Highlights

One of only 3,400 built
Lesser-spotted left-hand drive example
Comprehensively restored
Attractive deep blue paintwork with chrome detailing
Highly specified interior in red leather
Cream soft top

The Appeal

First introduced in 1953, the MG TF was a curiosity the moment that it hit the market. Visually very similar to its other T-type predecessors, the car looked decidedly anachronistic for a brand new 50s roadster. In order to try and raise the car’s reception, MG opted to introduce a 1466cc engine - the XPEG - in mid 1954, which raised capacity by 17%.

The result was the TF-1500, a much nippier car that raised a fair bit of extra attention - but by 1955 had been superseded by the MGA. The result is a curiously old-fashioned but very capable car that was only on the market for a couple of years.

This example, the rarer and more powerful 1500, is exceptionally presented in a deep blue colour scheme with a contrasting, cream soft top. This result is a highly distinguished vintage roadster that’s distinctly elegant and bound to turn a few heads on the road.

The History and Paperwork

Sadly we don’t know very much about the history of this car
Purchased by the vendor in 2020
Comprehensively restored by the previous owner
Reportedly only used for ceremonies by the previous owner
Car appears to be carrying its original engine, matching with the bulkhead plate
Window panels have been recently replaced on the soft top
Has reportedly travelled only 1500km post-restoration
Vehicle includes current Carta Di Circolazione
Last Revisione undertaken in December 2022

The Interior

Very highly specified interior in red leather
Wooden dashboard with unique octagonal dials
Wooden trimmed steering wheel and switchgear

It’s impossible to ignore the stunning interior of this TF-1500. The bright red leather upholstery and the warm wooden tones create a rich contrast against the dark paintwork of the car’s bodywork, and present a distinctly elegant, luxurious experience for the driver.

MG’s quirky octagonal dials pepper the bright wooden dashboard, each Jaeger face being clearly presented, easy to read and reported to work as expected. The wood veneers appear to be in excellent order, with very few signs of wear and subtle chrome trim. The beautifully tactile switches and knobs all present very nicely, and the MG steering wheel, with its trio of wire spokes - looks to be in excellent order with a pleasant wooden trim.

The red leather seats present very nicely with soft, supple-looking leather that carries only the slightest sag in its bolsters. We can’t highlight any rips or tears, and the thick grain is very evocative. The rich red leather carries through to the attractive door cards, which are beautifully presented with plenty of stitched detailing and the original push-handle door latches.

We note the modern handbrake lever between the seats, which is very much out of place and could do with more of a period-accurate replacement.

Inside the removable soft top, we can highlight some marks and staining to the fabric, but the mechanism looks to be very clean and solid.

The Exterior

Attractive deep blue colour scheme with lashings of chrome
Wide wheel arches and a long nose make for an evocative vintage appearance
Nicely presented cream soft-top with newly replaced clear panels

When it rolled off of the Abington line in 1953, the MG TF was already a distinctly vintage-looking car. Most of its components were shared with its 1936 predecessors, and as a result, boasted all of those evocative period features. Big, wide arches, chrome grills, a long nose and curved shapes make for a hugely attractive - if decidedly out-of-era - classic.

With its deep blue colour scheme, and a thorough restoration job, this TF-1500 is a hugely attractive looker. The paintwork is smooth and well presented throughout - we can’t spot any chips, dents or bubbling to the bodywork, and the only imperfections we can spot just need a good clean.

The chromework presents a very bright contrast, with its reflective silver providing a near-mirror finish across the board. The headlight lenses are clean and well presented with no fractures or chips, and the MG factory-applied branding, such as the winged eagle hood ornament and the TF-1500 plate, all look present and correct. We can spot some light marks to the mirror enclosures, but these don’t detract from the car.

The car boasts an attractive and distinctly vintage luggage rack, with well-presented leather straps and a perfectly presented MG wire-spoke wheel. The cream soft top is very nicely presented with no rips or tears to the fabric, and the clear panels looking to be in excellent order.

Still sitting on its wire-spoke, period-accurate wheels, this TF-1500 is wearing a full set of Toyo tyres and looks to have plenty of life left in both, with minimal wear.

Underneath the car is a real treat - the chassis is in rare order, with no signs of major corrosion that we can highlight. The components all look to be clean and well-kept, with everything from the arches to the suspension showing only minor signs of use.

The Mechanics

Powered by the 1.5L XPEG I4 Engine
4-speed manual transmission
This gives a maximum power of 63bhp and a max speed of 88mph
Looks to be in excellent condition with only 1,500km reportedly covered since replacement

Opening up the car’s distinctive cowling presents a very nicely-kept engine bay, with its period plaques and plates all still in order. The car’s new engine is highly polished and very clean, clearly benefiting from its relatively light use since installation.

We can’t spot any clear signs of corrosion or wear, and everything looks present and correct, with a modern battery installed and everything kept neat and tidy.

The vendor reports no mechanical problems with the car, which reportedly starts up first time and performs admirably, with no reported issues of leaks, smoke or knocks to the engine. It’s clear that this is a very, very well-cared-for example, and we can’t spot anything that should be of concern to the future buyer.

Summary

A bit of an oddity in British top-down motoring, this MG TF-1500 is not only a rare sight in this condition, but a rare sight overall - and should make for a gem in the crown of any enthusiast’s fleet.

Notice to bidders

This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*

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