1938 MG TA Tickford

Welcome to the first in a brand new series of featured MG auctions, in which a current MG auction listing on eBay is looked at in a little more detail.

With just over three thousand rolling off the production line at Abingdon between 1936 and 1939 and with an (impressively high) survival rate to this day of just under half, an MG TA can be considered to be a fairly rare sight in itself. But this particular TA belongs to an even more exclusive group.

Whilst the vast majority of TA chassis were mounted with the standard – and beautiful - MG open sports body, a shade under 10% were adorned with bespoke Tickford coachwork from the stables of the respected Salmons and Sons of Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire.

Characterised by its patented three-point folding hood and squarer profile with fuller doors instead of the swept style of the standard TA, the slightly more upmarket TA Tickford also had a custom interior with separate seats instead of the fixed "bench" seat of the standard TA - as well as roll-up windows instead of removable sidescreens.

Factory Production Record of TA3079 This particular TA Tickford rolled off the production line at Abingdon on 6th February 1939 and, according to the seller, is one of around only 140 TA Tickfords known to survive to this day. A quick search reveals it has been on the market for some time at around the $45,000-$50,000 mark, so expect the reserve to lie somewhere in that range. Of course, you could always Buy It Now for $50,000 - if you have that sort of money lying about!
View the full listing on eBay

Details:

Starting Price: $200
Current Bid: $16,600 (at time of writing)
Reserve Price: Yes
Buy It Now: Yes ($50,000)
Listing Ends: Tuesday 16 September 2008 16:13:18 PDT

Post-Auction Update:
This MG T-Type Tickford didn't sell this time round - the bidding only reached $25,100, and the reserve wasn't met despite the seller lowering it during the course of the auction. Keep an eye out for it on the market elsewhere!

Related: