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• Auction House:
  Mossgreen
• Sale Name:
  Collectors' Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia
• Sale Date:
  14 Aug 2016 ~ 12noon
• Lot #:
  52
• Lot Description:
  1949 MGTC 'LADDIE GORDON' SPECIAL
  Chassis No: TC8145; Engine No: XPAG3019
• Notes:
  Possibly the best known sports cars in the history of motoring, MGs have become classics not because of their rarity as with some highly valued cars but because of the sheer numbers and popularity. This clever manufacturer was already an institution by the 1930s, as the founder Cyril Kimber set an example for niche marketing that many attempted to follow. MG is a marque that represents the sports two-seater in its purist form and was the aspiration of the young at heart, strengthened by its reputation rather than its outright victories. But, in saying this, MG achieved class wins of heroic proportions, as with the 1933 Mille Miglia; and on handicap 1934 TT with Nuvolari at the wheel of the fabulous K3. MGs survival was built on these foundations which enabled it to cope with the highs and lows the motoring industry presented. These can be largely attributed to the Midget which was launched in 1929 with great enthusiasm. During the later 1930s, time trials became a rising phenomenon and the mildly tuned TA models scored a number of successes. A team of these mighty little cars was nicknamed the cream crackers for their brown and cream livery which resembled a biscuit tin and kept MG in the sporting minds' eye as England entered the war years. After WW2, MG was under inordinate pressure to fire up production again as quickly as possible. There was not the time to develop a new car so the T series was simplified and the popular sliding trunnions of the earlier Midgets were sacrificed; the body was made 4 inches wider and by October 1945 the TC was introduced with a production of only 81 in the first year! By the end of the following year 1675 cars had been made. To assist post-War recovery, the British government had a diktat to export in high numbers and MG was compelled even against its own wishes, to build cars for the US market. The TC, built only in right hand drive, without a heater had a very firm ride. Yet, by 1949 a staggering 10,000 units had been built. The specifications of these cars included the 4-cylinder in-line engine; the rear-wheel Borg and Becker single dry plate clutch and the 4-speed manual gearbox. This racing TC Special on offer played a typical part in the annals of Australian motor sport in the race hard and have fun-spirit that Cyril Kimber intended almost a century ago. Originally, this car was brought to Australia in 1949 by Ray 'Laddie' Gordon. The body was built for him in Cessnock, NSW and he ran the car with some success until he sold it to Mr. Arthur Griffiths in 1950. Griffiths competed in Queensland and NSW also purportedly entering the 1952 Australian Grand Prix at Bathurst when he finished in 11th place. In 1953, the car was sold to Mr. Jim Baron who campaigned the car for a year before it sold to Neville Huch who, in 1955 had an accident and both the driver and car were badly burned. Later, in 1955, a Mr. Bowman acquired the car and split the body and chassis up on-selling the body to Mr. Leo Spies and the chassis to Mr. Ross Taylor in c1974. Peter Gostelow re-united these two historically important elements over a period of time. With the chassis and body in his ownership, in about 1988, Peter Gostelow brought the MG TC into its next phase of its life by undertaking a 2 year long restoration using the original chassis and body. It is fitted with a Marshall Supercharger. This car has participated sparingly over the last 15 years but does display the entrance/scrutineering stickers to the roll bar for historic racing events including Winton, Historic Rob Roy, HSRCA Oran Park, and 2 VHRR events including the 2009 Phillip Island Classic and the 2010 Historic Sandown meetings among others. The car is accompanied by a Certificate of Description (COA) and earlier logbook (expired) both issued by Confederation of Motor Sport (CAMS). This vehicle will be sold unregistered.
• Estimate:
  A$42,000 - 50,000
• Realised Price:
  *****
  

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• Category:
  Automobiles & Accessories

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.