Franklin’s original issue, in red, of this little diecast dates way back to November of 1993. It is somewhat surprising, then, to find it so well suited to today’s current detail standards. No, it does not have functioning suspension or some of the features we are getting used to seeing in each new precision release. What is found, however, is a wonderfully simple, yet delightfully diminutive sports car of yesteryear reproduced in scale to true proportion and stance.

Perhaps the unsung factor here is the low production edition of the model. The coveted Pebble Beach version, issued in 1997, in the beloved British Racing Green, had a limited run of 3000 pieces. This wee smidgen of the MG icon is but half that! Will its color help or enhance its desirability? See it in person and you’ll have the answer; it’s gorgeous. In 1948 MG named this shade, “Silver Streak Iridescent”. FM did a great job in rendering the correct scaling-in of the metallic to the bright tonal quality of the paint. Blend in the red interior for terrific contrast along with corresponding red grill inset and red boot and then top it off, literally, with a black convertible top and you have a stand-out little model. FM went the extra mile in adding the black separator lines in the red seat cushions. This was not previously done on the other two iterations.

Nothing further needed to be done to the prior, now discontinued, models; the TC has a beautifully detailed little four-banger, well fitting ‘up top’ and boot and nice little door hinges that hold them in proper alignment and fit. At an excellent issue price of $105, especially considering the limited numbers involved, I wouldn’t wait to get my hands on this piece, and it will make you smile, big time!

-Tony Perrone