2002 TD 2000 Silverstone Roadster

Description

Evoking the memory of MG’s classic T-series, the TD 2000 dates back to 1984, when Australian automotive dealer Ross Marshall had the opportunity to acquire the original TD tooling from the United States.  Marshall spent several years developing the replica which he based around the running gear from Nissan's Pulsar, but got no further than a single prototype before the recession intervened and ultimately the business was sold to Australian Classic Cars in 1987. A second-generation TD 2000 appeared at the Sydney International Motor Show a year later, with production commencing in the Victorian country town of Ararat shortly afterwards. Financial trouble then saw yet another change of ownership, with A F Gason taking over the mantle and going on to produce an estimated 70 or so TD 2000s in Australia. Plans to export the TD to Japan, where the market for retro cars was booming, came unstuck as financial challenges once again got in the way and production was shifted to Malaysia in 1998, where a group of local entrepreneurs took over the rights to the name and tooling. Contemporary reports of the Australian-made TD 2000 sang its praises for its high build quality and properly developed ladder-frame steel chassis (with former HDT engineers making the most of the proprietary Nissan suspension componentry). But of course, it is the combination of modern safety features, ease of maintenance and the traditional 'wind in the hair' classic driving experience that gives the TD 2000 its unique appeal.