• Sympathetically refurbished

 • Starts and runs well

 • Relaxed and comfortable driving position

 • British Motor Heritage certificate

Renowned for its roadholding and handling, the MG TF is a classic British roadster. LBC 394 was subject, in 2008, to a sympathetic refurbishment before being gifted as a retirement present – the lucky recipient must have been a valued employee! 

The car has clearly been well looked-after by subsequent owners and appears to be largely original, although the Heritage certificate records that it was black when manufactured. It comes complete with folding hood, front- and rear-sidescreens and a full tonneau cover. 

 • Purchased by the vendor in 2017

 • Refurbished in 2008

 • V5 

 • MoT- and tax-exempt

 • British Motor Heritage certificate

 • Invoices for 2017 purchase and subsequent work

The vendor has owned the car for five years, and owns another TF, but admits that limited opportunities to drive either car have meant that they have been little used over the last couple of years. The invoice from his purchase of the car, in 2017, is included in the file of paperwork. 

He and his wife are planning a downsizing house-move and their new home is unlikely to have the garage space they currently enjoy, so he has reluctantly decided to offer LBC 394 for auction. 

The British Motor Heritage certificate verifies that the car corresponds to its factory records. It’s also worth noting that a previous owner had the car’s registration number valued at £2000, according to a valuation included with the paperwork.    

 • Clean and tidy, original interior

 • Lovely octagonal instruments

 • Moto-lita steering wheel

 • Red leather seats in excellent condition

The interior of the car is testament to the care with which it’s been looked after. The leather seats are smart and largely unblemished, and provide a comfortable driving environment. The distinctive octagonal instruments remind you instantly that this is a classic MG, and the carpets are clean and show few signs of wear. 

The door panels look good, and while the interior door handles have some patina this just adds to the feeling of originality. In common with many MGs of this era, the car has been fitted with a Moto-lita steering wheel which looks the part and adds to the driving experience. 

 • Very good paintwork, colour suits the car

 • Wire wheels in excellent condition

 • Hood, sidescreens and tonneau cover supplied. 

The car’s ivory paintwork looked good in the spring sunshine on the day of our photo shoot, and it’s a colour that really suits the car. There’s no visible evidence of the car’s previous colour, which suggests that the respray was done to very high standards. The only obvious blemish on the bodywork is a small area at the base of the driver’s door, where some retouching work has seen a slight mismatch of paint colours. 

The car has a sound hood and a full set of sidescreens; these are clearly replacements for the originals, as the Heritage certificate records the hood colour as ‘biscuit’. A full tonneau cover is also supplied. The latter could do with a clean but is otherwise in very good condition. 

The wire wheels are in excellent condition, while the tyres all have plenty of life in them. The brightwork, badges and lights are in very good condition with only minor signs of age.   

 • 1250cc engine

 • Starts readily, healthy engine note

 • Clean and tidy under the bonnet

The car starts on first turn of the key and the engine runs smoothly. Everything appears to work as it should, although the vendor was frustrated to find, on the day of our photo shoot, that the windscreen wipers weren’t working. Having never driven the car in the rain he’s not sure how long this has been the case, but has arranged for a mechanic to investigate the problem and hopes to rectify it before sale. 

Under the bonnet, everything appears to be sound and there’s no visible evidence of leaks or problems. However, the vendor advises that, as the car has had such limited use over the last couple of years, it might benefit from a service and tune-up. 

The vendor is including in the sale a number of spares and accessories (see pictures), including a wire-wheel mallet, tool roll complete with tools, a 2-ton bottle jack, first aid kit, a spare fan belt, spare grease nipples, a can of spray paint of similar colour (which he’s used for under the wings), canvas dye for the roof, and a T-series book by renowned author Graham Robson.  

The MG TF is a rare car these days, with only 6200 examples built at the Abingdon plant in the early 1950s. It’s a charming and characterful little car that was known as the most usable of the T-series models. LBC 394 appears to be a sound and well-cared for example, and with summer coming it offers the new owner the chance to experience a British classic roadster in the manner it was designed for – with the wind in your hair and the sun on your face. 

With a reassuring file of paperwork, including that all-important British Motor Heritage certificate of authenticity, it should prove a rewarding and enjoyable purchase.