1938 MG TA Tickford Drophead Coupe
Less than 260 examples were built before World War II interrupted production, and roughly half are believed to survive (figures that underscore the scarcity of this more refined take on the TA Midget).
Commissioned from Salmons & Sons Carriage Works (by then operating under the Tickford name), the Drophead Coupe offered genuine weather protection that the standard roadster could not match. The lined convertible top worked in three positions with the help of external landau irons (fully raised, partially open above the front seats, or fully lowered).
Wind-up windows kept occupants dry and insulated when closed, while the windscreen could be tilted open for ventilation. A telescopic steering column and semaphore trafficators added further refinement, and MG offered buyers a wide range of exterior colors and interior leather tones for 1938.
The price reflected the coachwork’s added sophistication at £269 and 10 shillings, compared to £222 for the standard roadster.
Beneath the bodywork sat a 1,292cc overhead-valve inline four-cylinder engine producing 50 horsepower, paired with a four-speed manual gearbox.
Sliding-trunnion independent front suspension and a live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, along with nine-inch Lockheed hydraulic drum brakes, completed a chassis that, while modest by later standards, was well-suited to the car’s character and intended use.
Source
