History & Identification
History of the T-Series
MG stands for Morris Garages, the Oxford dealership from which the marque grew. This is the story of its T-Series sports cars, from the first TA in Abingdon to the last TF 1500, and from the trials fields of Britain to the race tracks of America.
For the specification, production figures and buying notes of each model, see the MG T Series cars, and for where the T-Series sits among other old MGs, see classic MG cars.
The MG T-Series Story: From Abingdon to America
The flagship narrative history of the MG T-Series, from Abingdon in 1936, through wartime tanks and Tempest spars, to Watkins Glen and the American sports-car boom, and finally to the last TF 1500 of 1955.
More history & identification
- History & IdentificationBeginner
Coachbuilt T-Types: The Tickford, the Airline and the Arnolt-MG
Not every T-Type was an open two-seater. A few hundred wore coachbuilt bodies: the elegant Tickford drophead coupé by Salmons & Sons, a handful of Art Deco Airline coupés, and, a decade later, the Italian-bodied Arnolt-MG. All are rare, all are desirable, and all are frequently misunderstood.
- History & IdentificationBeginner
MG T-Series Production & Survivor Numbers
MG built roughly 52,600 T-Series cars between 1936 and 1955. Counting how many survive is harder than it looks, this article sets out the production totals by model, explains why survivor data is so patchy, and presents the one rigorous public study (John James on the TB).
- History & IdentificationBeginner
Mud, Le Mans and Specials: The Competition History of the MG T-Series
From mud-plugging trials in brown-and-cream paint to the first Watkins Glen, from Ken Miles's California specials to the Le Mans TD that became the MGA, the competition story of the MG T-Series, and the two men who beat Ferrari at Le Mans.
- History & IdentificationBeginner
Original Factory Paint Colours & British Racing Green
A reference to the original nitrocellulose paint colours offered on the MG TA, TB, TC, TD and TF at Abingdon, and where "British Racing Green" fits into that story, the specific Abingdon greens (Apple, Almond, Woodland, Sherwood) versus the generic BRG label used today.
- History & IdentificationIntermediate
MG T-Series Chassis & Engine Number Identification: The Complete Guide
Every MG T-Series carries a chassis (car) number and an engine number that together identify exactly what it is. The chassis number is stamped on the near-side dumb-iron and repeated on a plate under the bonnet; the engine number, on a plate on the flywheel housing or block, reveals the engine type by its prefix. This guide decodes both.
- History & IdentificationIntermediate
MG T-Series vs MG Y-Type: The Shared DNA
How the MG Y-Type saloon shaped the TD and TF, shared chassis rails, independent front suspension, rack-and-pinion steering and the XPAG engine.
Last updated .