Page 11 - Sep 2022

Willie Nelson, 80, shares a name with serious star power, creme color was actually a pearly white paint job
so it's no surprise that when he took a chance, buying a that popped and a red tuck and roll interior. How
physically unseen, 1951 MG TD at auction that he'd did it end up in an auction with such a discouraging
name it Blondie, a name straight out of the funny description?
papers with Dagwood and his wife, but also with a diva
"I believe that this car must have been previously
of the same name from more modern music fame. The
restored but after the flood, the owners must have
actual story behind Blondie's acquisition is as good as
got panicky and just decided to put it in the auction,"
the lyrics of any song ever written by that other Willie.
Willie postulated. Oddly enough, the car itself
From 1966-1971 Willie drove an MG TD as his daily showed no signs of water damage. Even the interior
driver. Five years ago he decided to restore the car and of the car, right down to the upholstery and the trim,
the process began. But, as car people know, restoration was dry and unmolested. This had to be too good to
projects can veer off onto unexpected paths. Enter the be true. Would the car actually run?
off ramp of the Miami Auto Auction.
Willie says he changed all the fluids in the car, as well
The Auction advertised an older MG TD with no reserve, as the oil, several times, adjusted the carbs, bought
consigned with cautionary words, like "flood damaged, a new fan belt, and let her rip. " She ran pretty
starts but doesn't run". The TD had been in storage and good," he said with satisfaction. He made the
it caught Willie's eye because he saw a possible donor decision not to take his new purchase apart but to
car for his own project. Lucky for Willie his friend Greg enjoy her as she was. That was two years ago and
Birdwell had auction rights so they could bid on the car she's been running like a clock ever since.
from a distance. On the appointed day, Willie, who was
When Willie sailed into Cars and Coffee in August
pressing the bid button, placed his money on a flood car
heads turned. Many of the club regulars had never
he'd never physically seen. When the bidding was over,
seen this "new" MG TD with the snappy sense of
he owned the car and described the bidding process as
style at a club event. Willie had come to pick up
the "most nerve wracking thing" he'd ever done in his
some pieces and a new tonneau cover for his new
life.
best girl and stayed to enjoy both the conversation
Fully intending to dismantle the car when he got it home and the admiration. All agreed that when Willie
to Tennessee he made arrangements to ship the car. rolled the auction dice he came up with a winner.
When it came off the trailer, Willie said that his eyes Blondie agrees that a lady should strut her stuff
opened wide. The car was essentially a pristine example rather than being parted out. The other project can
of an MG. What appeared in the photos to be a flat bid its time; this sweetheart is now Willie's main girl.

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