In the pre-war era, few manufacturers were as synonymous with the traditional British sports car as MG—and few models represented the freedom they offered better than the Midget.

Lightweight and nimble, these basic-yet-engaging machines opened the door of sports car ownership to the average enthusiast from 1929 until the last-of-the-line TF in 1955.

In the interim, Abingdon’s line-up began to move towards larger, more powerful, and increasingly refined models, against which the TA was somewhat overshadowed.

To bridge the gap between the two-seat roadster and more substantial VA series, a new TA was launched in 1938: the Tickford Drophead Coupe.

Built by Salmons & Sons, the new model featured a telescopic steering column, three-position insulated convertible top, wind-up windows paired with full height doors, and a windscreen that could be opened for ventilation.

Power came via a 1,292-cubic-centimeter overhead-valve inline-four engine mated to a four-speed manual transmission, whi...