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MG TD TF 1500 - Color of frame under dash

Took 1954 mgtf down to frame which I just sandblasted. The frame member that goes up inside the dash (Moss calls it a roll bar) was painted engine red when I took the car apart. The interior is red. The rest of the frame was flat black.
What color should the so called "roll bar" be?
Ed Eastman
Ed Eastman

I would paint the entire frame, including the 'roll bar' satin black. Rustoleum makes a great paint #7777 for lawn furniture, of all things. I bought it in quarts, added about 10% acetone, and sprayed it with my binks gun. Nearly everyone here uses the smae process. I liked the satin sheen so much that I used the same paint on everything else which needed a black finish on my TD.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

Hi Ed.,

The chassis frame should be Black,including the 'anti-shake' roll bar.Whether the factory used gloss or satin finish is debatable.I feel 'flat black' looks dreadful but my guess is it's often used to "cover a multitude of sins!"


Cheers

Rob.Grantham.
Rob Grantham

Hi Rob,

Good catch! I agree the satin vs. gloss is debatable. I used the satin because I like it better, and at the time it was the first thing I finished back to 'new' and I didn't know how authentic I was going to go. There are also wonderful gloss finishes out there, just a bit shiny for my taste. Hopefully when I'm done with my car, the overall effect will be of an even finish, simple lines, not to much gilding of the lily, and a bit timeless. I want a car that is basically correct, but not undriveable (so restored that I'm afraid of rock dings and a bit of dirt). I probably should have been more clear that the choice of satin was more my choice, and perhaps not the factory's. Thanks for clearing that portion up for Ed.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

The hoop frame detail is painted black, semi gloss.
I can send you a pix if you want to see it.
Colin Stafford

Hi Dave,

The gloss versus satin issue is interesting-I honestly don't know which one was used by the factory!The TD and TF chassis frame is fairly exposed to the elements of the road and as such the chassis paint copped a 'fair hiding'. Grease,dirt,gravel,water,snow,'environmental sandblasting',brake fluid,fuel etc. all,it seems,to have come together to make 'deciphering' the original type of paint used difficult!

I like your comment on our cars being "not undriveable".The more our cars are seen on the road,perhaps greater the chance of converting a cursory look,to a new member of the MG fraternity.

Cheers

Rob. Grantham.
Rob Grantham

The Official MG Service Parts List, calls this a "Bridge Tube" and a "Dash Stiffener Ass'y" - take yer choice!

I am the first and original owner of my TF. To this day it is original. The tub has never been removed or painted. The Bridge Tube is satin black.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A. Clark

This thread was discussed between 13/08/2006 and 14/08/2006

MG TD TF 1500 index

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