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MOTRS

T-Type (TC/TD/TF)

1945-1955 / Roadster / United Kingdom

// SPECIFICATIONS

Key Specifications, Model Comparison

Spec MG TA MG TB MG TC MG TD MG TF 1250 MG TF 1500
Production Years 1936--1939 1939 1945--1949 1949--1953 1953--1954 1954--1955
Units Built 3,003 379 ~10,000 ~29,664 ~6,200 ~3,400
Engine MPJG XPAG XPAG XPAG XPAG XPEG
Displacement 1,292 cc 1,250 cc 1,250 cc 1,250 cc 1,250 cc 1,466 cc
Power ~50 bhp @ 4,500 rpm 54.4 bhp @ 5,200 rpm 54.4 bhp @ 5,200 rpm 54.4 bhp @ 5,200 rpm 57 bhp @ 5,500 rpm 63 bhp @ 5,000 rpm
Kerb Weight ~880 kg ~884 kg ~884 kg ~930 kg ~940 kg ~940 kg
Top Speed ~129 km/h (79 mph) ~140 km/h (87 mph) ~120 km/h ~125 km/h ~128 km/h ~137 km/h
0-60 mph -- -- ~22 s ~21 s ~19 s ~16 s
Wheelbase 2,388 mm 2,388 mm 2,388 mm 2,388 mm 2,388 mm 2,388 mm
Price New £222 £225 £527 £530 £550 £575

Engine, MPJG (TA)

Spec Value
Configuration Inline 4, OHV, 8-valve, pushrod
Displacement 1,292 cc
Bore x Stroke 63.5 mm x 102 mm
Compression Ratio 7.5:1
Power ~50 bhp @ 4,500 rpm
Carburettors Twin SU semi-downdraught
Clutch Wet cork
Gearbox 4-speed non-synchro (early), 4-speed part synchro (late)
Rear Axle Spiral bevel gears
Brakes Lockheed hydraulic, 9" drums front and rear
Wheels Centre-lock wire spoke, 4.50 x 19" on 2.5" rims
Steering Bishop cam

Engine, XPAG (TB)

Spec Value
Configuration Inline 4, OHV, 8-valve, pushrod
Displacement 1,250 cc
Bore x Stroke 66.5 mm x 90.0 mm
Power 54.4 bhp @ 5,200 rpm
Clutch Borg and Beck dry plate
Gearbox 4-speed, part synchromesh
Brakes Lockheed hydraulic, 9" drums
Suspension Half-elliptic front and rear, sliding trunnion, Luvax hydraulic lever arm dampers
Steering Bishop cam
Wheels Centre-lock wire spoke

Engine, XPAG (TC, TD, TF 1250)

Spec Value
Configuration Inline 4, OHV, 8-valve, pushrod
Displacement 1,250 cc
Bore x Stroke 66.5 mm x 90.0 mm
Compression Ratio 7.25:1 (standard)
Power 54.4 bhp (40.6 kW) @ 5,200 rpm
Torque 87 Nm (64 lb-ft) @ 2,600 rpm
Carburettors Twin SU H2 (1.25")
Ignition Coil and points, Lucas distributor
Valvetrain Pushrod OHV, adjustable tappets
Crankshaft 3-bearing, counterbalanced
Oil System Wet sump, gear-type pump
Oil Capacity 4.5 L (with filter)
Recommended Oil 20W-50 mineral
Cooling Water-cooled, pump-assisted (TC/TD/TF)
Redline ~5,500 rpm

Engine, XPEG (TF 1500)

Spec Value
Configuration Inline 4, OHV, 8-valve, pushrod
Displacement 1,466 cc
Bore x Stroke 72.0 mm x 90.0 mm
Compression Ratio 8.3:1
Power 63 bhp (47 kW) @ 5,000 rpm
Torque 101 Nm (74 lb-ft) @ 3,000 rpm
Carburettors Twin SU H4 (1.5")
Ignition Coil and points, Lucas distributor
Valvetrain Pushrod OHV, adjustable tappets
Crankshaft 3-bearing, counterbalanced
Oil Capacity 4.5 L (with filter)

Transmission

Spec Value
Type Manual, non-synchromesh 1st (TC) / synchromesh on 2nd-4th (TD/TF)
Gears 4-speed
Clutch Single dry plate, 7.25"
Propshaft Open, single-piece

Gear Ratios

Gear TC TD/TF
1st 3.64 3.64
2nd 2.37 2.21
3rd 1.43 1.37
4th 1.00 1.00
Reverse 4.76 4.76

Final Drive

Spec Value
Type Spiral bevel
Ratio 5.125:1 (TC) / 5.125:1 (TD) / 4.875:1 (TF)

Chassis

Spec TC TD/TF
Type Ladder frame, channel-section steel rails
Front Suspension Beam axle, half-elliptic leaf springs Independent, coil springs, double wishbones
Rear Suspension Live axle, half-elliptic leaf springs Live axle, half-elliptic leaf springs
Front Dampers Lever-arm (Hartford, TC) / Lever-arm (Armstrong, TD/TF) Lever-arm (Armstrong)
Rear Dampers Lever-arm (Hartford, TC) / Lever-arm (Armstrong, TD/TF) Lever-arm (Armstrong)
Steering Bishop cam Rack and pinion
Turns Lock-to-Lock ~2.75 (TC) ~2.75 (TD/TF)

Brakes

Spec TC TD/TF
Type Mechanical (cable-operated) drums Hydraulic drums
Front Drum Diameter 228 mm (9") 228 mm (9")
Rear Drum Diameter 228 mm (9") 228 mm (9")
Brake Lining Area ~410 cm² ~410 cm²

Dimensions

Spec TC TD TF
Wheelbase 2,388 mm 2,388 mm 2,388 mm
Overall Length 3,556 mm 3,708 mm 3,708 mm
Overall Width 1,422 mm 1,499 mm 1,499 mm
Overall Height 1,346 mm 1,346 mm 1,308 mm
Track (front) 1,143 mm 1,194 mm 1,194 mm
Track (rear) 1,143 mm 1,194 mm 1,194 mm
Ground Clearance 152 mm 152 mm 152 mm
Kerb Weight ~884 kg ~930 kg ~940 kg

Capacities

Spec Value
Fuel Tank 54.5 L (12 imp. gallons)
Engine Oil 4.5 L (with filter)
Gearbox Oil 0.85 L (SAE 30)
Rear Axle 0.85 L (SAE 90 hypoid)
Cooling System 9.5 L (approximately)

Wheels and Tyres

Spec TC TD TF
Wheels Wire spoke, knock-off Pressed steel (wire optional) Wire spoke, knock-off
Wheel Size 19" x 2.5" 15" x 4" 15" x 4"
Tyre Size 4.50 x 19 5.50 x 15 5.50 x 15
Bolt Pattern Centre-lock (wire) 4 x 4" PCD (steel) Centre-lock (wire)

Electrical

Spec Value
System Voltage 12V positive earth
Battery 12V, 51 Ah
Charging Dynamo (Lucas C39PV or similar)
Headlights 7" Lucas P100 (TC) / 7" Lucas (TD/TF)
Starter Motor Lucas M35G or M418G

Performance (approximate, period test data)

Spec TC TD TF 1250 TF 1500
0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) ~22 s ~21 s ~19 s ~16 s
0-100 km/h ~23 s ~22 s ~21 s ~18 s
Standing Quarter Mile ~22 s ~21 s ~20.5 s ~19.5 s
Top Speed ~120 km/h ~125 km/h ~128 km/h ~137 km/h

Fuel Economy (approximate)

Model L/100 km
TC 10.0
TD 9.5
TF 1250 9.5
TF 1500 10.0

Service Intervals

Service Item Interval
Engine Oil and Filter 3,000 miles (5,000 km) or 6 months
Valve Clearance 3,000 miles (mechanical adjustment)
Contact Points 6,000 miles (clean/adjust or replace)
Spark Plugs 6,000 miles
Carburettor Tune 6,000 miles
Greasing (all chassis points) 1,000 miles
Brake Adjustment (TC) 1,000 miles or as needed
Brake Fluid (TD/TF) 24 months (flush and replace)
Coolant 24 months
Gearbox Oil 6,000 miles
Rear Axle Oil 6,000 miles

Production Numbers

Model Years Units Built
MG TA 1936--1939 3,003
MG TA Tickford Coupe 1936--1939 (included in TA total)
MG TB 1939 379
MG TC 1945--1949 ~10,000
MG TD 1949--1953 ~29,664
MG TD Mark II 1951--1953 (included in TD total)
MG TF 1250 1953--1954 ~6,200
MG TF 1500 1954--1955 ~3,400
Total T-Type (TA--TF) 1936--1955 ~52,646

Identification

Feature TC TD TF
Chassis Number Prefix TC TD TF
RHD Available Yes (all RHD) Yes Yes
LHD Available No Yes Yes
Body Style Roadster only Roadster only Roadster only
Distinguishing Features Upright grille, freestanding headlamps, 19" wheels, fold-flat screen Wider body, 15" disc wheels, bumper over-riders Raked grille, faired-in headlamps, lower bonnet

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