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MG TD TF 1500 - Count the Octagons!!

In a fit of insomnia & trivia... just wondered what's the record number of Octagon-shaped fixtures found on an MG!

eg:

TC:-
Radiator cap
Radiator badge
4x bonnet handles
2x door handles
fuel cap handle
4x wheel spinners
steering wheel boss
dashboard handle (if fitted)
sparewheel spinner
total = 15 (16)

TF:-
Radiator cap
Radiator badge
fuel cap handle
4x wheel spinners
steering wheel boss
3 instrument guages
5 dashboard knobs
sparewheel spinner
dashboard badge
total = 18

Have I missed any??
Does TF hold the record??
Will

Hej Will!

My oil-stick have an octagone-shaped handle!

TF -54 ch# 3356.

/Anders
Anders

The engine number plate?
Tatty

How about the intake manifold casting on the TC-TA-TB-TD
conrad sanders

Octagon-shaped fixtures.....or only those with the "MG" logo as well? Tops of carb's are octagon...although the ones I have have an "MG" on them it was not "orginal" ...but still octagonal!
I have yet to count all of my "aftermarket" octagons...I will have to do that and get back to you!
I have run completly amuck with the little buggers!
Cheers
David 55 TF 1500
David Sheward

Engine Block
data plate on tool box

Cheers,

Don TD #17700
Don

gas cap lever

chris
Chris Couper

Whoops. Didn't see that one.

Chris
Chris Couper

TD:

Glove box knob
4 bonnet latches
radiator cap
radiator badge
5 hub caps
gas tank release lever
engine tag
VIN plate
dip stick
Steering Wheel boss
air cleaner manifold

My TD also has
Grab handle with MG logo
Coffin valve cover with Logo and Octagon filler cap
Aluminum side cover with two breather vents each with MG logo
Friends of Cecil Kimber sticker someone applied to the side of my TD at MG2001 (without my permission).

Blake
Blake J.

Whoa, good response Guys, thanks!

Let's limit it to "factory" provided Octagons only, not DIY aftermarket units (or else we'll have about 40,000 different variations!!).


TD:-
Glove box knob
4 bonnet latches
radiator cap
radiator badge
5 hub caps
gas tank release lever
engine tag
VIN plate
dip stick
Steering Wheel boss
intake manifold
--- total 18


Ok, confirm looks like I missed:

TC:-
intake manifold
engine number plate
dipstick
VIN plate
--- new total of 19 (20)

Also possibly I'm told the TCs with bumpers might have a MG crest on the rear one... anyone confirm? That'll add 1 more.


TF:-
engine number plate
dipstick
VIN plate
--- new total 21 --> still holds record


Clocked 70+ mi in the TF on the weekend (glorious antipodean spring weather), got spotted on the road by the local TF Registrar whom I've never met before (Hi Ian!!) and then also noticed the 3 instruments each have an octogon on the faceplate... should we count these too??
Will

A couple of corrections from my TF:

TF 1500 (XPEG engine)
No octogon on the engine block next to the number plate: -1

Octogon on exhaust manifold, but no octogon on intake manifold: no change

* NOTE: there isn't much room on the intake manifold for an octogon, perhaps the original list should have said 'exhaust manifold' instead of 'intake manifold'.
Mark B.

Correction: The number plate on the TF is octogonal, of course. But don't earlier XPAG engines also have an MG octogon cast into the block somewhere? I thought it was near the number plate, but I'm not sure.
Mark B

The MGTC EXU export model had MG Ocogon on rear bumper
Robert Dougherty

The early XPAG engine has the octagon cast on the side of the engine behind the generator.
Gene Gillam

XPAG Engine Octagon: Leads me to believe they must have found another use for the engine in an OEM and filed (or filled) the octogon right off of the casting for the later XPAG's :-)

Chris
Chris Couper

Doubt the T Series would hold the record. Dads J2 had lots more than his TF does. Unfortunately he dont have the J2 any more so I cant count them.

At least they got rid of the colour co-ordination of the early cars.

Green Paint, Seats, Trim, Carpet, Hood, Wheels, Brake drums etc etc etc
Paul

Add MG octagon on TD exhaust manifold. Also early TD's have the octagon cast into the block.
Blake J.


Hi all,

Can't believe that no one has picked up on this one. The bezel on the instruments on the dash of the TF is indeed octagnal as already mentioned, but in addition there is an octagon under the glass on all three instruments as well.

Cheers - Dennis - Sacramento
Dennis Rainey

Paul from New Zealand is correct, the pre-war MGs make the T series cars seem like pikers. I had a 36 PB and all the knobs were octagon shaped, along with the side lights and all the instrument bezels. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Sorry Will,

Guess that I should read each post thoroughly.

Dennis - Sacramento



Dennis Rainey

After counting octegons I'm missing the bezel on the center instruments on the dash of my TF. Is there any one that found an extra one in his box of spares?
Jay Dyck

Sounds like you gents want someone to go count 'em on some prewar cars... hokay, next Concours here I come with clipboard & pencil in hand. :)
Will

I only counted 21 on Dads 1933 J3
But his SA saloon has THIRTY
It would be FOURTY if it was the early model with the ten opening bonnet side panels.
Note: The wire wheel centre-locks on these two cars have the Rudge-Whitworth trade mark, not the MG emblem.
Cheers, Matthew.
Matthew Magilton

Can't add anything, except what a neat thread. Really enjoyed reading it a then going out a looking the TD over.
Mike
Mike Razor

FWIW:

Don't all TA-TDs have a stylized ocatagon for the center instrument panel? Eight sides with the sides curved to match the speedo/tach and the top and bottom curved to fit the facia (dash)

Blake
Blake J.

Slight error in my previous post: The SA does have MG emblems on the wheel hubs (not the J3)and I didn't count the gearbox dipstick on the SA. Also most of the early SA's had eight bonnet side panels, not ten. So an early SA has at least FOURTY THREE octagons not counting the four eight sided rectangular door handle bases. I suspect a K-series saloon should be able to beat this number with extra octagons on the dash and in the door upholstery as well as on the rocker cover.



Which standard MG has the LEAST octagons?

I counted eight on my 1965 MG 1100 (four with the hubcaps off)
Cheers, Matthew.
Matthew Magilton

Theres only 10 on our MGF

front and rear badges
wheel centres
steering wheel
dashboard
speedo
rev counter

Really continuing a decrease in the number of them. Soon they wont be on them at all
Paul

"Which standard MG has the LEAST octagons?"

Me-thinks... "Old Number 1" :-)

Will

Current TD count:

Glove box knob
4 bonnet latches
radiator cap
radiator badge
5 hub caps
gas tank release lever
engine tag
VIN plate
dip stick
Steering Wheel boss
Intake manifold
Exhaust manifold
Central dash plate (stylized, but 8 sided)
Engine (early engines only)

Total 20 or 21

Anyone notice there are 8 screws holding the dashboard on TA-TD?
Blake J.

MGA:

Varies alot depending on model and equipment, but for a standard MGA:

Grill badge
2 cowl vents centers and the G within (4 total)
engine valve cover
VIN tag
Steering wheel boss
radio blanking plate
Boot lid badge

Total: 10

Twin cam:

Grill badge
2 cowl vents centers and the G within (4 total)
one on each valve cover
VIN tag
Steering wheel boss
radio blanking plate
Boot lid

Total:11

Wire wheel or twin cam/deluxe MGAs can have four more octagons depending on the type of knock-on used.

Blake




Blake J.

For Blake:

I'll bet that the guy applying Friends of Cecil Kimber tags is a prominent member of the NEMGTR (name on request to me directly) - I'm sure I saw him stick one on my TD at MG2001. But it's not a sticker, it's a magnetic thing that comes off without effort or damage to the finish. Certainly mine did, although if yours is still on the car 15 months later there might be a problem.

No T-series owner would deface someone else's car. I'm sure the intent was just to give you a souvenier

Ted
Ted Jackson

Right on the pre-war MG having lots more. My PB rocker cover alone has 10.

Lew
Lew Palmer

Lew, What is the total on your car?
Matthew.
MatthewMagilton


My TF has 25 factory octagons, my YB has 28. That is a total of 53 in MyGarage. Larry
Larry V. Brown

This thread was discussed between 04/10/2002 and 19/10/2002

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