1955model　MG-TF 1500

This vehicle, with chassis number TF9620 and engine number XPEG3543, proudly bears the “MG-TF1500” badge on its body side. Starting on July 13, 1953, with chassis number “501,” and ending with the final batch at “10100” on April 4, 1955, it qualifies as the ultimate late model featuring the XPEG engine.

The owner, in fact, has been deeply involved in the world of motorsports since the 1970s, serving as a race commentator during the era when legendary drivers like Kunimitsu Takahashi, Kazuyoshi Hoshino, and Satoru Nakajima were active. Additionally, they worked as an appraiser specializing in items related to space on the popular TV Tokyo program “Kaiun! Nandemo Kanteidan.” You might have seen them on television presenting appraisals related to the cosmos.

During their time in motorsports, the owner not only acquired the necessary knowledge for commentary but also obtained licenses for various categories, participating in motorcycle races such as trials, motocross, and road racing. They even purchased and raced F3 cars after taking on the role of F1 commentator. This enthusiast’s commitment to motorsports is truly remarkable.

When it comes to cars, despite owning several supercars and exploring various segments, the owner found that classic cars, representing their roots, aligned most comfortably with their lifestyle. Since then, they have dedicated their time to a lifestyle of carefully tending to vintage cars.

The owner’s encounter with this MG-TF occurred 22 years ago in 2002. After searching for nearly a decade with the goal of finding a car that would bring a lifetime of enjoyment, they happened upon this MG-TF1500 at a British car specialist shop in Yokohama.

The car, appearing to be mostly original, featured an unfamiliar bright green body, rubber attached to the side steps, and meticulous handwritten notes tied with kite strings measuring about 1 cm each. These notes detailed various aspects like “direction indicators” and “vehicle width,” showcasing the owner’s attention to detail.

Despite visiting various well-known specialty stores throughout Tokyo and struggling to find a restored unit that felt just right, the owner was captivated by this MG-TF, which retained all its original chrome parts, exuded a unique aura, and slept in its original appearance. The owner made an on-the-spot decision to purchase it within just five minutes.

After undergoing two months of delivery maintenance, the car was finally delivered. However, the first two years with the owner were filled with daily battles against malfunctions. Although numerous components broke down, the owner persevered through the challenges, and one day, after significant effort, the MG-TF was finally transformed into a machine that could “run, stop, and turn” reliably.

During a chance visit to Kawagoe, Saitama, the owner encountered Mr. K, the president of an automobile dealership specializing in MG Classic Line vehicles. Mr. K, who had worked as an apprentice in his youth, shared a memorable story about selling a car to the legendary Toei movie star Ichikawa Utaemon. This story was particularly significant because the car in question was unmistakably this MG-TF1500 in vibrant Almond Green.

In Mr. K’s youth as an apprentice, his boss, who was a car broker dealing in foreign cars, received a request from Toei’s president, Mr. Hiroshi Okawa, to sell a Packard for 12 million yen during a time when the monthly salary for a first-year public servant was 8,000 yen. Mr. K, who was a young apprentice at the time, vividly remembers stacking bundles of 1,000-yen bills in a 4.5-tatami-mat room, wrapped in a furoshiki. In the end, Mr. Okawa decided to purchase the Packard, and during this transaction, the famous actor Ichikawa Utaemon expressed interest in owning a high-quality sports car. That’s when the idea of the British MG-TF was suggested.

Regarding this MG-TF, a furniture dealer from the United States, stationed in Japan at the Washington Heights U.S. military facility in Yoyogi, purchased it new in the UK. While residing in Japan, the MG-TF was stored covered next to his residence. When he returned to the U.S., he decided to part with the MG-TF. Word about this car eventually reached Mr. K’s boss through several intermediaries.

This MG-TF was the first car Mr. K’s boss told him to handle independently, marking the beginning of Mr. K’s journey in the automotive industry. Despite concerns about whether the car would be to the liking of the top star Ichikawa Utaemon, Mr. K presented the vehicle to him, and it was met with great approval. In the era when it was sold, during a time when 1 dollar equaled 360 yen, the car was sold for the substantial amount of 3 million yen.

While there were challenges in registering a car from a victorious nation in a defeated nation, such as registering it under the name of someone from a third country in 1958, the car’s introduction had a significant impact on Japanese film stars. Toshiro Mifune, after seeing this MG-TF, purchased a used MG-TD, and Shintaro Ishihara, who was enjoying the peak of his popularity with “Season of the Sun,” bought a new MG-TF in the United States. Even Ishihara’s younger brother, Yujiro Ishihara, a known Mercedes-Benz enthusiast, chose a Mercedes-Benz 300SL. This MG-TF became a symbol that influenced many movie stars of that era to purchase foreign cars.

Notably, Kenya North, the son of Ichikawa Utaemon, was known to have owned a Morgan but was, in fact, a Porsche enthusiast.

This rich and fascinating history of the MG-TF150