Production Facts & Feature Time-lines

These pages contain production numbers, dates and the time-line for various changes to the MGTD during it's production run.

• The MGTD Models
• Production Facts
• Production Dates
• Feature Time-lines
• TD Mark II Features
• Factory Accessories

The MGTD Models

There were three models of MGTD during production but only two are really discernible. Those were the TD, TD2, and the TD Mark II. The TD2 was just an evolution of the TD while the TD Mark II actually added additional features, a unique identification, and simultaneous production with both TD and TD2 cars.

Production Facts

Total production for the MGTD was 29,664 of which at least 1710 were TD Mark II's.

Used with permission from Original MG T Series by Anders Clausager. Published by MBI Publishing Company 1-800-826-6600.

¹ It would appear that of the 103 LHD chassis exported during 1952 and 1953, all but three of these were Arnolt MG's that were sold in the US. Total production for Arnolt MG's was 102 cars, two of these were the prototypes that were created in Italy with used chassis from production cars.

²CKD - "completely knocked down". A term used to describe cars that were exported in kit form to be assembled "in country". This was sometimes used to claim that the cars were manufactured locally to get by import tax situations. Cars were finished in primer only. To get an idea how CKD cars were utilized check out this web site about the BMC in Sydney, Australia.

Production Dates

Production date timelines from M.G. Talk, the South-Eastern T-Register’s Newsletter. First number is day of month, second is the first or last serial number car for that date. This should help you in determining the actual age of your car. You might also want to get a copy of the factory log book for the date of your car from the source mentioned here.

Feature Time-lines

Over the product run of the MGTD various changes, while mostly minor, where made. The following table attempts to chronologize some of the notable externally visible changes by date and/or chassis number when known. (e) stands for engine number.

Note: The production feature time-line presented here is derived mostly from manuals, brochures and a few factory records by Anders Clausager. The dates should not be considered absolute. In fact many cars have been shown to exhibit an earlier trait far beyond the date shown as having a new feature. It is believed that these dates comprise the first time a new feature appeared on the MGTD, rather than the last time the former feature could be found. At times a decision seemed to be made to change a feature in one marketplace while still producing the former feature for other marketplaces. Note also that the MGTC was still in production when the first MGTD's appeared. Also note that during the production of the MGTD that other cars were still produced on the line at the same time. It may have been that cars produced during those periods would use similar parts while during the times that only MGTD's were produced, a different, but similar part would be used .

Note: MGTD's were one of the last cars manufactured by Nuffield prior to the change over when incorporated with BMC. Up to that point few records on individual cars were kept and the production information is not as complete as on even the MGTF and later models. The information quoted in the Feature Timeline section is the best there is available but cannot be considered absolute. There may have been exceptions to this data. See the Noted Exceptions to Production Data pages for more information or to report a discrepancy.

Much of the above was used with permission from Original MG T Series by Anders Clausager. Published by MBI Publishing Company 1-800-826-6600.

Note: At some point in production both Girling and Armstrong shocks were used. The Armstrong shocks required a small raised area on the front fender to allow for their higher clearance. This bulge does not indicate that a particular car had Armstrong shocks, but rather that the fenders at that time could accommodate either shock type.

TD Mark II Features

Almost immediately when the MGTD appeared on the market there existed a strong aftermarket of parts and accessories to increase the performance and sportability of the model. The Mark II MGTD, sometimes called the TD3 or TDC, was an attempt by the factory to satisfy the demand for more high performance models.

Used with permission from Original MG T Series by Anders Clausager. Published by MBI Publishing Company 1-800-826-6600.

• Andrex friction shock absorbers in addition to the standard Luvax-Girling hydraulic shock absorbers
• Black and white wheel medallions (from TD/C/22613)
• Chrome radiator grill slats (from TD/C/22613)
• Enameled rear bumper emblem with plinth (from TD/C/22613)¹
• Radiator medallions were black on white (from TD/C/22613)
• Rear bumper reflectors (from TD/C/22613)¹
• Dash grab handles in either right of left hand drive (from TD/C/22613)
• Large black and white enamled spare tire hub cap medallion (from TD/C/22613)
• Larger carburetors (1½" bore) and increased inlet ports
• Decreased rear end axle ratio (4.875 from 5.125)
• Larger intake manifold and right hand hood side bulge (from TD/C/22613)
• Larger valves
• Increased compression ratio (8.6 to 1)
• Increased engine red-line to 6000 rpm by changing the valve gear
• Twin fuel pumps and fuel lines
• Higher performance ignition coil (Lucus B.R. 12)

¹The hood and bumper emblems were the same. The bumper emblem was mounted on a special plinth.

An image of some of the Mark II parts from the service and parts manual can be viewed here.

Factory Accessories

While the MG factory had very few accessories for the MGTD, there was no shortage from aftermarket companies. The following is a list of the factory accessories during the production run of the MGTD.

• Heater
• External mirror
• Tow bar attachment
• Twin spare tire carriers
• 6.00 x 15 rear tires
• 4.55, 4.875 (standard on Mark II) or 5.125 (standard on TD, extra on Mark II) rear axle ratios
• Fog-lamp - Lucus SFT 462
• Badge bar
• Luggage rack
• Radio hidden in glove box with firewall mounted antenna
• Radiator thermometer
• Combined water temperature/oil pressure gage (standard on later TD's)
• Oil thermometer
• High performance clutches
• Extra fuel pump and fuel lines (same as on Mark II)
• Larger carburetors (1½" bore) and increased inlet ports (same as on Mark II)
• Lower setting or double hydraulic shock absorbers
• Additional Andrex shock absorbers (same as on Mark II)
• Manual ignition control (usually on Mark II)
• Many performance parts for engine
• Workshop manuals
• Performance tuning manuals
• Wire wheels - see note below

Note: Wire wheels were never offered by the factory during the production the the MGTD. They were available later as a service kit, part number ACG 5163. These were essentially the parts used by the TF's that would also fit the TD's. There is also a slight difference in the '53 wire wheels from the '54 wire wheels. The '53 wire wheels inner hub was more pointed in shape, similar to the shape of the original dash washers, while the later wire wheels found on the '55 model TF had a more rounded hub common on MGA's and later cars.

Note: Almost all of the Mark II items were available separately during the production of the TD.

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