1951 MGTD Competition Abington MkII, British Racing Green with black leather. Fantastic history including connections to Prince Andrew. 1 of 11 originally produced and thought to be the only one left in the world. The early MG’s were built as a very basic automobile to be driven and maintained by their owners. Many of these owners entered their cars into rallies, hill climbs and races. Soon after the first TD’s were built, enthusiasts complained that they were not competitive with other cars in it’s class. The cry for more power promoted Abington to produce the Mark II. Although the appearance remained the same, the engine compression ratio was raised to 8 to 1, all ports and combination chambers were polished with larger inlet and exhaust valves fitted along with heavier valve springs and an upgraded camshaft. Higher capacity Lucas ignition equipment, an extra fuel pump and added shock absorbers were standard on the Mark II models. All of this, increased the weight to 2015 pounds and the horsepower to 60 at 5000 rpm with a maximum speed of about 85mph. In 1951 there were only eleven Right Hand Drive Mark II’s built and all exported. I am one of these eleven. I was shipped to the South of Ireland where I was sold and a few years later brought back to England and was purchased in 1957 by Tony Bamford who took me to his home in Buckinghamshire. Mr Bamford renewed my chrome and had me painted in 1973 then sold me to Rothmans International, who brought me to Canada and displayed me in their Craven Foundation Car Collection. A year later I was bought by Roy Newton and put into storage until my present owner, George Merson rescued me and took me to his home on the shores of Georgian Bay where I get to travel the beautiful countryside and feel the wind on my fenders. I am the only 1951 MarkII Right Hand Drive in North America and possibly the only one left out of the original eleven in the world.
