Fort Worth’s Paun Peters has always had an interest in collecting classic automobiles. It started when he was 16 and eyed a Shelby Mustang in a neighbor’s driveway. As president of Western Production Co., he’s had a chance to indulge his interest and start his own classic car collection. As a result he visits several automobile auctions around the country, including the Mecum Auction in Monterey, Calif., earlier this summer. That was where Peters successfully bid on a 1953 MG TD Roadster, a British classic car.
The MG TD Roadster was among England’s famous Midget Cars during the 1950s. The car has been restored, and includes a convertible canvas top, five chrome wire-spoke wheels and a spectacular two-tone maize/caramel finish. “I was looking for a car that would create excitement,” said Peters. “It has beautiful styling and, to me, evokes the image of cruising the English countryside with the top down.” But he’s not going to own it long.
Peters and his wife, Magdaline, have donated the classic MG to support the University of North Texas Health Science Center’s education, discovery and health care mission — Creating Solutions for a Healthier Community. Raffle tickets are $100 each and only 1,000 will be sold. Every raffle ticket purchased benefits the UNTHSC mission, Peters said. Appropriately enough, this year’s fundraiser for the Health Science Center, its second annual “An Evening with a Legend” fundraiser, features fellow auto collector Jay Leno. The former Tonight Show host owns 130 classics and has a popular online site “Jay Leno’s Garage.” Who knows? Maybe Leno will buy a ticket himself. The “Legend” event is Nov. 6 at 8 p.m. at Bass Performance Hall. In addition, the car is making an appearance on Saturday at 8 a.m. at Montgomery Plaza as part of the monthly Cowtown Cars and Coffee gathering.