Introducing MG TC 3306

[TheRedCigar]

Hi all,

Long time follower of the forum and new member. My father Jeff Redman was a lifelong MG enthusiast here in Australia, purchasing TC3306 in 1966. He was an active club member, passing away just over 2 years ago. While sooner than I had hoped, the car I had coveted for all of my 43 years is in my care. We're in the process of stripping down the engine for a rebuild after about 25 years, with the car having been run at historic events here throughout Australia. Below is an intro to the car and it's story. I hope to pick the collective brains of the group as I aim to keep the car on the road and track for generations to come.

Evan Redman


The Red Cigar - ex-Cobden/McKay supercharged 1946 MG TC Special.

After Dick Cobden persuaded the MG Car Company in the United Kingdom the break production, this 1947 MG TC was imported as a rolling chassis and delivered to Sydney-based Gordon Stewart to construct a purpose-built race car. Once the mechanical work was completed the car was shipped to Melbourne to have a lightweight aluminium monoposto body built and fitted by Bob Baker of Sporting Cars Limited.

Finished in scarlet red and inspired by the slippery lines of Maserati racers of the time, the car became known as ‘The Red Cigar.’ With a new 1350cc engine developed by Stewart (his name still adorns the rocker cover today), the car was driven on the road back to Sydney by Cobden ready to start its competition life.

The Red Cigar saw success in the hands of Dick Cobden, running in a range of local and interstate events. Cobden campaigned the car at the 1949 Australian Grand Prix at Leyburn, Queensland and many local events. At Fisherman’s Bend on October 30th 1949, the Red Cigar gained a 3rd place in the U/1500cc scratch race and later in 1950 at Lowood, Cobden would register a win in the same class. Later in 1951, Cobden took 3rd place in the u/1500cc handicap race at Bathurst and then went on to win the 50 mile McLaughlin Motors handicap registering over 107mph over the flying quarter mile. In October 1951 he would return to Bathurst to set a new mark of 111.1mph down Conrod Straight.

Later in 1951 Cobden sold the Red Cigar to Australian motoring journalist David McKay who, in his first major outing, topped the list of MG finishers at the 1952 Australian Grand Prix at Bathurst. McKay followed with wins and solid placings at other circuits including Gnoo Blas, Nowra and Mount Druitt across the seasons of 1952 and 1953.
With it proven Stewart engine and it’s streamlined single seat body, the Red Cigar traded claims at different times with the Patterson/Brydon MG TC Special (also a Bob Baker aluminium bodied car) as being the fastest TC in the country, if not the world.

In 1953 the car was advertised in “Australian Motor Sports” claiming nine firsts and six second placings from its last sixteen starts. In October the car was purchased by A.H. Brydon who fitted the Marshall Nordec J 75 supercharger and magneto ignition and claimed a top speed of 115mph. The Red Cigar was again for sale in 1954 and was purchased by Sid McCominsky who painted it ‘Boronia Pink’.

At the Australian Grand Prix of 1954 in Southport Queensland, the car was to suffer a fire with new owner John McKinney forced to retire on lap 11.

In 1956, the Red Cigar’s next owner was Arnold Williams. His short, but unsuccessful time with the car saw it offered for sale following an engine failure in ‘as-is’ condition at Arnold Glass Motors in Sydney.

In 1957, the Cigar moved to Newcastle and into the hands of Warren Grace, who painted the car blue. Following a heavy crash in 1960 at Gnoo Blas while being driven by Grace, the aluminium monoposto body was destroyed. The result of a collapsed wheel, the car landed upside down in a thorn hedge, with Grace hospitalised with minor injuries. The remains of the aluminium body were unceremoniously disposed of in a tip at Waratah in Newcastle upon its return from Gnoo Blas and the car was converted to 'square rigger' form.

Detuned and road registered for the first time, the car was sold to John Lorimer who backed it into a gutter during a severe thunderstorm, with the violent crash rendering the Red Cigar hors de combat once more.

In 1966 and still in Newcastle, the car was purchased for $240 by Jeff Redman, at the time a member of the Newcastle Sporting Car Club and later a foundation member of the MG Car Club Hunter Region. The car was in his care for over five decades until his passing in 2018.

Over the course of 50 years he would continue to develop the car in its primarily road going form with significant upgrades to suspension, braking and cooling with aesthetic developments all in keeping with the car’s heritage.
Used spiritedly at club, HSRCA and GEAR events including national meetings, hillclimbs, super sprints and regularity trials over the decades the car is and will always be a special part of the Redman family.

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Technical specifications.

Engine.
Overbored 1500cc block
Forged ARIAS high silica content pistons.
ARGO fully floating conrods.
Engine and gearbox lowered and moved 8” rearward to improve centre of gravity.
Custom made alloy Gordon Stewart rocker cover.


Induction.
Marshall Nordec J 75 supercharger.
Single 1.75” SU carburettor fuelled.
Duplicate SU fuel pumps.
Cylinder Head & Exhaust.
Enlarged ports and oversize valves along with open weave valve springs to support high lift camshaft.
Custom-made extractors with ceramic HPC coating.
Camshaft.
Matt Blanch specially designed high lift camshaft with long open duration to aid supercharging effect.
Gearbox.
Standard MG TC 4 speed non-synchromesh box.
Differential.
Austin Healey Sprite.
Ignition.
Lucas VR4A Magneto.
Cooling.
End-to-end cooling modification with custom head gasket and sealed head and deck water passages. Front mounted and inverted external oil cooler.
Manually operated electric fan supporting the non-pressurised radiator.
Wheels.
60 spoke 15” wire wheels with Austin Healey Sprite centres.
Blockley 185/70 V rated radial tyres.
Brakes.
Front - Custom made front backing plates and Morris Major Elite pistons providing twin leading shoe braking.
Rear – Standard MG TC drum brakes with heat shrunk aluminium cooling fins.
Suspension.
MG TA front trunnion springs with custom made panhard rod installed and front axle stabilising stainless steel cables.
Roll bar.
Dale Harvey custom-made single seat rollover bar.
Horsepower.
~97bhp

[Steve Simmons]

Welcome, Evan. Your father joined our group on August 7, 2001. I was so sorry to hear of his passing. His first words to the group were "I'm new to this electronic whizzery - hence I've just found this fascinating site and yes, I'd like to be involved!".

Amazing history on your car, and I'm glad to see it move from one generation to the next. I think most here would be jealous of the known history on your TC. I hope you post some photos.

[TheRedCigar]

Thanks Steve. As soon as I figure out the best way to post pics, I'll do exactly that. Thanks again for the welcome!

[TheRedCigar]

Here's some artwork by family friend Stephen Jones, showing the car's evolution.

[TheRedCigar]

More shots of the car in it's monoposto form.

[TheRedCigar]

...and the car today.

[TheRedCigar]

Engine rebuild now underway, so the Cigar is looking somewhat forlorn!

[Franz]

Great pictures, I hope my son will also take care the little green car later

Hello from the cold Vienna

Franz