TA (Airline)trivia

[David Lawley]

The photo that LECH K ZAKRZEWSKI posted is indeed 'THE' TA Airline Coupe. It is the one previously owned by Mark Gibbons in Mass. USA. It was because of my research about this car (for the story in The Sacred Octagon in the 70s) that I eventually acquired my NB Airline. I talked to both Mark Gibbons and Read Yates (then owner of the NB) to get comparative measurements and details between the T and the N. From this and other research the information proved that the Airline tub bodies were all identical and made in batches. They were then allotted to the different chassises. First introduced in 1934 on the P and N types, then allotted to the PB,NB updates for 1935. For 1936 the sales were promoting the larger cars but MG thought they could still offer the Airline on the new T chassis. So they placed the last of the tubs originally destined for the N type onto a T chassis. The last of the N and the new T type cars shared the market in 1936 . The T and N chassis are almost identical in proportion. The N and T Airline share the same body tub, rear fenders and bonnet(which is larger than the P type because of the N's six cylinder ). The T Airline has T series front wings and running boards because they are very different than the N type. The T Airline has a TA firewall ( tool tray and all) . But to accommodate the Airline shorter body tub and the shorter T series engine, a 4 inch (approx.) filler panel was placed between the firewall and the body scuttle. This was obviously simpler than using the shorter T bonnet and having to construct a new Airline tub to make up the difference in the chassis length. Other differences between N and T followed the differences between the regular open versions of each series. This includes the 19 " vs. 18" wheels. The paint scheme on Mark Gibbons car is obviously not factory original. And by 1936 all wheels were painted silver from the factory unless special ordered. Other than the colour the TA is ( or was in the 70s) totally original. It is a very very desirable car. When Read Yates came to sell his N he remembered my interest and offered it to me. Hope this is interesting to you all because the TA Airline is the rarest Airline and one of the rarest TAs. Regards David Lawley TC 5904

[C. Knight]

David Lawley wrote:

> > The photo that LECH K ZAKRZEWSKI posted is indeed 'THE' TA Airline Coupe.

According to Anders Ditlev Clausager there were 2 TA Airline coupes made in 1936 Regards Cliff