Maximilien Gagnebin
Senior Specialist
LOT 137
c.1953 MG TD 'Arnolt' Coupé Coachwork by Carrozzeria Bertone Chassis no. 26328 Engine no. 26416
Estimate: CHF70,000 - CHF90,000
c.1953 MG TD 'Arnolt' Coupé
Coachwork by Carrozzeria Bertone
Chassis no. 26328
Engine no. 26416
Coachwork by Carrozzeria Bertone
Chassis no. 26328
Engine no. 26416
• Believed exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in 1953
• First owned by jazz musician Maurice Stein
• Formerly part of the Gene Ponder Collection
• Extensively restored
Bertone's elegant coupé and cabriolet on MG TD chassis were first exhibited at the 1951 Geneva Salon. They were enthusiastically received by visiting Chicago-based BMC agent Stanley H 'Wacky' Arnolt II, an enthusiast with a penchant for foreign cars, who saw the Bertone-bodied TD as meeting the US market's requirement for a luxury MG: a car possessing that all-important octagon badge yet possessing something above the Spartan level of equipment usually associated with the Abingdon marque's sports cars. Two hundred cars were ordered, though production eventually totalled an estimated 65 coupés and 37 cabriolets. It is believed that this car is the one selected for the 'Ten Automobiles' exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, New York in October 1953 (see documents on file).
One of the last coupés built, '26328' was originally sold to jazz musician Maurice Stein and spent its early life in Beverly Hills. It was acquired from Stein's widow by collector Gene Ponder, who commissioned the superb last-nut-and-bolt restoration we see today. Importantly, a Shorrock supercharger has been installed, which raises the 1,250cc MG engine's output from 54bhp to approximately 75 horsepower.
• First owned by jazz musician Maurice Stein
• Formerly part of the Gene Ponder Collection
• Extensively restored
Bertone's elegant coupé and cabriolet on MG TD chassis were first exhibited at the 1951 Geneva Salon. They were enthusiastically received by visiting Chicago-based BMC agent Stanley H 'Wacky' Arnolt II, an enthusiast with a penchant for foreign cars, who saw the Bertone-bodied TD as meeting the US market's requirement for a luxury MG: a car possessing that all-important octagon badge yet possessing something above the Spartan level of equipment usually associated with the Abingdon marque's sports cars. Two hundred cars were ordered, though production eventually totalled an estimated 65 coupés and 37 cabriolets. It is believed that this car is the one selected for the 'Ten Automobiles' exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, New York in October 1953 (see documents on file).
One of the last coupés built, '26328' was originally sold to jazz musician Maurice Stein and spent its early life in Beverly Hills. It was acquired from Stein's widow by collector Gene Ponder, who commissioned the superb last-nut-and-bolt restoration we see today. Importantly, a Shorrock supercharger has been installed, which raises the 1,250cc MG engine's output from 54bhp to approximately 75 horsepower.
Footnotes
Vers 1953 MG TD Coupé 'Arnolt'
Carrossée par la Carrozzeria Bertone
Châssis n° 26328
Moteur n° 26416
• Aurait été exposée en 1953 au Museum of Modern Art de New York
• A initialement appartenu au jazzman Maurice Stein
• A fait partie de la Collection Gene Ponder
• Totalement restaurée
Les élégants coupé et cabriolet dessinés par Bertone sur le châssis de la MG TD furent exposés pour la première fois au Salon de Genève 1951. Ils déclenchèrent l'enthousiasme de l'agent BMC de Chicago, Stanley H. 'Wacky' Arnolt II, un amateur qui préférait les voitures étrangères et qui vit dans ces TD carrossées par Bertone ce que le marché américain attendait d'une MG de luxe : une voiture marquée du réputé sigle octogonal mais dotée d'un équipement moins spartiate que celui habituellement rencontré sur les voitures de sport produites par la marque d'Abingdon. Il passa commande de deux cents voitures, mais leur production se limita finalement à 65 coupés et 37 cabriolets. On pense que cette voiture est celle qui fut retenue pour l'exposition 'Dix Automobiles' qui se tint en octobre 1953 au Museum of Modern Art de New York (voir les documents présents au dossier).
Le châssis 26328, l'un des derniers coupés construits, fut d'abord vendu au jazzman Maurice Stein et passa le début de sa vie à Beverly Hills. Il fut ensuite acquis auprès de la veuve de Stein par le collectionneur Gene Ponder, qui commanda la magnifique restauration intégrale que nous voyons aujourd'hui. Il est important de noter qu'un compresseur Shorrock a été monté, ce qui a fait passer la puissance du 1 250 cm3 MG de 55 à environ 75 chevaux.
Additional information
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