Progress back then - MG TF and MG A
08/04/2011
When a new BMW 3 Series or VW Golf comes out, the progress is (usually) noticeable, but not groundbreaking. It was different in the past! When MG replaced the TF with the A, there were light years of automotive progress in between. The A could do (almost) everything better than the TF. While the TF still featured a lot of pre-war technology, the A was designed with the needs of drivers in their sixties in mind. And you can feel this when driving, as I recently discovered once again on a comparison ride.
The TF is narrow and compact. No space is wasted, the steering wheel is in front of your chest, the engine almost on your lap and the fuel tank behind you. The passenger sits just a few centimeters away, body heat instead of heating in an emergency. The look is characterized by the free-standing fenders and the narrow hood, typical pre-war, albeit somewhat smoothed and wider, especially in comparison to the MG TA or TC. In terms of engine, the TF was quite nippy to drive at the time, but in the age of turbo diesels, one sometimes wished for a little more power, especially on hills.
The MG A is certainly one of the most elegant affordable two-seaters of the post-war period. Curves wherever you look. The interior is surprisingly spacious, there is a reasonable distance to the steering wheel and the dashboard and controls are largely where you would expect them to be. Although not blessed with a huge displacement, the still lightweight A moves easily in today's traffic flow. It is still started with a pull button and wood was still used in the construction, albeit in small doses - reminiscences of the MG tradition.
Both cars are fun to drive and a pleasure to look at. The advances in technology and design can be seen in a very transparent way when changing over.
We will soon be publishing more detailed reports on both vehicles.
