Here are some original MGTD manuals and parts book covers. Select each
image for a larger view. Detailed information on the TD Operation Manual and a virtual manual are provided.
Below the TD Operation Manual details you will find a summation of the known MG Special Tuning manuals.
Factory Manuals
Note: The colors on the covers of all these manuals should be the
same but my scanner does not seem to be reproducing them accurately. In
addition the sun and other environmental effects tend to remove the blue from
the color leaving a greenish tinge to the manuals.
1958 Service Parts List Mk
II page³ L.11 Issue ?, 1958 27/11
(12246).
1953 TD Parts Manual.
Released from BMC.
1951 ILLUSTRATED LIST OF SERVICE PARTS L.11 Issue 2, 1951
1951 ILLUSTRATED LIST OF SERVICE PARTS L.11 Issue 2, 1951
Special Tuning
Manual for the XPAG/TD engine is Issue 1 and was printed in April of 1951 by
Nuffield Exports, Ltd. Dimensions are 5-1/2" wide by 8-1/2" long. 19
pages.
Special Tuning
Manual for the XPAG/TD engine L/10 is Issue 2 and was printed in December of 1951 by
Nuffield Exports, Ltd. Dimensions are 5-1/2" wide by 8-1/2" long. 19
pages.
Special Tuning
Manual for the XPAG/TD engine L/10 is Issue 2 and was printed in December of 1951 by
Nuffield Exports, Ltd. Dimensions are 5-1/2" wide by 8-1/2" long. 19
pages.
The following information has been collected about the various editions
of the MGTD Operation Manual over the years by Tom Lange. In each version Tom tries to explain what
changes were made from the prior edition and gives some insight on why certain characteristics within the manuals
may be retained even though they might no longer apply.
Tom states: My MG library contains a number of operation manuals, showing
different features in a number of
different printings, as one would expect. The printing information
is found at the bottom of the last page of text, the end of the Index.
All but one edition was marked 29/40, which is believed to be the MGTD Operation Manual number. That edition was
printed in November, 1951 and was coded 29/12. What that was is uncertain. (but see the 11/51 and
Fifth Editions below).
(69871), a typical second number, is probably the MG part number for that particular version of manual.
Printing number (71712), authentic but strangely out of chronology, is uniquely coded 29/12, which is puzzling.
4/51 was printed in April, 1951 (but, again, see the 11/51 printing below)
The final number is typical printing shorthand for the number of copies printed.
There were a number of informational and drawing changes over the years, to reflect changes in production.
Interestingly, some anachronistic drawings remain the same throughout the run - solid wheels (although the
spare tire picture looks like it has a ventilation hole in the later books), Girling and cable-operated clutch.
In order of printing dates, here is a list of my copies, and to explain the major changes shown (there are many
others I have not bothered to note):
Nuffield and Hanks as before, but now now J. W. Malone as General Manager. Early contact information.
.019 valve setting, 20/20 ammeter, flat-face main instruments, dash switch dipper,
single oil pressure gauge, throw away oil filter,
9-post voltage regulator, rectangular tail lights, p. 68 with Guarantee,
no Export on p. 36, but Export on the top left of the folding "Key" page.
No edition stated but this is an outlier*^
November, 1951
(71712)
1m
Nuffield and Hanks as before, but J.Tatlow as GM on t-p, introducing Abingdon 251 and
Emgee, Abingdon as phone number and telegram address.
.019 valve setting, 20/20 ammeter, flat-face main instruments, dash switch dipper,
single oil pressure gauge, throw away oil filter,
9-post voltage regulator, rectangular tail lights,
p. 68 with new oiling diagram.
NB - as new, with Dunlop's 1p. "Important to Owners" on tyre rotation,
and 4p. "Balanced Tyres" loosely inserted.
Also has, as issued, red-printed "Note - Change
of Switches" (switching location of fog-lamp and panel lights)
on title-page#,
nothing on p. 36, but Home on the top left of the folding "Key" page.
No edition stated*
November, 1951
(71815)
2
Viscount Nuffield as Chairman, R. F. Hanks as Vice-Chairman, and back to J. W. Malone as General Manager on title-page.
Early contact information.
As above including red label, and p. 68 with oiling diagram.
Second Edition
February, 1952
(73941)
5
Malone as GM, earlier phone, cable and Telex information as above. Early contact information.
Up-dated switch illustration,
and p. 68 with oiling diagram,
nothing on p. 36, but Export on the top left of the folding "Key" page.
Officers' names deleted from here on, early contact information.
.019 tappet,
30/30 ammeter,
dished instruments,
foot dipper,
dual gauge,
horizontal filter,
5-post regulator,
round tail lights,
p. 68 with oiling diagram
have Export at the top right of p. 36, and on the top left of the folding "Key" page.
Fifth Edition
August 1953
(81751)
1½
Later contact information.
.012 valve clearance , otherwise as above, p. 68 with oiling diagram,
has Home> at the top left of both p. 36 and the top left of the folding "Key" page.
No changes. On page 35 the
front suspension image has been turned upside down (possibly to
trap Copyright thieves.) Same on other AKD618 manuals,
No Export on either page.
There is strange change of brake drums in the illustration on p. 34. 69871 (4/51) and 71712 and
71815 (both 11/51) show the screws holding the early 2-piece drum together, but the next two
(73941 2/52 and 76171 7/52) both show a weird drum shape in the middle image. Then, in 78476 (2/53),
the drum is standardized to what we know.
% - Not in Tom Lange's collection but digital copies were provided.
* - No edition number was printed on the title page.
~ - This sticker was not on all of the manuals and perhaps was added to the later versions. It appeared
on car TD2301.
† - This is a common printers method of describing the number of printed copies in shorthand. For example
2½ could mean 2500 copies (2=2000 and ½ = 500). This added up to about 41,000 for 30,000 cars, but again
the number indicated is approximate. Plus you have to allow for replacements over time.
^ - The November 1951 printing must be a later printing, with the incorrect printing date and information.
# - NB two copies, one new with the red switch info pasted in entirely, covering up the title-page text,
the other used, is tipped on the left margin so the t-p information is legible.
& - This 618E version appears to be a reprint of 618. The cover is yellow and a different material than the
oringinal 618. What the origin and what the E stands for is undetermined.
@ - I would expect that the entire manuals are either Home or Export,
since both pages are integral to the book.
Presumably the differences were due to different brands and names of lubrications available in the
Home and Export markets.
The only way to know is to compare the two. Since my two Home versions seem to be odd men out,
we need to compare other copies with any known Export copies
of those two. My quick look shows that the 5th edition Home version moves the very British B.P Energol
to the top of the list when compared to the 4th edition, and the 11/51 order is very different from
both - all with 8 different brands.
All Operation Manual part numbers increase over time, as one would expect, and design changes are
documented, as one would expect.
Virtual MGTD Operation Manual
This is a virtual MGTD Operation Manual you can tailor for your cars specific features.
Coming Soon
Special Tuning for MG Midget Engines
by Tom Lange
The XPAG engine was well-known for its reliability and consistent power. But as the factory wrote in the
introduction to this slim handbook, “[t]here is, however, a more or less continuous demand from enthusiasts
all over the world for information on methods of improving the performance for competitive purposes, and it is to
meet this demand that this booklet has been prepared.” This and later editions give lists of standard car data,
Stage 1-4 tuning instructions, and Stage 5 adds the Shorrock supercharger. With characteristic wisdom true even
today, the handbook notes “… here, as elsewhere, Power costs Money.”
Type XPAG (as fitted to Series TB And TC cars). M. G. Technical Literature L/8 Issue 1 June, 1949.
25/16 (59532) 4/49 2m (2,000 printed). [16] p. Tan wrapper, red cover and headline printing.
Type XPAG/TD (As fitted to Series TD cars). M. G. Technical Literature L/10 Issue 1 April, 1951.
25/28 (69924) 5/51 2750 (printed) [20] p. Blue wrapper.
Type XPAG/TD (As fitted to Series TD cars). M. G. Technical Literature L/10
Issue 2 Dec., 1951 25/28 (72708) 11/51 1 (1,000 printed) [20] p. Blue wrapper.
Type XPAG/TF – 1250c.c. and Type XPEG – 1466 c.c. (as fitted to the series “TF” and “TF” 1500 cars.)
L/17 Issue 1 1954. 25/9 (86729) 1m. H. 10m. E (1,000 printed for Home market, 10,000 printed for Export).
[20] p., green wrapper.
Lucas Manuals
Generator and Control Box Tests
This manual covers the Lucas control box and tests that can be performed with the generator.
Manual provided by Peter Hehir
3rd Party Manuals
These manuals were offered by third parties during the period of MGTD
production.
MG TD Specification Sheet for SU Carburettors
Original specification sheet for the type H2 SU carburettors
fitted to the MG TD, commencing engine # XPAG/TD 501. Double sided single fold
sheet, cover size 10 3/4 x 8 1/4 inches. Inside has exploded numbered drawing
of unit and opposite all parts are listed with their part
numbers
MG TD Mark 2 Spec Sheet for SU Carbs
Original specification sheet for the type H4 SU carburettors
fitted to the MG TD mark 2. Double sided single fold sheet, cover size 10 3/4 x
8 1/4 inches. Inside has exploded numbered drawing of unit and opposite all
parts are listed with their part numbers.
MG TD Specification Sheet for SU Carburettors - Page 2
MG TD Specification Sheet for SU Carburettors - Page 3
MG TD Specification Sheet for SU Carburettors - Page 4
Car Manual
for MG MIDGET by Scientific Magazines Publishing Co, Copyright 1952. Inside Cover
Car Manual for MG MIDGET by Scientific Magazines
Publishing Co, Copyright 1952.
Featuring the TD engine and
Special tuning details for type TB, TC, & TD Engines. Interesting 81 page
manual covering every part of the cars mechanical, electrical, fuel, brakes,
engine, clutch and maintenance details
Special Tuning
Manual for the XPAG/TD engine L/10 is Issue 2 and was printed in December of 1951 by
Nuffield Exports, Ltd. Dimensions are 5-1/2" wide by 8-1/2" long. 19
pages. 
