Here’s a great picture of what it was like to drive a classic MG. After World War II, MGs and other sports cars were fun to drive and didn’t cost much. Go to Bring a Trailer, another Hearst Autos magazine like Car and Driver, before March 14 to see the auction. Morris Garages were first made as a sports specialty, with lightweight bodies on Morris cars with heavier frames. Early MGs were easy to drive and are often credited with starting the postwar sportscar craze on both sides of the Atlantic. This week’s auction gives a fun look at MG’s life in the 1950s. This 1954 MG TF 1500 is based on a design from the 1920s, but it has been updated significantly. It came after the MG TD and the TB. The MG TD came before the TC, and the TB came after the TB. The first modern MG was the MGA, which came out in 1955 and led to a new type of car and a new generation of car fans. Some GIs brought MGs back from the green and beautiful country of England, and MG also did well in exporting. Even though they weren’t Austin Healeys or Jaguars, buying and fixing them was cheaper. Such clarity is important because owning a vintage British car requires some mechanical knowledge and a deeper understanding of innovative vulgarities. This TF is in good shape and has the sought-after 1.5-liter engine, but collectors may not like how much chrome it has. The horsepower of the twin-carburetor four-62 cylinder makes the 105 mph speedometer seem too optimistic. Vehicles in the TF style were only made to be used on the highway during the day. They were made to go down country roads at speeds that felt wrong but won’t wake the police. Because driving is just plain fun—the wind in your hair, bugs in your teeth, what’s that funny smell?—these cars are still popular today. A Porsche Boxster feels more alive at 70 miles per hour than an MG T-series at 30 miles per hour.
