MG marks its 70th year July 11, 2021

Yesterday was the 70^th anniversary of the production date of my MG.  I wrote this up for the Abingdon,  England newspaper and sent photos, one before restoration and the others taken on the lawn a few weeks ago.  We’ll see if they run it.

On Wednesday July 11, 1951 the MG works in Abingdon produced MG TD serial number TD8986 which was bound for the USA to earn the UK valued foreign exchange dollars. Off a ship it arrived some weeks later in New York with the MG importer,  J S Inskip,  and is believed to have been sold to a lucky first buyer on Long Island.    Sometime later, perhaps 1958  a young merchant seaman acquired the Clipper Blue car and much enjoyed it in his youth.    Circa 1964 he was transferred to the west coast and had his car shipped by railroad to Oakland California and ultimately across the bay to the small village of Brisbane, California.   It then fell into disrepair,  Bob Wood, the young merchant seaman and current owner sold it and it passed through a number of local owners in the town still bearing its New York 1964 World's Fair license plates having never been registered for street use in California.  In 1977,  I was starting my 32 year career with British Leyland's regional offices in town and noticed my next door neighbor, who was the current owner,  had bits of it in his garage but was making no effort to put it back together.  Being a British car enthusiast from a young age and working in the industry,  it was time for me to step in.   A deal was struck at $1400 and the rolling chassis and loose parts were rolled into my driveway but not before I had tested the engine and gearbox for proper operation,  which it passed.    At this point it was the proverbial "basket case".   For the next 10 months I worked away doing what I call a street restoration and ended up with just that, a very nice looking, reliable car to drive and have fun with.  The first order of replacement parts from Moss Motors, the premier MG parts supplier,  was more than the purchase price!    Fast forward to now, and the car has just turned 70 on July 11, 2021.   Forty four years later and many enjoyable drives it has survived its rebirth very well.  Now located in Eugene Oregon it shares its garage with two Morris Minors, an Austin 1300 and two elderly Jaguar saloons.    I only wonder if today there are any elderly gentlemen who may have been at the MG works  on that  July 11, 1951 day and seen this car roll off the line or perhaps bolted some component onto it.  If so,  I thank you for your efforts in providing me a most enjoyable motor car all these years.