MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - William Shockley MG TD

I believe William Shockley who invented the transistor was a MG enthusiast and owned a TD. Is it still around? I may be mistaken the owner could have been Bratten or Bardeen but if it is still around it has a very good history.

Jan T
J Targosz

He died in 1989. I didn't know he owned a TD.
Joe Olson

Maybe. It said he had an MG convertible he drove to work until trading it in for a Jaguar. 1956 so ...

https://www.pbs.org/transistor/background1/events/shockleymove.html
Christopher Couper

There is a YouTube video about the invention of the transistor which mentions his interest in British sports cars and shows a TD being driven down an American road. It maybe Shockley or just a general archive photo. I wonder if he got the idea for field effect transistor whilst tinkering with his MG. If the car is still around it must have one the best provenances.

Jan T
J Targosz

See https://www.ttalk.info/Tech/In_the_movies.htm
Bud Krueger and Lazarus
Bud Krueger

I should have mentioned that I loaned out Lazarus, my TD, because no TC's were available for the movie. Schockley drove a TC, not a TD.

Bud
Bud Krueger

They said no TCs were available? They must not have looked very hard!
Steve Simmons

This thread was discussed between 24/07/2026 and 03/08/2026

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG TD TF 1500 BBS now