1939 MG TB

The T-Type was a series of vehicles built by MG from 1936 to 1955. The first was the TA Midget built from 1936 to 1939, followed by the TB Midget of 1939 to 1940, the TC Midget of 1945 to 1950, the TD Midget of 1950 to 1953, and the TF (including the TF 1500 Midget) of 1953 to 1955.

The TA Midget (initially called the T Type but was re-designed TA after the advent of the TB) rested on a 140-inch wheelbase platform and was powered by a 1,292cc MPJG inline-4 cylinder engine. It had a 4-inch stroke, a 2.5-inch bore, and produced 50 horsepower. The four-speed manual gearbox had synchromesh on the two top ratios and was attached to the engine via a cork-faced clutch running in oil. 9-inch hydraulic drum brakes provided the stopping power.

The ash frame was often clothed with steel bodies in a two-seat open configuration. After 3,003 examples had been produced, the TB Midget arrived in May of 1939.

The TB Midget was powered by a smaller 1,250cc straight-four cylinder (XPAG) engine that had a 2.6-inch bore and a 3.5-inch stroke. Although smaller than its predecessor, it was modern and delivered 54 horsepower at 5,200 RPM. The previous oil-immersed clutch was also replaced by a dry-plate type. The wheelbase continued to measure 140 inches and it had a width of 56 inches.

Body styles included a two-seater (roadster) and a Tickford drophead coupe.

Production of the TB Series was brief, ending when Britain entered into World War II. As such, a mere 379 examples were built earning it the distinction of being the rarest of the T Type cars.

When peacetime resumed, MG commenced civilian automobile production with the new TC Midget, launched in 1945. It was similar to its predecessor and continued to employ the same 1,250cc pushrod-OHV engine with a slightly higher compression ratio of 7.4:1, resulting in 54.5 horsepower at 5,200 RPM. Additional updates included the use of a hydraulically (oil pressure) adjusted timing chain tensioner, automatic mechanical timing advance, a 12-volt single battery electrical system, and 19-inch Dunlop wire wheels.

Production of the TC commenced in September 1945 and continued until November 1949, with 10,001 examples built.

by Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2025