
Frank Langridge’s TB0415, winner of the concours at the 2011 New Zealand Pre-’56 MG National Rally – photo by kind permission of Brian Rainbow.
The article on the current state of the market in the UK in the June issue of TTT 2, placed the TB firmly at the top of the desirability list for T-Types. Its principal attributes, according to the summary at the end of the article – “Vintage feel and rare” – are given a tremendous boost by its eligibility for the Mille Miglia.
TB production began on 1st May 1939, the two prototypes, TB0251 and TB0252, having been built a month before. TB0252, now in Sweden, was first registered as BRX 265 in the name of the MG Car Company Limited on 3rd May 1939 and was the factory demonstration car. This was obviously timely to help start selling the 108 TBs, which came off the production line by the end of May 1939.
The TB was essentially a TA, but with the XPAG engine which had been developed from the Morris XPJM type introduced in the autumn of 1938. After the TB was introduced, it shared the same Service Parts List with the TA, but with separate sections for the engine (including ancillaries, e.g. starter motor) and the clutch and gearbox.
Production was short lived and ceased due to the outbreak of war in Europe, albeit the Production Records show that a further 84 examples were built after Neville Chamberlain’s declaration of war on 3rd September 1939.
Daily production figures are as follows:
Date Chassis numbers Number of cars
01/05/39 0253 – 0269 17
02/05/39 0270 – 0287 18
08/05/39 0288 – 0307 10
16/05/39 0308 01
17/05/39 0309 – 0327 19
24/05/39 0328 – 0342 15
25/05/39 0343 – 0360 18
07/06/39 0361 – 0375 15
14/06/39 0376 – 0390 15
20/06/39 0391 – 0410 20
28/06/39 0411 – 0425 15
04/07/39 0426 – 0443 18
05/07/39 0444 – 0445 02
12/07/39 0446 – 0465 20
18/07/39 0466 – 0485 20
25/07/39 0486 – 0505 20
23/08/39 0506 – 0512 07
24/08/39 0513 – 0521 09
25/08/39 0522 – 0528 07
31/08/39 0529 – 0532 04
01/09/39 0533 – 0542 10
02/09/39 0543 – 0545 03
05/10/39 0546 – 0550 05
06/10/39 0551 – 0558 08
09/10/39 0559 – 0565 07
10/10/39 0566 – 0572 07
11/10/39 0573 – 0580 08
12/10/39 0581 – 0589 09
13/10/39 0590 – 0595 06
16/10/39 0596 – 0603 08
17/10/39 0604 – 0610 07
18/10/39 0611 – 0618 08
19/10/39 0619 – 0625 07
20/10/39 0626 – 0629 04
The total number of TBs built (including the two prototypes) was 379. The total of 379 included (according to Clausager) 60 TB Tickfords. The build date for these chassis numbers is shown in the Production Records as the date before they went to Salmons & Sons at Newport Pagnell for Tickford coachwork.
The number of TB survivors is said to be high, but providing the evidence to support this assertion is difficult.
One reasonably accurate measure of TBs on the road in the UK is to interrogate the DVLA “Get vehicle information from DVLA” look-up service https://www.gov.uk/get-vehicle-information-from-dvla
This pre-supposes that one has knowledge of all the TBs by registration number in the UK. However, it is unlikely to be wildly out, since a car that is taxed and in regular use is likely to be noticed and recorded as a survivor.
Details by chassis number and registration mark follow:
Chassis number Registration mark
TB0258 MG 6644
TB0272 JPA 57
TB0273 BBE 83
TB0286 JK 8438
TB0296 819 XUT
TB0302 KMY 140
TB0304 FAR 245
TB0354 XG 7411
TB0368 BNR 687
TB0370 JFC 999
TB0376 FVU 49
TB0386 FYH 530
TB0389 JVS 997
TB0399 HRF 642
TB0422 LMC 105
TB0424 FLJ 39
TB0438 FOH 999
TB0445 FVR 786
TB0477 DFS 150
TB0486 WG 913
TB0487 CUK 678
TB0489 JPC 901
TB0491 5179 MG
TB0493 EWK 447
TB0503 CBO 369
TB0530 GRB 17
TB0540 YXG 374
TB0560 MG 6743
TB0563 OSJ 318
TB0564 ERK 536
TB0569 ABV 288
TB0574 DKU 792
TB0594 BVG 142
TB0598 DRY 70
TB0605 GKA 866
TB0615 JP 4737
TB0623 JPH 6
Total number taxed and on the road is 38. Of these, only 3 are recorded as having a MOT certificate.
In using the “Get vehicle information from DVLA” look-up service, one can find (if you know the registration numbers) details of cars that are known to DVLA, but are not on the road. The working assumption is that these cars do actually exist in the UK. However, one can be foot-faulted here, as I recently discovered that TB0544 is listed by DVLA as GRA 920 and “Not taxed for road use”, but it is actually in Germany. How do I know? – well, the owner recently contacted me to ask if I had any heatshields left!
There are three categories of cars that are known to DVLA, but are not on the road. These are:
- SORN (Statutory off the road notification)
- Not taxed for road use
- Untaxed
Mike Inglehearn recently asked DVLA what “Not taxed for road use” meant and was told that these are cars on the system which were not taxed before the introduction of SORN, so do not require to have a SORN declaration. I am not sure of the distinction between “Not taxed for road use” and “Untaxed” – perhaps there isn’t one!
I can only find one TB with a SORN declaration; this is TB0265 registration number EFY 481.
I can find eight listed as “Not taxed for road use”, these are:
Chassis number Registration mark
TB0336 JPE 110
TB0343 ETC 402
TB0346 ETC 401
TB0388 FXV 607
TB0413 1939 MG
TB0469 FLJ 271
TB0496 FBP 829
TB0521 FYR 498
Those listed as “Untaxed” are as follows:
Chassis number Registration mark
TB0284 GKE 976
TB0318 JPA 890
TB0355 MG 6573
TB0365 3738 MG
TB0409 JPB 569
TB0450 DKU 738
TB0471 BWF 476
TB0557 GKL 70
TB0570 BHS 899
TB0585 MG 6812
TB0588 MG 6772
To arrive at the number of cars NOT known to DVLA is rather like taking a ‘shot in the dark’. However, some of the uncertainty can be lifted by identifying cars that DO exist, as follows:
Chassis number Registration mark
TB0251 BRX 805
TB0267 FOE 890
TB0269 BRX 534
TB0325 FCV 117
TB0334 BJY 917
TB0497 ???????
TB0511 ???????
We are now close to arriving at a total of TBs in the UK, as follows:
Number taxed and on the road – 38
Number “Not taxed for road use” – 08
Number “Untaxed” – 11
Number not known to DVLA, but known to exist – 7
TOTAL – 64
As a guestimate, another 20 could fall into the category of “Not known to DVLA but may exist.” Where are the others? Four are known to have been scrapped. By far the greatest number are in North America (US, approximately 50 – Canada 4).
Australia – 14, New Zealand – 4
South America – Mexico, Brazil, – 1 each
South Africa – 3
Far East – Singapore, Philippines, Japan, 1 each
Europe – Denmark – 2, Sweden – 7, Finland – 1
Europe – Belgium – 3, The Netherlands – 3
Europe – Austria – 1, Germany – 5, Switzerland – 4
Europe – France – 6, Spain – 2, Italy – 9, Greece – 1
These numbers are as accurate as I can possibly make them, but please do not hold me to 100% accuracy. As I write this article, two of the cars currently included in the UK total are due to leave ‘Blighty’; one is destined for France and the other is going to Argentina.
If one takes the total number of possible UK survivors (64 + 20 = 84) and adds in the possible numbers existing outside of the UK (124), the total is 208. As a percentage of the 379 built, this is 55%. I have seen a survival percentage as high as 70% – I hope this correct, but I am not so sure.
Acknowledgement for much of the data used to compile this article must go to Mike Inglehearn, who has spent many hours analysing TB records.
JOHN JAMES
Postscript
…………….and to close, this one has just been uncovered. Its old tax disc shows that it was last on the road in 1969.
The good news is that it will be rebuilt as a Tickford.

I own TB 0590 in South Africa. Awaiting restoration.
It’s hard to reconcile with skimpy details, the known TA’s as one often has the Chassis no. but no Reg. no., or vice versa; I once made a suggestion that if we all went through our old car mags.
(English ones of course) the for sale cars often listed the Reg. and Chassis nos., together, from that
and owners records, we might compile a better list. Jan
Dear Mike, what an interesting research you did on the TB’s! Maybe I am one of the 3 Belgian owners . In 2009 I bought my TB from a Dutchman living in Belgium – chassis Number TB0618 – and am its happy driver since then. Hopefully your article will help you gather more information on the remaining TB’s. Best regards, Francis
It is no longer in his possession but my father restored JPH 6 in the late 80’s. I have fond memories of the car and trips in it.
l have owned TB 0398 for 32 years, original reg. FYH 904, a London car. Currently being restored.
I have a beautiful large photo which is in a private collection of TB0623
Index number JPH 6 Which was taken in Swansea in the winter of 1962 . If the current owner would like a copy can he please contact me by email.
Hi Martin. Ref MG TB JPH 6. I have been the proud owner of JPH6 since august 1994 in which time I have done a chassis up rebuild etc. & I spotted your entry with regard to the photograph you have & would be interested in farther information please. Thanks in anticipation.
Hi Ron the photo of your car pictured in Uplands Swansea in the snow is doing the rounds on a couple of Facebook Swansea groups…. It’s been suggested that a photo taken “ today” in the same spot would indeed be wonderful