History
“Albert” was born on the 28th October 1947 with chassis number TC3914 and engine number XPAG 4552. TC3914 arrived on the S.S. Arawa berthed in Sydney on the 11th of February 1948. Albert was one of 8 TCs on the voyage; 7 were Red/Red and one was Green/Green. The TC was sold to Mr. L.L. Eastmuir of Bondi and he took delivery on the 20th February. Its original registration number was (NSW) XC 969. What happened from that time until around 1968 still remains a mystery. However from the late 60’s TC3914 was resident in Queensland at the premises of a Mr. Col Bennett. At some point Mr. Bennett decided to “restore” the car and took it apart. As he was not going to finish the project Mr. Bennett approached Brian Darke of Maintaining the Breed to undertake a full restoration. As Brian told me the story a heap of parts arrived one day on the back of a truck complete with a blank cheque! The restoration commenced around June 1999 and the finished car looking absolutely resplendent saw the light of day again, registered in Queensland as ATC 66, in late October/early November of 2000. Subsequently Col Bennett passed away and the TC was sold a couple of times. Receipts I have from the period (June 2004) indicate that the last owner in Queensland was David Baycroft of the Hope Island Resort. The TC went to Sydney for a time but I do not have any details. On Sunday, 19 February 2006 TC3914 was sold at a Shannons auction in the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. The purchaser was Geoff Dougall of Werribee. At the sale date the car was still registered in Qld as ATC 66 according to the Shannons description in their 5-star auction brochure and documents I hold. Geoff Dougall decided to move house and put TC3914 up for sale advertising it in the Just Cars, October 2007 issue. And that’s when I became the custodian with “Albert” driving onto my car trailer on the 5th of November 2007.
Modifications
None - unmodified and restored 1947 MG TC (TC3914 built 28 October 1947 - number plate is 1047) and retaining the original engine fitted on manufacture.
