How many TAs are on the road in the UK?

I set out down this road back in the summer of 2021. At the time I was concerned about having enough copy for future issues of TTT 2 (I still am!). The last thing I wanted was to fill the pages of the magazine with ‘rubbish’, but thought that this would be a useful exercise to undertake and would also fill up a few pages. Little did I appreciate the magnitude of the task, which grew like Topsy from the time Roger Muir, editor of the MG Octagon Car Club Bulletin came on board. Let me explain………

Prior to Roger ‘joining the party’ my sole source of information was Stewart Penfound’s (Registrar of the ‘T’ Register of the MG Car Club for the TA/B/C models) database. This contains the world’s most complete record of all the beam axle T-Types. However, TA owner, Roger has been maintaining records of TAs for years and it transpired that he had details of quite a few TAs not known to Stewart and vice versa. We therefore were able to record details of a number of ‘new’ cars, not previously known to Stewart and therefore not previously included in my published lists. Inevitably, this slowed things up as I needed to check one list against the other and update my published lists.

Note: The origin of ‘to grow like Topsy’ comes from the book Uncle Tom’s Cabin, written by Harriet Beecher-Stowe. In the book, Topsy just grew, or according to Topsy herself, she just “grow’d”.

As part of the ongoing process to refine/correct/add to the published information, I included in the December TTT 2 the following new information to that previously published in the October TTT 2 in respect of the chassis numbers 0251 to1000 for cars recorded as being in the UK and identifiable from the DVLA search facility:

Due to the additional TA having been notified and added to the list (TA0646 – ACX 350 – Untaxed) the number and the percentages have been revised. The number of TAs listed in ‘Part 1’ was 157. It is now 158, of which 87 are Taxed (stays the same), 58 are Untaxed or Not Taxed for road use (plus 1), and 13 are on SORN (stays the same). Percentage Taxed decreases slightly (was 55.4%, now 55.1%).

Since the December issue was published, another TA is now on the road. This is TA0732, registration number RD 9263. This car has been on the Isle of Man, but is now on the mainland and its original registration number (RD 9263) has been reclaimed. This registration number was being shown as ‘NOT known to DVLA’, but can now be deleted from this category. I also drew attention at the end of December’s issue to Roger’s lists of TAs but said that I had not had time to go through them.

Having found time to go through Roger’s lists in respect of the chassis numbers 0251 to1000 for cars recorded as being in the UK, the following changes have been made:

TA0264 (JK 6000) – this TA which was recorded as ‘Not known to DVLA’ has been deleted from this category as it has been confirmed that it is in The Netherlands.

TA0306 (SVS 438) – this car was not previously known to the T Register. It is shown as ‘Untaxed’ by DVLA and has been added to the ‘Untaxed’ total.

TA0358 (EPE 104) – previously shown as WXG 492 and included in the ‘NOT known to DVLA’ list and also as EPE 104 in the list of cars known to DVLA. The explanation for this is that the first mentioned registration number is the ‘age-related’ one, which was given by DVLA before it was known that it was possible to reclaim the original number. Now that it has its original number, WXG 492 has been deleted from the ‘NOT known to DVLA’ list.

TA0410 (JM 2786) – the T Register did not have the full registration number, so it was not possible to identify it from a DVLA search. Now that the full number is known it has been added as ‘Untaxed’ to the list of cars known to DVLA.

TA???? (NJ 9776) – this registration number is ‘claimed’ by two chassis numbers (which are not recorded, in view of the need to carry out an investigation to establish the rightful owner). NJ 9776 is shown as ‘Taxed’ and has been added to the list of cars known to DVLA, without the chassis number being shown for the time being.

TA0570 (DGY 127) – not previously known to the T Register or DVLA, so has been added to the list of ‘NOT known to DVLA’.

TA0597 (CPB 345) – not previously known to the T Register. It is on DVLA as ‘Not known’ and has been added to the list of ‘NOT known to DVLA’.

TA0745 (ABL 406) – only recently ‘discovered’. It is shown as ‘Not taxed for road use’ by DVLA and has been added to the ‘Not taxed for road use’ total.

TA0792 (YVL 342) – TA0792 was previously shown as ‘NOT known to DVLA’. However, it has been deleted from this list because a successful application has been made to recover its original number (ADC 374). This number is shown by DVLA as ‘Taxed’ and has been added to the ‘Taxed’ list.

TA0961 (BUP 411) – TA0961 (BUP 411) – shown previously as BP 411 by the T Register and included in the ‘NOT known to DVLA’ list. However, this registration number should be BUP 411 and is shown by DVLA as ‘Untaxed’. It has been added to this list and BP 411 has been deleted from the ‘NOT known to DVLA’ list. As a result of the foregoing changes, the number of TAs listed in Part 1 has increased from 158 to 165.

Of these additional seven, three are Taxed and four are either ‘Untaxed’ or ‘Not taxed for road use’. The numbers by category are:

‘Taxed’            90 (54.5%)     

‘Untaxed’ or ‘Not taxed for road use’ 62 (37.6%)

‘SORN’            13 (7.9%).

Moving on to the lists published in December’s TTT2 the following changes are necessary in respect of chassis numbers 1001 to 2000 for cars recorded as being in the UK and identifiable from the DVLA search facility. These changes are principally as a result of comparing Roger’s information with Stewart’s.

Chassis numbers TA1381 and TA1847 were shown as both carrying registration number APY 144. This number is recorded as ‘Not taxed for on road use’ with DVLA. Therefore, the total number of cars and the number in this category has been reduced by 1.

Similarly, chassis numbers TA1849 and TA1949 were shown as both carrying BWS 739. Therefore, the total number of cars has been further reduced and the number shown as on SORN has been reduced by 1. TA1849 is the correct car carrying BWS 739.

Note: Roger’s computer software spotted these duplications.

As mentioned in the penultimate paragraph of the article in December’s TTT 2, Roger Muir sent me a lengthy list of TA chassis numbers and their corresponding registration numbers. The list has been compared with existing information held and the results, which include 6 new cars shown as ‘Taxed’ on DVLA, are set out below:

TA1141 (YXG 351) is on SORN.

TA1218 (RC 5266) is on DVLA as ‘Not taxed for on road use’.

TA1267 (ATP 293) is similarly shown.

TA1311 (DRB 330) is on SORN.

TA1324 (EDH 458) is shown by DVLA as ‘Taxed’.

TA1386 (KXS 629) is on SORN.

TA1489 (9969 MG) is shown by DVLA as ‘Taxed’. It is thought that this car previously carried registration number DPO 612, which was shown as ‘NOT known to DVLA’ in the December TTT 2.

TA1496 (DYV 562) is shown by DVLA as ‘Taxed’.

TA1505 (BUY 172) is shown by DVLA as ‘Taxed’.

TA1509 (UVS 114) is on DVLA as ‘Not taxed for on road use’. This may be an age-related registration, replacing what is thought to have been the original number on the car (AMO 341) which was not possible to reclaim.

TA1543 (AWV 885) is on DVLA as ‘Not taxed for on road use’.

TA1619 (DVR 607) is shown by DVLA as ‘Taxed’(this was previously incorrectly shown as DVR 697 in the cars NOT known to DVLA.

TA1646 (CTC 679) and TA1686 (CVB 453) are both shown by DVLA as ‘Untaxed’.

TA1710 (EOM 989) is shown by DVLA as ‘Taxed’.

TA1722 (DUO 962) is on DVLA as ‘Not taxed for on road use’.

TA1810 (CNG 929) previously included in December’s TTT 2 as “Untaxed” is in France.

TA1814 (BSC 206) is on DVLA as ‘Not taxed for on road use’.

TA1901 (ERA 432) is on DVLA as ‘Not taxed for on road use’.

TA1911 (Registration number not known) is known to have been issued with an age-related number.

TA1972 (SM 8258) previously shown as ‘NOT known to DVLA’ should be SN 8258. It is on DVLA as ‘Not taxed for on road use’.

TA1976 (EXL 714) although previously shown as ‘NOT known to DVLA’, this car is known to be undergoing restoration.

TA1982 (ELY 563) not previously known, but is now recorded as ‘Untaxed’.

The analysis of ‘Part 2’ (chassis numbers recorded as UK cars in the range TA1001 to TA2000) published in December’s TTT 2 said the following:

Of the 164 TAs listed:

86 are Taxed (52.5% of the total)

55 are Untaxed or Not taxed for road use (33.5%)

23 are on SORN (14%).

As a result of the changes set out above, the revised figures are as follows:

92 are Taxed (50.3% of the revised total of 183)

65 are Untaxed or Not taxed for road use (35.5%)

26 are on SORN (14.2%).

These revised totals will be added to the new totals for ‘Part 1’ of the exercise and those obtained from ‘Part 3’ (chassis numbers recorded as UK cars and identifiable from the DVLA search facility in the range TA2001 to TA3253) to arrive at the grand total for TAs recorded as being in the UK and are identifiable from the DVLA search facility.

What follows are details in respect of chassis numbers and their corresponding registration numbers for TAs recorded as being in the UK and are identifiable from the DVLA search facility from where we finished up in the previous issue (TA2000) right up to the end of TA production.

Chassis	Registration	Engine	On the road?
2002	FGO 709	1132	N/T for road
2016	ENB 124	1250	N/T for road
2019	BBL 80	1708	Taxed
2020	BBL 81	1708	Untaxed
2026	JMD 697	1250	Taxed
2031	FEH 866	1292	Taxed
2041	BWP 895	1141	Taxed
2044	BBL 82	1141	N/T for road
2055	BJW 206	1141	Taxed
2057	AHJ 342	1250	Untaxed
2059	GRF 37	1296	SORN
2071	EUC 880	1141	Taxed
2073	AUT 188	1000	Taxed
2076	JL 5283	1250	Taxed
2082	APN 617	1141	Taxed
2083	EKH 311	1292	Taxed
2086	423 YUJ	1250	Untaxed
2090	CNP 464	10	Taxed
2091	CTF 922	1292	Untaxed
2093	CTF 920	1141	N/T for road
2095	XBV 465	4000	Taxed
2096	ENC 86	1141	Untaxed
2097	SSV 343	1250	Taxed
2103	GDD 568	1250	Taxed
2104	BSF 743	1141	Taxed
2119	VV 6840	1141	Taxed
2120	BWD 919	1141	N/T for road
2130	JK 7524	1141	N/T for road
2131	CAC 4	999	Untaxed
2143	FAU 203	1250	Taxed
2145	BGG 669	1298	Taxed
2146	DRU 984	1250	Taxed
2147	LXS 275	1292	SORN
2149	DPX 469	1130	SORN
2153	ELR 734	1275	Untaxed
2161	CS 7695	1141	Taxed
2162	CDE 906	1292	Untaxed
2163	FHT 696	1141	Taxed
2165	EEL 247	1124	N/T for road
2187	1519 JG	1292	N/T for road
2188	EXH 904	1292	Taxed
2204	BBL 427	1292	Untaxed
2211	357 XUU	1350	Taxed
2215	GRE 318	1141	Taxed
2220	DHP 624	1292	Taxed
2228	YXS 598	1292	Taxed
2233	APN 898	1292	N/T for road
2236	FVK 590	1141	Taxed
2240	GEV 735	1292	Untaxed
2255	EOB 919	1141	N/T for road
2259	KSV 446	1292	Untaxed
2264	ADN 908	1124	SORN
2268	DFY 716	1292	Taxed
2271	EKT 274	1292	Taxed
2272	EAL 545	1292	Taxed
2278	CNG 845	1250	Untaxed
2279	JMP 25	1250	Untaxed
2290	SGO 27	1250	Taxed
2302	GPH 152	998	Taxed
2313	MG 5885	1141	Taxed
2328	JMC 996	1292	Untaxed
2329	JMH 893	10	Untaxed
2334	DJU 282	1141	Taxed
2340	SFF 540	1298	Untaxed
2350	CNP 33	1141	Untaxed
2358	JC 5518	1398	SORN
2361	JMM 839	1250	N/T for road
2368	DVB 519	1292	Taxed
2369	JX 6672	1292	Taxed
2372	WSU 492	1250	Taxed
2381	WAS 129	1292	Taxed
2397	MG 5915	1141	N/T for road
2401	VV 7131	1292	SORN
2404	FNU 90	1250	Taxed
2413	BWS 549	1250	Taxed
2414	FKE 423	1140	Taxed
2421	PSK 331	1141	Untaxed
2424	882 XUX	1250	Untaxed
2427	DRK 252	1141	Untaxed
2431	EYM 807	1141	N/T for road
2433	DHO 756	1141	N/T for road
2439	BAY 967	1292	Taxed
2445	DAD 337	9999	N/T for road
2446	MG 5974	1292	Taxed
2448	925 UXN	1141	N/T for road
2449	BNT 471	1255	Untaxed
2455	EBP 244	1141	Taxed
2458	DYD 390	1292	Taxed
2459	EYM 145	1141	Taxed
2463	DTC 97	1500	Taxed
2464	BJB 260	1141	N/T for road
2472	ENN 267	1124	SORN
2482	EOG 671	1292	Taxed
2483	BYS 901	1293	Taxed
2489	LSL 465	1500	Taxed
2494	DTC 654	1292	Untaxed
2509	GKE 116	1141	Taxed
2511	CVE 700	1141	Taxed
2513	GPL 590	10	Taxed
2520	HPD 348	1250	Taxed
2524	BUH 930	1141	Untaxed
2526	FKJ 805	0	Taxed
2529	MG 6165	1287	Untaxed
2544	JMD 378	1141	Untaxed
2551	BAP 927	1296	Taxed
2557	AVY 618	0	Taxed
2558	DAK 796	1292	Untaxed
2560	EYY 822	1141	Untaxed
2571	GUG 199	1292	Untaxed
2574	GRA 393	1141	N/T for road
2577	CBO 767	1010	Taxed
2588	DRK 818	1141	Taxed
2590	DBJ 841	1292	Taxed
2591	WXG 919	1292	Taxed
2593	ENH 486	1141	Taxed
2614	CDV 287	1292	SORN
2615	CS 8495	1141	Taxed
2617	HPU 46	1292	Untaxed
2619	BNV 195	1292	Untaxed
2621	YXG 811	1292	Taxed
2625	GMM 515	1292	Untaxed
2634	CRY 121	1141	N/T for road
2637	RC 6710	1292	Untaxed
2638	HSU 401	1250	Untaxed
2639	879 XUX	1250	Taxed
2640	EKD 635	1292	Taxed
2642	FGF 460	1350	Taxed
2648	GTW 695	1290	Taxed
2650	MG 6227	10	Taxed
2651	GTW 276	1292	Taxed
2657	MG 6401	1141	SORN
2659	FKL 788	1250	Taxed
2672	KS 8199	999	Untaxed
2687	ETF 647	1141	Taxed
2689	BDR 107	1293	Untaxed
2694	JSV 598	1250	Taxed
2725	TSV 239	1292	N/T for road
2731	FEL 142	1124	N/T for road
2733	DVC 500	1250	Taxed
2748	EPO 181	1292	Taxed
2749	EON 908	1292	Taxed
2754	ENK 220	1250	N/T for road
2760	MG 6304	1708	Taxed
2778	ABX 919	1292	N/T for road
2784	805 EUT	1141	SORN
2791	FRA 535	1588	Untaxed
2792	ENK 992	1141	Untaxed
2794	7775 MG	1250	Untaxed
2795	ERL 311	1292	N/T for road
2797	WVS 730	1292	Taxed
2802	FLC 798	1141	N/T for road
2808	DTF 35	1141	Taxed
2811	JHO 70	1292	Untaxed
2817	MG 6520	1250	SORN
2819	GVW 685	1292	Taxed
2820	WAS 424	1250	SORN
2821	JMP 978	1292	Taxed
2836	JRE 932	1141	Taxed
2837	CGB 655	1250	Taxed
2864	MG 6317	1141	SORN
2870	FLH 222	1292	Taxed
2878	MG 6452	1141	N/T for road
2879	RC 7310	1087	Taxed
2881	MGX 856	1292	Taxed
2884	HRE 17	1292	N/T for road
2889	FRA 794	1292	Taxed
2895	FRA 795	1292	Taxed
2919	GWE 167	1292	Untaxed
2927	AAV 902	999	Taxed
2929	KHX 55	1292	Taxed
2931	EBY 871	1141	SORN
2932	OS 5237	1141	N/T for road
2940	JM 4835	1141	N/T for road
2941	GR 6500	1292	Taxed
2945	FLJ 704	1000	Taxed
2948	EVO 200	1292	Untaxed
2951	FKN 849	1292	Untaxed
2952	EU 8044	1010	Taxed
2957	MG 6341	1141	Untaxed
2965	FOJ 857	1292	N/T for road
2966	FNF 666	1287	Taxed
2977	KMH 642	1141	SORN
2980	DDF 363	1292	Taxed
2983	DDK 592	1250	SORN
2994	FXP 190	1250	Taxed
2997	CCR 726	1290	Taxed
3001	EYA 333	1292	Taxed
3009	JPF 673	1141	Taxed
3010	FGJ 63	1250	Taxed
3021	DTF 651	1292	Untaxed
3024	BDR 878	2561	Taxed
3027	AFV 727	1250	Taxed
3029	FWJ 362	1296	Taxed
3033	EGO 6	1292	Taxed
3037	DKV 23	1292	Untaxed
3044	FKO 712	1250	Taxed
3061	HPH 103	1292	Taxed
3063	DDF 978	1150	Taxed
3064	BMO 375	1141	Taxed
3076	DTF 654	1250	Untaxed
3084	KXS 460	1292	Untaxed
3086	383 XUP	1250	SORN
3089	VAM 460	1265	Untaxed
3090	CET 267	1250	N/T for road
3093	KS 8420	1141	Untaxed
3096	CSD 190	1250	N/T for road
3101	SL 2611	1141	Taxed
3110	HHK 623	1250	N/T for road
3116	ERO 368	1141	Taxed
3120	HPJ 54	1292	Taxed
3126	FEL 35	1132	N/T for road
3130	EOY 34	1292	SORN
3131	MG 4639	1250	Untaxed
3135	BNR 43	1250	Taxed
3145	KMG 568	1292	SORN
3146	BVH 277	1292	Untaxed
3150	ENU 192	1250	N/T for road
3152	EFY 267	1298	N/T for road
3153	GNU 608	1292	Taxed
3160	KMH 202	10	Taxed
3162	FLR 527	1141	SORN
3169	HRF 693	1200	Taxed
3172	BFR 153	1292	Taxed
3178	WXG 710	1292	Taxed
3180	JSV 671	1250	Taxed
3181	DRT 525	1141	Untaxed
3184	DOR 33	1141	Taxed
3189	802 YUT	1250	Taxed
3190	BDB 60	1141	Taxed
3201	FKT 343	1141	N/T for road
3202	FKP 395	1292	Taxed
3203	FKT 346	10	Taxed
3206	FKT 354	1141	Untaxed
3215	FNF 137	1292	Taxed
3217	KXS 631	1292	SORN
3220	536 YUT	1250	Taxed
3234	FXK 651	1292	Taxed
3235	MG 6511	1250	Taxed
3238	BBU 913	1292	N/T for road
3239	EUR 243	1292	Taxed
3242	WXG 631	1292	Taxed
3243	FKD 408	1141	N/T for road
3248	FKT  357	1141	N/T for road
3253	GKE 568	1141	N/T for road

The total number of cars identified in ‘Part 3’ of the exercise (TA 2001 to TA3253) is 243, of which:

129 are Taxed
93 are Untaxed or Not taxed for road use
21 are on SORN

It is now necessary to add in the totals from Part 1 (TA0251 to TA1000) and Part 2 (TA1001 to TA2000) to arrive at the total of Parts 1 to 3, which is as follows:

Total number 591, of which:

311 are Taxed
220 are Untaxed or Not taxed for road use
60 are on SORN

This number can be increased by 6 to arrive at a new total of 597 due to:

CJW 443, PAS 311, NV 7193, LSL 604, ACJ 103, (chassis numbers not currently known, but the first three are taxed, LSL 604 is untaxed and ACJ 103 is on SORN).

Also, MG 5175 (taxed) whose chassis number was not known, is now known to be TA0991.

Therefore, new total can be broken down as follows:

Taxed 315                                              (52.8%)
Untaxed or Not taxed for road use 221 (37.0%)
SORN 61                                               (10.2%)

A degree of caution is advised when considering these numbers. The ‘Taxed’ total of 315 is factually correct, as one would not be able to tax a car that doesn’t exist! It is possibly short of a few, but only a few, because it is likely that there are still some cars that we don’t know about – but I suggest that these are by now few and far between.

The ‘SORN’ total is reasonably accurate as one would be unlikely to declare a ‘ghost’ car.

The questionable category is the ‘Untaxed’ or ‘Not taxed for road use’ as the records for many of these, date a long way back and there must be serious doubts about the existence of some.

This picture of two good looking TAs was sent to me by Keith Griffin (Keith’s car is the one on the right). MG 5175 is mentioned in the text above. Its chassis number is TA0991.