MG TC 1946

Brief History

After the war, Morris resumed car production in 1945 but concentrated their efforts on the new MG-TC which was a single two-seater car powered with 1250 c.c. four cylinder engine with twin S.U. carburetor. The car could reach a maximum speed of 70 mph taking 15 seconds to reach 50 mph. The car was stylish with wire wheels, a long bonnet and expansive radiator grill; slab petrol tank exposed at the back and of course its bright red colour that became a trade mark for sports cars. The TC rapidly became MG’s biggest selling model at the time and by 1949 the production lines were manufacturing 10,000 vehicles. A third of which were sold in Britain with some 2000 earmarked for the export market. In 1946, forty nine MG-TC were sold to India. Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur purchased the MG-TC from Hyderabad in early 70’s.

His Highness, Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur is a member of the MG Owners club.

About the Restoration

It has taken mechanics and technicians over two years (between 2002 – 2004) to restore the car to its former glory as the entire body of the car had to be dissembled. The old colour coating on the frame and body were softened using a propane torch and acid and then laboriously scrapped off by hand. The frame was sprayed with primer before being painted black. The bodywork was then taken to a blacksmith and checked for dents and cracks.

Both the doors were replaced before an extensive research was undertaken to find the exact bright MG red original colour. This was finally sourced through MG’s Club headquarters in the UK. Final painting and all the mechanical work was carried out by mechanics at The Palace, The Vintage & Classic Car Collection, Garden Hotel, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.

Before completing the finishing touches, a total overhaul of the engine was required and many different parts had to be acquired to get the engine running again. These were sourced in the UK through NTG Motors, an MG specialist based in Ipswich.

A new walnut dashboard was made and other instruments displayed on the dashboard were again sourced from specialist MG garages in the UK. Chrome polish and painting were carried out before fixing the instruments in place. Both front seats were remade in keeping with the original design using beige coloured leather that would have been used in 1946.