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

Happy New Year!

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:40:00 +0000

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.

What a difference a year makes..

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 04:15:00 +0000

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.

Angouleme, Circuit des Remparts 2011

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 09:30:00 +0000

Angouleme. It's always a hectic trip, pleasure you inflict upon yourself I suppose, and this year was no different.

As I previously mentioned, I took Freddie Yhap's old MG TA down for the race this year. It had been standing some time and so it was necessary to replace the old copper head gasket and install a new set of brake shoes (safety fast and all that). I do wonder, though, whether the typically ridiculous amounts of oil leaking from the differential might have somewhat hampered the brakes' effectiveness (how's that for a racing driver excuse). Whilst I'm on the topic of excuses, I will also say that my tyres left a little to be desired and must have been approaching their late teens (I'll forget to mention that they did, in their defence, begin life as 15" Dunlop race rubbers which are in no way in keeping).

I opted to take the citroen, whilst my son Luke went with Peter Greenaway in the van taking mine and Peter's cars. I did have to wonder whether leaving my car relatively unattended with Peter (who is always a favourite for the podium) was a wise move but it seemed to arrive in one piece and as far as I could tell the rotor arm and half shafts remained in place (see; car pranks 101) and my charriot was running well.

It was a weekend of mixed weather and qualifying saw a heavy bout of showers to compound the cruelty of it taking place at 8.30am on the Sunday morning. This left my aged tyres utterly out at sea (you have no idea how literally) and despite the car feeling like it had plenty of grunt I struggled to translate this to a result and would line up on the grid in sixth place.

Thankfully things improved through the day and by the time of the race the clouds had subsided and it was time for those Dunlops to shine. Rather than do my best Murray Walker impression, I will let the video below speak for itself.

Although I'll understand if you have better ways to spend half an hour.. I finished third despite a couple of minor blips, one being a disagreement with a barrier another a racing incident (sure that's how Lewis Hamilton would see it) with my old MG TB (of all the cars). I had a great time despite the prolonged periods behind the safety car, in truth I'm sure I wasn't the only one grateful for the enforced mechanical sympathy and relative relaxation as there were a few smoking brakes, exhausts, even drivers after the race.

My congratulations of course go to Charles Reynolds in his Morgan super sport and Stuart Dean in the well known Dick Jacobs MG YB special who both pipped me to the post finishing first and second respectively. If the organisers will have me back I'm sure I'll be there again, to have another go and am already looking forward to Angouleme 2012.

Beaulieu and Angouleme already!

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 13:05:00 +0000

It's been an extremely hectic couple of months here and I can scarcely believe that it is already time to be thinking about the Bealieu autojumble and Angouleme's circuit-des-Remparts race. I will have a stand at Beaulieu with one of my Q-Type bodies, some superchargers & seats for sale so please feel free to come over, have a nose and say hello. It would be nice to know who I'm writing to. A happy customer sent me this photograph of a body tub loosely fitted, I'm very happy with the way they're evolving and I'm always looking for feedback and ideas.

In car sales news. The black MG TC, blue MG TA/Q and burgundy TA/Q have all found loving homes and I am sure they will continue to bring joy to their respective owners for many years to come. The only new arrival of note has been sold before hitting the page! I bought this MG TA for sentimental reasons as it was owned by a good friend of mine, the late Freddie Yhap, it's impressive history and fierce 1500c+ engine have already persuaded another friend of mine to buy the car and I'm very happy I'll be able to keep tabs on her!

Where did June go?

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 21:00:00 +0000

I'll start with the news of two new arrivals to the sale page. I've acquired a lovely and very original N-Type with all the bits "they" usually steal present and correct. I've some work to do to get her ship shape but I'd take a lower offer beforehand as the building work contiues without mercy. Here she is flying past at speed, sounding and going very well indeed.

In addition to the N Type I have also been reunited with JYA 771, a car which belongs to a close friend of mine. After nearly 20 years of enjoyment he has reluctantly decided to put her up for sale. You can immediately tell that the car has been well loved and looked after. It is in stunning condition, one of the best TCs around and with an excellent and detailed history file.

It has otherwise been a very busy month, the roof is now on the house and I am about to embark upon the joyous process of applying for planning permition for my new garage. Wait and see on that one. I did manage to escape the chaos and make it to Silverstone MG Live!, albeit only as a spectator. It was good to see some familiar faces and watching the racing made me reconsider the specification of my next car.. the red mist is already descending.

In other news I did finally manage to sort out that manifold for the TA / Q with the crossflow cylinder head and volumex blower. A couple of minor modifications have brought a real boost in power. Notably the manifold was altered so that the air / fuel mixture is introduced more evenly across the cylinders, preventing the first two plugs from fouling up. I have made another modification which is equally crucial - no prizes but full kudos for anyone who spots it (no Peter Burgess, it's not your sticker that I'm referring to.. although no man would be wise to doubt the sticker's "go faster stripe" effect).

Busy, busy, busy, busy... Did I mention busy?

Sat, 07 May 2011 12:26:00 +0000

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

One of Steve's QTs

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:41:00 +0000

I must apologise for the lack of activity on the blog, as you may already know I'm currently building a house and it's sapping all of my time. I realised I've not put any photographs of my QT online and with the house squeezing my pockets she may not be around long to photograph! I've used this car to perfect some of my design ideas and spent a long time obsessing over the details. The cone, for example, is held by captive nuts and fits so flush to the body you'd need a feeler gauge to measure the gap. This is how I intend to design all of the bodies from now on, it's the little details that make the big differences. I will also be altering the luggage arrangements.The blue QT i have for sale is now my focus and over the next few weeks she will be checked over and improved and I will have details of the new inlet manifold setup.

MG QT on the Rolling Road with Peter Burgess

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 20:30:00 +0000

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.

Cars Sold: 1947 MG TC

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 12:27:00 +0000

Matching numbers car black with red interior. Rebuilt by Ron Gammons himself in 1982, a full "nut and bolt" restoration. The car's history is known to 1978 with a complete MOT history from 1981. Car originally registered 1947 with Derby council. Exhibited at London Classic Motor show in 1995 and Stoneleigh in 2005. Featured in Octagon Bulletin Aug 1993, Classic and Sports car Mar 2005 , La Vie de L’Auto Oct 2009. The car has just had a set of new tyres is currently in the garage being checked over. She will be sold with a years tax and MOT and requires no work whatsoever. More details available upon request.

SOLD: MG J2 Swept-Wing Restoration Project

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 13:11:00 +0000

I was lucky enough to find an MG J2 restoration project. It's becoming increasingly rare to find J2s in this condition and the new owner intends to take full advantage, restoring her to her original swept wing configuration. This car doesn't know how lucky it is!