1936–1939
MG TA
The first of the T-Series.
The MG TA of 1936–1939 was the first of the T-Series Midgets, powered by the 1,292 cc pushrod MPJG engine borrowed from the Wolseley 10 and producing roughly 50 bhp. Around 3,003 were built, distinguished by an oil-immersed cork clutch and a wider, softer body than the P-Type it replaced.
- Years
- 1936–1939
- Engine
- MPJG
- Capacity
- 1,292 cc
- Power
- ≈50 bhp
- Approximate built
- ≈3,003
A new direction for the Midget
The TA arrived in 1936 as a deliberate move away from the delicate overhead-cam engines of the P-Type. A wider chassis, more comfortable cockpit and cheaper pushrod engine broadened the appeal of the Midget without abandoning its sporting character.
MPJG engine
The 1,292 cc MPJG engine came from the Wolseley 10 and produced around 50 bhp. Sturdier and less highly strung than the P-Type units, it made the TA an easier car to live with, if less thrilling on paper.
Oil-immersed clutch
The TA is distinguished mechanically by its oil-immersed cork clutch — smooth in use when correctly set up, but idiosyncratic, and later replaced by the dry-plate design on the TB.