ENGINE
XPAG/ 35466
CHASSIS HDH55/ 3394
1954 MGTF 1500 – original UK car throughout and only16k miles supported by many MOT certificates as being correct.
2 previous keepers with original buff log book and V5C. Mechanically this vehicle is in superb condition and the bodywork including shut lines are impressive! A MG TF that stops traffic by its fabulous looks!
The car left Abingdon in May 1954 as a RHD model for export to Ireland, Eire, in the form of a Complete knock down (CDK) which means that it was packaged as a kit for the purchaser to paint and assemble. The importer was Shelbourne Motor Company Kildare Street, Dublin who imported the vehicle on behalf of Dr John Aubrey Scully of Merlyn Park, Galway. The car was assembled, painted green and as part of the purchase agreement.
Shelbourne kept the car as a demonstrator until May 1955 when Dr Scully took possession. It was initially
registered as CRI130. Unimpressed by the power generated by the 1250cc engine Dr Scully returned the car to Shelbourne to have the engine rebored to 1500cc at Abingdon. Dr Scully used the car until he relocated to England in October 1962 and reimported the car. He was required to pay the purchase tax (£76 19s) and duty
(£10 4s).
The car retained the original number plate until May 1991 when on the
instructions from the DVLC that the Irish number plate had to be surrendered and a plate that according to the year of manufacture allocated – FSK820.
Dr Scully relocation to Bradford, Yorkshire in ‘62 saw that he little time for the car which sadly deteriorated and was eventually stored and sadly neglected until 1983 when it was sold as a “basket case” to James Ronson a police officer and latterly a haulage engineer from Stoke on Trent. Mr Ronson over a period of 7 years totally rebuilt the MG from the chassis up sparing nothing in his resolve to return the car to its original conditional. He undertook a nut and bolt rebuild of the engine and in 1991 had the car MOT’d. This is where the Irish registration was noted and the registration changed to the present letters.
Over the years Jim, as he was known, and his wife were ever present at Classic car shows throughout the North and Midlands where FSK820 won no less than 15 awards from Concours to best in show. Jim passed on and her son, Tim maintained the car until September 2022 when it was then sold. During Jim’s tenure the vehicle covered 16k miles during which it was MOT’ed and maintained to the highest engineering standards.
The car has been fastidiously maintained and cared for these past years and is now ready for a true enthusiast to enjoy!