piston was discovered, before any damage could happen. Only a couple thousand miles have been logged since that rebuild. Overall, the car has roughly 93000 miles.

Some of the updates and upgraded items currently on the car:

Clutch linkage, improved Skip Raymond design

Engine balanced, line bored
Aerolite pistons
Lange gudgeon pinch bolts
Lange ARP connecting rod bolts
Crane camshaft
Hardened, improved cam followers
Abingdon Spares 180 degree thermostat
Spin-on oil filter adapter
Original canister assembly included

Clutch linkage, improved Skip Kelsey pattern
Original linkage included

4.1 gears installed
The original 4.875 gears included
Spare half-shaft

Cole-Hersee master disconnect switch
Wiring harness replaced 2016

Dealer-installed Arnolt heater

Dynamo rebuilt 2018

Clock keeps good time

Turn indicators; audible signal

All wheel cylinders White Post sleeved
DOT5 fluid

Dampers rebuilt by World Wide

Most tool kit, jack, starting handle, etc

Poly suspension bushings

Original, unused, Dunlop spare tyre
Original owner’s handbook

This car is an awesome example of a great British car. She is ready to get in a drive.. on a local Sunday afternoon or across the country. She is also ready to take to a show and possibly win. There is no rust on the car and only some very minor wear items.

Unfortunately there is no way to confirm the "special friends" of BMC/MG status of this "tweaked" TD but she is fast...  She is rare in that only 1700 (+/-) of the TD/C MKII's were built.

With the current market and the beauty of this car, asking price is $22,500.

Please contact me with any questions, comments to make an offer or to schedule a time to see her in person.