1953 M.G. TD Midget Cabriolet

M.G. Mark II Roadster

Designer: Giovanni Michelotti, Torino (I)
28/11/1952 perspective drawing

Comparison of the Geneva show car with the two existing cars

From the production dates of the two existing chassis only for TD/C22878 the time was enough to coachbuilt the cabriolet body until Geneva Motor Show 1953. Therefore the features in italics must have been changed on a later date.

TD/C22878 – Geneva show car (1953)

04/12/1952 production of chassis no. TD/C22878 at M.G. factory in Abingdon-on-Thames (Oxfordshire, GB) (www.tregister.org)
chassis number code: EXRK (EX= export chassis, R = RHD, K = km/h speedometer) (www.mg-cars.org.uk)
engine no. XPAG/TD3/23269 (www.tregister.org: XPAG/TD2/23269)

rolling chassis imported to Switzerland by Nuffield general agency J.H. Keller AG, Zürich (CH) (Roberts & Green 2005)

1953 coachbuilt cabriolet body by Ghia S.A., Aigle (CH)
build process overseen by Max Hajek (J.H. Keller AG) (Roberts & Green 2005)
colour: red, interior: beige, hood and tonneau cover: beige
shorter radiator grille with 17 braces, shield-shaped Ghia-Aigle emblem, no visible engine hood hinges, rear mirror at upper windshield frame, disc wheels
1953 photos in front of Carrosserie Ghia S.A., Rue du Simplon, Aigle (CH)

05–15/03/1953 exhibited at 23. Geneva Motor Show (CH) on the stand 21/24 of the Swiss chief agency J.H. Keller AG, Zürich, for the Nuffield Organization (M.G., Morris, Riley, Wolseley)

Automobil Revue, Vol. 49, no. 10 (7.3.1953), p. 1:

“Schweizer Vorschlag für England. Ein entzückendes Cabriolet von Ghia-Aigle auf dem MG TD Midget Mark II bildet ein Zentrum der Anzlehungskraft auf dem Nuffield-Stand.”

Automobil Revue, Vol. 49, no. 11 (9.3.1953), p. 2:

“Gegenüber dem Porsche-Stand sind die bekannten, populären MG zu sehen, deren einer die bekannte, traditionelle Karosserie aufweist, während ein Mark II mit einer neuen, von Ghia-Aigle gebauten Roadster-Karosserie gezeigt wird. Das Kühlergesicht dieser Neuschöpfung lehnt sich an die bekannte MG-Form nur noch wenig an, verzichtet auf die charakteristische Mittelrippe und ist merklich gen Himmel gerichtet. Der in frischem Rot gehaltene Roadster, der durch eine saubere Ausführung gekennzeichnet ist, erinnert stark an jüngere italienische Vorbilder, mit denen er die seitlichen Wülste der vorderen Kotflügel, die nicht gerade im Interesse guter Zugänglichkeit liegende Alligator-Motorhaube und die nahe vor der Stirn des Fahrers liegende Oberkante der Windschutzscheibe gemeinsam hat. Der Kofferraum ist in normaler Weise (für MG allerdings anormal) im Heck eingebaut und von aussen zugänglich.”

10/06/1953 advertising by Swiss Nuffield general agency J.H. Keller AG, Zürich, in Auto (publication of Automobil-Club der Schweiz, ACS)

1953 brochure?

1. owner Angela Spaulding, Gstaad (CH)
15.7.1953 first registration with license plate BE-61200
visible engine hood hinges, wire wheels
06/10/1954 (km 12,000) sales advert in Automobil Revue, no. 43, p. 29:

„Seltene Gelegenheit! MG Mark II, Spezialkarosserie Ghia, Mod. 1953, 12 000 km, praktisch neuwertig, Umstände halber günstig abzugeben. Offerten sind erbeten unter Chiffre 48942 an die Automobil Revue, Bern.”

21.5.1959 last technical control (Motorfahrzeugkontrolle, MFK) registered in Swiss registration document (Fahrzeugausweis)
25.3.1964 Fahrzeugausweis issued by Strassenverkehrsamt Bern
car unused for 17 years

(1983) 2. owner Walter Ryter (Garage & Taxi Ryter – Reichenbach), Gstaad (CH)
buying price ca. 48.000 CHF
colour: red, interior: beige, hood and tonneau cover: black
shorter radiator grille with 17 braces, shield-shaped Ghia-Aigle emblem, visible engine hood hinges, rear mirror on dashboard, wire wheels
glove box closed with metal plate and radio fitted
registration with dealer license plates BE 921 U

06/1983 participation at the Oldtimer-Treffen in Veltheim (CH)

02/10/2004 participation at Swiss Classic British Car Meeting, Morges (CH)

03–13/03/2005 (km 54,553) displayed in exhibition “100 Years of Geneva Motor Show” at 75. Geneva Motor Show
Description wrongly: “presented at Genva Motor Show 1952”

04–07/10/2007 exhibited on Swiss Car Register stand at 2. Geneva Classics, Genève (CH)

20/09/2010 exhibited in front of Garage & Taxi Ryter – Reichenbach, Gstaad (CH)

25–27/03/2011 exhibited on Swiss Car Register stand at Oldtimer & Teilemarkt (OTM), Fribourg (CH)

27/10/2013–06/04/2014 shown in exhibition “Die Schweizer Carrossiers” at Pantheon, Basel (CH)

14/05/–26/06/2022 shown in the exhibition „Génie et Èlégance. L´Automobile par Giovanni Michelotti“ in Aigle/VD (CH)
11/05/2022 photos Stefan Dierkes, Vaihingen an der Enz (D)

TD/25280 (1953)

23/02/1953 production of chassis no. TD/25280 at M.G. factory in Abingdon-on-Thames (Oxfordshire, GB) (www.tregister.org)
chassis number code: EXRK (EX= export chassis, R = RHD, K = km/h speedometer) (www.mg-cars.org.uk)
engine no. XPAG/TD2/25703 (www.tregister.org)

rolling chassis imported to Switzerland by Nuffield general agency J.H. Keller AG, Zürich (CH) (Roberts & Green 2005)

1953 coachbuilt cabriolet body by Ghia S.A., Aigle (CH)
build process overseen by Max Hajek (J.H. Keller AG) (Roberts & Green 2005)
colour: blue metallic, interior: red?, hood light blue
longer radiator grille with 19 braces and stronger middle brace, triangular Ghia-Aigle emblem, no visible engine hood hinges, rear mirror at upper windshield frame, disc wheels, competion dampers like TD/C

? 11–21/03/1954 exhibited at 24. Geneva Motor Show [Hagen Nyncke, 01/03/1991]; but no mentioning in Automobile Revue (CH), no. 12 (15/03/1954) and no. 13 (17/03/1954)

3/1954 owner Pierre Baltensperger (goldsmith), Zürich (CH) [Hagen Nyncke, 01/03/1991]
ca. 7/1954 exhibited in Nuffield product show in the concert hall of Restaurant Uhler, St. Gallen (CH)

ca. 8/1954 exhibited at Nuffield Auto Ausstellung in the foyer of the Schweizer Mustermesse (Mustermesse Basel, muba)  entrance building, Basel (CH)

accident

19/05/1958 owner Walter Rüegg (architect), Zürich (CH) [Hagen Nyncke, 01/03/1991]

01/10/1958 owner Hans Buchser (tinsmith/installer), Interlaken (CH) [Hagen Nyncke, 01/03/1991]

19xx owner Hans Berger, Bern (CH) [Hagen Nyncke, 01/03/1991]
1962 converted to a Hardtop-Coupé by Carrosserie Beutler, Thun (CH) [Hagen Nyncke, 01/03/1991] or Carrosserie Langenthal, Langenthal (CH) [Walter Gürtler]
colour: dark green, interior: red?
1962 engine MGA 1600 Mk. I [Hagen Nyncke, 01/03/1991]
registration BE 59344

10/1980 public auction with the property by court order [Walter Gürtler, pers. comm. 27/01/2019] in der Messe Basel (CH)

10/1980 owner Albrecht G. Guggisberg (Oldtimer Garage Bern Ltd.), Bern (CH) [Walter Gürtler, pers. comm. 27/01/2019]

10/1980 owner Walter Gürtler (engineer), Arlesheim (CH)

1981–1991? restoration back to cabriolet [Walter Gürtler, pers. comm. 27/01/2019]
colour: matt metallic dark blue, interior: grey blue [Walter Gürtler, pers. comm. 27/01/2019]

2005 owner N.N., /ZH (CH) [Walter Gürtler, pers. comm. 27/01/2019]

[Sources: Hagen Nyncke, München (D), own research]