This week’s Fan Car Friday comes to us from Red with his 1951 MG TD. Fan Car Friday is a segment where we want to share with the world the automobiles that our fans have. We have absolutely no affiliation/relationship with the cars, the build or the owners. This post was made with written consent from the owner.
Red purchased this car originally as something he wanted to work on to pass time. But unlike many others, he purchased the cheapest thing he could afford – his choice had nothing to do with personal preference, it was purely price based for what was available in his area that day. The body styling wasn’t something he cared much for and he had no attachment to MG. He knew that whatever he had the privilege of working on would become something he would enjoy and find passion in.
This is why he didn’t know he was purchasing a kit car 40 years ago. The title was clean, the car was in decent shape and that was good enough for Red. What Red didn’t know, was that this was a blessing in disguise for him. He could do whatever he wanted to the car to fit his own taste, and wouldn’t ever have to worry about destroying originality or having to find rare parts specific to his vehicle that would cost him an arm and a leg.
The car is based on a VW Beetle chassis and it runs off a traditional 4 cylinder, air cooled, engine with a 4 speed. Having painted the car himself, Red admits the paintjob isn’t perfect, but he knows there isn’t an ounce of rust on the vehicle so he is more than happy with his results as it gives him the longevity and strength he desires. For the interior, it has a simple modern AM/FM radio Red installed to accompany the stereo speakers he added. For the dash cluster, he uses modern VDO gauges which are installed in a wooden dash he built himself in his garage.
The chrome on the car is original to the car when he purchased it, with constant polishing and a bit of steel wool he has been able to keep it looking sharp and new. The interior and convertible top were the one thing he didn’t do to the car himself. For that he had a local company, one that actually refurnished antique furniture, have a go at it and it turned out quite well.
Red says his favorite thing about the car is how his only attachment to the car is through him. He didn’t buy it because someone else gave him inspiration after seeing theirs, it wasn’t the star in some great movie he loved or something that passed down to him. The entire legacy of this vehicle began with him.
