A Love Letter to the MG T-Series

When American GIs returned home after the war, many brought something unexpected with them: a taste for small, nimble British sports cars. And more often than not, the car that had caught their eye was an MG.

The T-Series — TC, TD, and TF — didn't have the most power, the best handling, or the most advanced engineering. What they had was something harder to quantify: character, charm, and the pure joy of open-air motoring on a sunny afternoon.

The TC (1945-1949)

The car that started it all for so many enthusiasts. Essentially a pre-war design with a few updates, the TC was charmingly old-fashioned even when it was new. Fold-flat windscreen, cut-away doors, a slab fuel tank on the back, and that glorious octagonal badge on the grille.

The TD (1950-1953)

The modern one. Independent front suspension! Rack and pinion steering! Bumpers! The purists weren't happy, but the TD was easier to drive, more comfortable, and sold in huge numbers — especially in America.

The TF (1953-1955)

The swan song. A facelifted TD with a sloped grille, individual fenders blended into the body, and a more refined look. It was criticised at launch for not being modern enough, but time has been very kind to the TF. Many consider it the prettiest of the three.

Together, these three cars lit the spark that became the entire post-war sports car movement. Every Miata, every Boxster, every modern roadster owes something to the little MG that could.

Not bad for a car with 54 horsepower.