1947 MG TC

Highlights

• Matching numbers engine and chassis
• Four former registered keepers with full ownership history traced
• High level of originality with only two readily reversible modifications
• First owned by Sir Clifford Robertson King, first Chairman of the CEGB
• Extensive history file including original log book, owner's manual, and invoices from 2003 to present

The Appeal

The MG TC is the car that ignited the sports car craze in post-war Britain and beyond. Its nimble handling, eager XPAG engine, and unmistakable profile make for one of the most recognisable and desirable of sports cars of the era.

This particular car, chassis TC4222, comes with distinguished provenance. It was first purchased by Sir Clifford Robertson King, the inaugural Chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board, for his wife's use. It later passed to Patrick Swoffer, an RAF pilot and founder of Swoffer's Estate Agency on Guernsey, where the car spent some 25 years. It subsequently served as a static exhibit in a London car dealership for around 13 years before returning to active use.

Accompanying the car is an impressive archive: the original log book, owner's manual, biographical details of all five owners, correspondence with the family of the first owner, maintenance logs and invoices from 2003 to the present, and MOT and mileage records spanning 1975 to 2012.

Key Information

• Mileage: 38,183 miles (believed genuine by the vendor, supported by MOT and mileage records from 1975 to 2012)
• Country of registration: United Kingdom (repatriated from Guernsey)
• Technical inspection status: MOT exempt (pre-1977 vehicle)
• Technical specs: 1,250cc XPAG four-cylinder petrol, 4-speed manual gearbox
• Paperwork: Original log book, original owner's manual, maintenance logs and invoices from 2003 to present, MOT and mileage records from 1975–2012, full ownership history documentation

The Detail

• Complete stainless steel exhaust system installed in 2022
• Full brake overhaul in 2023 including all four wheel cylinders lined with stainless steel and new seals throughout
• New clutch plate and thrust bearing fitted in 2020
• Carburettors serviced in 2026
• New fuel pump fitted in 2021
• Unleaded cylinder head conversion carried out in 2012
• Distributor rebuilt by the 'Distributor Doctor'
• Shock absorbers rebuilt in 2013
• New rear springs installed in 2015
• New rubber bushes front and rear, and new bump stops fitted in 2013
• New kingpins and front wheel bearings fitted in 2012
• Radiator re-cored in 2004 with water pump replaced in 2005
• Engine block welsh plugs removed and water channels cleaned in 2020
• Five 19" original wire wheels, powder coated, with new tyres and tubes, balanced
• New Collingburn carpets fitted to the interior
• The vendor states the seats appear to retain their original leather covers with slight signs of wear
• The vendor describes the interior trim as clean and the chrome work as unrestored and in good condition
• Original dials, switches, and dashboard wood veneer
• Clock and speedometer serviced and repaired in 2013
• Spin-on oil filter conversion carried out in 2012
• New carburettor overflow pipes fitted in 2022
• VW steering box installed in 2012; original Bishop Cam steering box retained and available
• Indicators fitted in 2004; both modifications are described as readily reversible
• Original jack included along with a new Whitworth spanner roll and knock-off hammer

BEFORE YOU BUY

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