6 photos

1949' MG TC

$36,500

Published 22 December 2025ID: Qk9kI6

California
+1 Show phone

Information from the owner

Body: Sports Car

Age: 76 years

Mileage: 1466 km

Transmission: Manual

Exterior color: Green

Seller's comments about 1949' MG TC

HISTORY OF THE MG TC: The MG TC, introduced in 1945, was the first postwar MG and the model that ignited Americas love affair with British sports cars. While closely resembling its prewar predecessor, the TB, the TC featured a slightly wider body for improved comfort and an uprated 1,250cc inline four-cylinder engine with higher compression and greater power. Handling was sharpened thanks to revised suspension, transforming the TC into a lively and engaging drivers car. Though built exclusively in right-hand drive, the TC captivated returning American GIs who imported them home in large numbers. Its simplicity, mechanical honesty, and nimble feel inspired a generation of sports car enthusiasts and racers alike. By the time production ended in November 1949, just over 10,000 examples had been produced-approximately 2,000 of which were sold new in the United States. Today, the MG TC stands as a timeless expression of prewar style blended with postwar performance-an enduring icon that cemented MGs reputation as the maker of affordable, engaging sports cars. THE MOTORCAR OFFERED: The 1949 MG TC presented here, chassis no. TC6939, is finished in the striking color combination of Shires Green over T-type Beige upholstery with a matching Beige folding top. According to records from the MG T-Register, this example was completed at the Abingdon Works on October 27, 1948. While its earliest history is undocumented, TC6939 is believed to have been delivered new in California, a claim supported by its accompanying original California black license plate (LSR 910), which still bears vintage 1970 and 1971 registration stickers. Beneath those stickers are earlier layers dating back to 1965, the year that longtime owner Mr. H.R. Highkin is believed to have acquired the car. The TC appears in the MG TC Provenance List, noted in 2009 under the ownership of Mr. R.P. Smith of Hawaii, who acquired it in 2008 from Mr. Highkin-a retired Professor Emeritus from California State University who had long cherished the car. In the mid-2000s, Mr. Highkin commissioned a comprehensive body-off-frame restoration by David Reisland Auto Concepts, an artisan known for expert metal and wood craftsmanship. Reislands detailed handwritten restoration log documents over 700 hours of careful work, accompanied by a photo album covering the stages of disassembly, frame restoration, bodywork, metalwork, and engine rebuilding. Completed in 2005, the restoration returned the TC to a near-concours standard, displaying exceptional craftsmanship and authenticity throughout. The car remained with Mr. Highkin until 2008, then passed to Mr. Smith, and later to an MG enthusiast in Des Moines, Iowa. The previous collector-owner acquired the car in 2014, maintaining it with regular service by marque specialists, including ITS ALIVE! Automotive. Accompanying invoices document nearly $3,900 in maintenance and parts, ensuring that TC6939 remains mechanically strong and visually impressive. When the opportunity arose in 2025 to acquire this exceptionally well-documented and beautifully restored example, ITS ALIVE! jumped at the chance. Today, TC6939 presents and performs every bit as well as its provenance suggests, with its matching-numbers XPAG engine finely tuned and fully detailed. We are proud to offer this exceptionally restored and long-term collector-owned MG TC-a near-concours example of one of the most iconic postwar British sports cars, ready for vintage touring, spirited weekend drives, or addition to a fine collection. For more information, ples at 314-710-6600 ext. 140 or by emailing Sales@ItsAliveAuto.com.