‘This car has been with me all my life’

What can you tell us about your black MG TD?

Pierre Lévy: The MG TD was built in 1951. Its name is Jacqueline. I grew up with it, as it belonged to my father. The car has been with me all my life, even if it was stored for ten years at the Conservatoire National de Véhicules Historiques (CNVH) in Diekirch and then stored for a few years in my father’s garage. I brought the car back on the road in 2016.

Is it in good condition?

It drives very well. I took it out of the garage at the beginning of March and it started immediately after being stationary for six months. The body is impeccable with the original paintwork! The previous owner had changed the dashboard. However, I only know this car in its current condition and I want to keep it in good condition. Of course, it needs to be serviced and the various oil levels checked at the beginning of each season. An English car that doesn’t leak oil doesn’t drive well! The cables are sometimes quite brittle and sometimes one breaks. But these are trivialities. The car drives perfectly.

Can you tell us more about the car’s history?

The car is a true Luxembourger, it has always been registered in Luxembourg. There are apparently currently five MG TDs that have always been registered in this country. The vehicle belonged to a woman who had gone to the same school as my mother. My mother therefore already knew the car when my father discovered it. My father then bought it when it was five or six years old. He only met my mother a few years later. The car has always remained in the family. It has many minor defects and modifications have been made to it from the outset. When I was little, my father was always tinkering with the cars. But I wasn’t allowed to touch them.

Did you always listen to him?

I decided one day to help him. At the time, I was three years old, picked up a hammer and tried to imitate my father. And I made a hole. On the driver’s side, there is an MG logo that doesn’t really belong there. The logo covers the hole. And it will certainly always remain there. I could repair the hole, but I want to keep it as a souvenir.

How did your father react?

He was very angry and called me a little bastard. There is a funny story about that: when I joined the MG Car Club Luxembourg almost 30 or 40 years later, the older members saw the car and asked me: ‘So you’re the little bastard who made a hole in the MG!’ It’s funny that my father told this story in the club and people still remember it today.

You also own an MG MGB. Can you tell us more about it?

The car is called ‘Tun’, an MGB GT, built in 1975, with a 1.8-litre engine and 95 hp. It gets its name from its colour, Tundra Green. I use the car almost every day. It runs perfectly and is very pleasant to drive.

Can you tell us more about the history of the car?

It belonged to a friend who wanted to sell it. One evening we were celebrating a bit and I said that I wanted to buy the car without having seen it. The next day, my friend said he would understand if I wanted to back out. I like its bodywork, its lines and its colour. It’s in perfect condition today, but that wasn’t the case at the beginning. My friend completely rebuilt it with original parts before selling it. The engine and gearbox are still original.

Is it easy to maintain your vehicles?

The mechanics are quite simple. So maintenance is relatively straightforward. The only difficulty is finding a garage that has the necessary expertise. Skills are dwindling over time. Fortunately, there are members of the club who are very knowledgeable about the old mechanics.

You are an MG aficionado. What do you think of the brand today?

It only took the name. MG is no longer the English brand it used to be and the company is completely different. MG was the brand of friendship. That has changed. The manufacturer (now a Chinese company) now produces cars like everyone else. They are on the market for two or three years before the model changes, and their lifespan is no longer 20, 30 or 40 years.

Do you take part in rallies with your MG?

Jacqueline is very familiar with the ACL Classic Tour, having taken part five times already. She should be competing again this year. Yes, if I find the time, I take the car out on trips and rallies.