the "Grundy' 1949 MG TC

This 1949 MG TC # 9493, built on August 24th, 1949 in Abingdon on the Thames, England, and purchased on December 7th, (Anniv. date Pearl Harbor attack) 1949, in Hong Kong by

  Mr. Hugh Lee Grundy, 

President of CIA's Air America , appointed by 

President Harry Truman  to run top secret operations

post World War II in the ‘40's, '50's and '60's. 

Mr. Grundy received among many honorary recognitions, the President's highest award, the "Medal of Honor"  and CIA's highest recognition for more than 40 years of Service to our Country.

Based in Hong Kong, Mr. Grundy and his wife Frankie lived for three years at the Peninsula Hotel, where they drove the MG around

 Hong Kong and South China. 

Then in late 1951,  Grundy was re-stationed to Taiwan and the the MG was shipped back to the "Grundy" family farm in Kentucky. Being transferred to Taiwan, without knowledge on their return, Mr. Grundy and his wife built a wooden crate/box to store the car and placed it in their barn. Frankie insisted on greasing up the car and put vaseline on all the chrome to preserve it. The car was further placed on stilts to 

protect the suspension and chassis. 

Author Tom Cotter with foreword by Jay Leno wrote a chapter on this MG in his book "The Hemi in the Barn" - chapter "The MG in the Coffin, Playboys, Princesses and Spies". The MG that came out of the “coffin” was mechanically almost like new...

...WITH ONLY 6,100 ORIGINAL MILES! 

During the process, soft goods, hood except original side curtains (still in original material), upholstery, rubber, gaskets, tires, 

wiring and battery needed replacement. 

The paint "inside-out" also needed to go through a refurbishing process.

Up until recently the car was never shown, but lately, with few minor modifications such as adding turn signals, new exhaust and new wheels (painted originals are stored for preservation), the TC now has a few shows under it's belt; i.e. it was featured in several MG Club newsletters and publications.

It was also featured in the national and international renowned  New England MG T-Register MG Journal "Sacred Octagon", April 2024.

… shown in several cars shows, among them, most recently the 2024 Estrella Warbird "Wings and Wheels" in Paso Robles, CA, winning "Best Foreign Sports Car, All Years and Models"; then "Best of Show" in the 72nd running of the "Glenwood Springs Rally" and Car Show in the Aspen Valley, CO, and was further invited to feature at "The Quail" at the Monterey Car Week 2024. Recently it took  two first prizes at the 2024 GOF (gathering of the faithful) an annual MG national Event Series that dates back to 1952.