MG T-Series ArchiveMGT-SERIESMG T-Series

TC ends, TD begins

The MG T-Series in 1949

1949 closes one chapter and opens another. TC10251, the last TC, was built in November 1949, and TD production proper began at the end of the same year with a new box-section chassis, independent front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering. Both cars use the 1,250 cc XPAG engine.

In production this year

Production notes

  • TC10251, the last TC built, was completed in November 1949.
  • TD car numbers run from 0251 to 29915, with the earliest numbers used by prototypes and production proper beginning at the end of 1949.
  • A car claimed as a 1949 TD is right at the very start of production and should be verified against the factory record.

Engine and chassis traits

XPAG engine

The 1,250 cc XPAG four-cylinder overhead-valve engine with twin SU carburettors, 66.5 mm bore and 90 mm stroke and three main bearings. Confirm the prefix stamped on the block rather than trusting a seller's description — XPAG engines were swapped freely over seventy years.

Right-hand drive, wire wheels, beam axle

Every TC was built right-hand drive on a beam front axle with 19 in centre-lock wire wheels. A left-hand-drive TC is a later conversion, not a factory car.

Independent front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering

The TD's box-section chassis carries coil-and-wishbone independent front suspension derived from the Y-Type and rack-and-pinion steering, on bolt-on 15 in disc wheels with 5.50–15 tyres. Look underneath at the frame below the rear spring hangers, where TD cracking is well documented.

Reading the numbers on a 1949 car

  • TC chassis prefix, or TD — entered as TD25509 or TD/C22580.
  • TD and TF engine numbers use slashes and no spaces, for example XPAG/TD2/23015.

Only the MG Car Club T Register factory production records give an exact despatch date. Enter your numbers in the dating tool for a likely span first, then confirm it against that record.

1949 cars in the registry

No verified 1949 car is recorded in the registry yet. If you own one, add it to the registry — chassis and engine numbers from real cars are how a year like this gets properly documented.