MG TA, TB, TC, QT for Sale | Steve Baker MGs 1936-1955

A very happy new year to you all, my thanks for all of the support over the previous year and I am truely looking forward to a busy 2012. Purists beware, you're in for a scare with a few TA / Q-Type builds to be completed this year and I am also working upon a new special for Angouleme. 

There will be several new items appearing in my web store this year, including pressed, brass, T-Series radiator shells, headlamp stone guards and several more. The first new item to announce, available this month are these lovely speedo and rev counter jauges. They are 5" jauges, the speedo is driven by a smiths square drive and the rev counter is electronic and available for 4, 6 and 8 cylinder engines. Photos below;

£275 for the Rev Counter and £305 for the Speedometer, both including VAT. Other designs are possible so please ask if there is something you have in mind. 

With Christmas fast approaching it seems like 2011 has flown by. As many of you will know I have spent the majority of the year focussing upon building a new house. It was something I'd always wanted to do and as the saying goes, if you want something done right - do it yourself. With the project now coming to an end I will be able to once again devote my full attention to MGs and next year should be off to a great start with details of two new Q-Type builds, a lovely MG TB for sale and the prospect of a couple of Cecil Kimber's first creations in my garage. 

It's been a hectic month or so, for those that don't know I am currently in the process of building a house and it seems to be all I do at the moment. Time in the garage is a rare luxury but I am evidently still making my presence known to the local council who installed these handy speedo calibrators right outside my front door. Fantastic news!

The build is at least going well, now we're over head height I'm starting to feel like it may all happen after all. I've also been lucky to have had a run of good weather thus far, topless builders are no sight for sore eyes but are getting the job done.

And finally, back to MG matters you may have noticed that the J2 I had for sale has found a new owner and as such I've sourced another project car. This time a TC which will be for sale next week, so if you know anyone who's looking please point them my way! I've also happened upon some triple M panels which are surplus to requirements and have been put up on eBay, link below. 

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/stevebakermg/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25

The blue QT you may have seen on the for sale page is now in our garage having returned from France and as such I'm checking her over and making improvements. The car has had an easy life since it was rebuilt 4 years ago, living in the south of France and never braving bad weather. A bit of a culture shock then for her to arrive at my garage in the UK winter.

The car has a non-standard setup with a crossflow cylinder head, outside exhaust and front mounted supercharger and this brings difficulties in a colder climate. The carburretor is always likely to be prone to freezing in this position and the manifold needs to ensure the mixture (which travels some distance) is distributed evenly across the cylinders. I have therefore decided to fit a 2" SU carburretor and to make some modifications of my own to the inlet manifold (pictures to come, this photo should give you some idea):

The video below shows us in Peter Burgess' workshop testing the new formula. I've known Peter a long time and he's always a great help when tinkering with engines.. If I had to criticise I'd say he tends to trick me into leaving my mechanical sympathy at the door. That said, it sounds like it might have worked!

Don't worry, all will be revealed. There will also be a few more improvements made to the vehicle, if you watch the web site over the next couple of months you will see her with new foot plates, aero screen supports and a new polished stainless steel spare wheel carrier.

Well maybe it's not spring yet, but a clear day afforded a rare chance for a blat in the TC. I know it may be sad but I think I've the best job in the world, still enjoy driving these cars even after 30 years. Doesn't she sound lovely too? 

Never one to back down from a challenge, I recently agreed to deliver a TC project that I'd sold.. now that doesn't sound too difficult I'm sure but the key is in the details. The car was to be delivered, well, upstairs. We had a great time doing this, it was the sort of thing you shouldn't enjoy but did all the same. 

Something I've been threatening to do for a long time, here's the results. An ENV pre-selector gearbox mated to an XPAG engine, this will ultimately be fitted to the TA chassis it is resting on. The gearbox was a request from a client for whom I'm assembling a kit, the 12" brake you can see on the floor is another and there will be more photographs of that to come in the not-too-distant future. Enjoy! 

I've just changed internet provider and have had the usual difficulties (for me!) setting things up. If you've sent anything through in the last 48 hours please re-send as I'm unlikely to have received your message. Thanks, Steve.

I was sad to hear of the passing of Freddie Yapp, who had been taken ill recently. Freddie was a real connoisseur of wine, food and cars. Not to mention a bloody good chap and always a good laugh to be around. I recall, after a heavy night, finding Freddie asleep on a pile of tyres. The floor would've been more comfy I'm sure. I found this photograph of Freddie in his element at Montlhéry, he's stood behind his TA (a real rocket). He brought a lot of joy to a lot of people and he will be very sorely missed I'm sure. 

I've happened upon this lovely wade R010 blower which I intend to fit to the front of a customer's MG TA/Q-type kit. Amazing what turns up at Beaulieu still. Dumb iron mounted I suspect it'll cause quite a stir and look the part.