This is the story of how I bought and rebuilt a 1951 MGTD while working and living in Fairfax, VA, circa, 1971.
I was living in Fairfax, VA and working at Fairfax Hospital. Simultaneously, I was taking a course to run a pump for open heart surgery at Washington Hospital in downtown DC. I also was running in an ambulance out of the fire departments of Maryland to earn extra money.
I remember seeing this 1951 MGTD sitting in the parking lot of the apartment building where I lived with Kathy Frank. We had an “efficiency/bachelor” apartment directly across from Fairfax Hospital, within walking distance to work. I found the owner and bought the car for $750, as is.
I soon discovered why it was sold, as is. The back cylinder, of four, had a head gasket leak that allowed oil to seep into the cylinder which would repeatedly coat the spark plug to the point that it would not fire. The result was that each day, as I drove to Washington Hospital, the engine would begin to fire on only three cylinders. At best, every other morning, I would have to stop at a specific point in my travels to remove the spark plug, clean it, and then carry on. Thinking back, crap, was that ever crazy.
One night, Kathy & I were going out and I attempted to start the car. It had a key, push-button starter system. When I pushed the starter button, flames shot out of the side of the hood. I remember Kathy saying, “Why did it do that?”. I said I don’t know, but get the hell out of the car. It was winter time and I could not find a fire extinguisher in the apartment building entrance so I grabbed a chunk of ice from the side of the parking lot in a futile attempt to put the flames out. Neighbors were watching from their balconies by that time, and somebody asked if I wanted them to call the fire department. By the time they arrived the flames had disappeared but the damage had been done. Afterward, I discovered that some thief had taken one of the carburetors and when the electric fuel pump started, it pumped gas over the starter motor which led to the fire.
Once I realized that I was going to have to buy replacement parts from California, I decided I might as well repair the head gasket. To my chagrin, I also discovered that one of the crankshaft bearings was worn and had to be replaced. Having to learn all the repair techniques, buying the parts, begging a local MG repair shop to use their tools, and parking lot to rebuild the engine was a testimony to my perseverance. I eventually restored the MG and here is a picture of Kathy sitting on the hood. I later sold the car to the same Youngstown, OH labor union leader who bought my 1934 Packard.
I loved that car! Side curtains, leather seats, and my first convertible. The picture on the right is as close to the exact model as I have found, but an MGTC instead.