A CLASSIC ROADSTER BUILT FOR MODERN-DAY NEEDS
Parts from around world adapted to rebuild 1948 MG TC into contemporary cruiser
It could be said that the MG TC started the North American sports car craze.
Built between 1945 and 1949, the TC was the automaker’s first model built immediately following the war. Based on the prewar MG TB, the TC was little changed but proved to be a popular little two-seat roadster, especially in Canada and the United States.
Dominic Crawley is a fan of the TC, and owns a 1948 model. His is radically different from the original version, however, and was custom built to keep up with modern-day traffic. Originally from England, Crawley moved as a youngster with his family to Ontario in 1947. When he was 18, he bought a 1949 TC that he rebuilt and drove.
From 1959 to 1963, he was also on a pit crew with Joe Suessmuth, a close friend who raced a TC at Ontario tracks, such as Harewood, Greenacres and Mosport.
“We won the 1961 Class 8 National Championship with that car, but after that we started losing to Lotuses,” the Canmore resident says.
Fast-forward to 1998. While on a bus trip, Suessmuth and Crawley began discussing what modifications would make a TC a reliable driver in modern-day traffic.
Together, they figured at the minimum a TC would require a much newer engine and gearbox, rack-and-pinion steering and front disc brakes.
The TC was originally powered by a 1,250-cc engine that made 54 horsepower and Crawley said the absolute top speed was about 120 km/h.
“In original specification, the TC is not really good for modern speeds or modern roads,” he said.
Then, in 2005 while at a bookstore, Crawley noticed the cover of an MG magazine. Above the photo of a yellow TC was the caption, “Is This the Ultimate TC?”
“I picked up the magazine and studied the article and the pictures of the TC,” Crawley said. “The car definitely met the requirements Joe and I had discussed.”
Roger Waters of Adelaide, Australia, built the car featured in the article.
While on vacation in Australia, Crawley was able to meet Waters and the pair took the yellow TC out for a test drive.
“Powered by a Rover V8, his TC was a monster,” Crawley said. “You can improve the acceleration, but there’s a limit to the TC’s aerodynamics.”
The test drive was enough to convince Crawley he could build an updated TC, but with a smaller engine than a V8.
Back in Toronto, he purchased a TC frame in 2006 and began gathering the parts and pieces he’d need to complete the build. A body came from a local TC restorer, while a Toyota 1600 twin-cam 4AGE four-cylinder engine and Toyota five-speed gearbox were purchased separately.
“I’ve ditched Toyota’s fuelinjection system and switched to twin SU carburetors,” Crawley says.
That change required a custom-built intake manifold. Many other parts were hand fabricated, including the front fender mounts, steering rack mounts and the cross member to support the rear of the Toyota transmission.
A custom driveshaft went between the gearbox and the modified MG Midget rear end.
“Parts for the project came from England, Australia, Canada and the U.S.,” Crawley said.
“The windshield, for example, is made up of pieces from three different windshields that came from around southern Ontario.”
Installed up front were discbrake calipers and rotors from Bicknell Racing Products of St. Catharines, Ont.
Stock MG Midget drums bring up the rear, while a Wilwood Engineering master cylinder and pedal system controls all of the hydraulics.
Crawley’s son, Matthew, made the dash out of American walnut while a stock TC seat and custom door panels were upholstered by Crawley himself.
When it came time to paint the car, Crawley got quotes going up to thousands of dollars from professionals.
“I got onto an online forum where there was a discussion about how to paint a car for $50 using a yacht-painting technique,” Crawley says.
“I used a four-inch wide foam roller to apply multiple coats of Interlux Brightside paint sanded with progressively finer grits of wet sandpaper between applications.
“The method delivered a very smooth, shiny finish, and I’ve been accused of lying about how I painted the car. Overall, it cost me about $200.”
The updated TC does everything Crawley hoped it would; it accelerates, handles and stops far better than an original MG.
Not long after completing the car and dialing it in, Crawley and his wife moved to the town of Canmore.
“We drive it more here than we did in Ontario,” Crawley said.
“It’s been very reliable and doesn’t leak any oil, as we’ve driven it more than 8,000 miles since built.
“We’ve driven it into B.C. and take many trips on the local roads in the Rocky Mountains, including the Highwood Pass and Bow Valley Parkway.”