Basement-Bound for 50 Years: 1953 MG TD Emerges in Utah

A 1953 MG TD that spent the last half-century tucked inside a climate-controlled basement has surfaced for sale in Salt Lake City, Utah, with an asking price of $8,200 or best offer. News of the listing comes via Facebook Marketplace, and it offers a rare look at a British roadster that has been off the road since roughly the mid-1970s.

The TD occupies an interesting spot in MG history. It was never a fast machine, nor was it meant to be. What it offered buyers was open-air character and simple mechanicals, and American enthusiasts responded enthusiastically: of the 29,664 examples built, 23,488 were shipped to the United States. The car’s appeal in period came down to charm and accessibility rather than outright performance.

Under the hood sits what appears to be the original 1,250cc XPAG inline-four, an overhead-valve unit whose output is commonly cited somewhere in the 54 to 57 horsepower range. The seller notes the engine has not been disturbed in five decades, which raises the obvious question of whether it still turns over freely. The odometer shows 83,000 miles. Fresh rims and tires have been fitted, though the brakes will warrant attention before any real driving.

Inside, the cabin presents surprisingly well for a car that has been dormant so long. The seats look intact, the often-cracked steering wheel has survived, and the dashboard retains its full complement of gauges and switches. A new carpet set and a new convertible top are also said to be included, though the top is arguably beside the point for a car like this.

Bodywork shows some paint damage and what may be a slightly pushed-in grille, neither of which should be a dealbreaker for a driver-quality car. The listing photographs also reveal a Ford sedan delivery sharing the space. For a buyer who wants an authentic, unmolested TD rather than a restored showpiece, this cream-and-red roadster could be an appealing entry point into vintage British motoring.