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MG TD TF 1500 - E-bay TD

Deal or no deal?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1953-MG-T-Series/292791468674?hash=item442bbb4282:g:IqoAAOSwBJVb1Sit:rk:1:pf:0&vxp=mtr
tom scott

Deal IMHO! Mostly correct with little missing (clock), accurately described. Would be a great car to restore. Wood the big unknown. George
George Butz III

Marginal in my opinion. Needs sorting out in the engine compartment Engine doesn’t run why? Electrical? fuel system? Engine damage?Could be something simple but could require as much as.an overhaul. Since the seller can’t get it sorted out I would have to consider the engine as a core The drain cock is missing on the engine and there appears to be a lot of rust scale at the thread and the block casting may even be damaged. I can’t see a great deal of detail on my I phone. No tach cable, speedo cable has been hacked into the firewall, air cleaner and breather hose are oriented wrong, over flow pipes on carbs need to be re routed, engine. compartment wiring is a bit of a mess. Mostly looks to be nitty detail stuff. Still my main concern is the engine not running. This leaves a great deal of concern in my mind. I’d have to inspect the car in person before I’d begin to think seriously about it. I’d be more comfortable in the $5-6k USD range to defer getting upside down on another project. That’s not figuring in transportation costs. I’d consider it at my estimate only if the car was local to me. That’s my random thoughts and others’ opinions will vary

Bill Chasser
TD-4834
W A Chasser

In addition to previous remarks above, needs a steering wheel, tires, there is paint overspray on chassis (panels were painted on chassis) enrichener cable needs replacing, fuel tank panels painted incorrectly, brake system requires sorting. Im not trying to nitpick the car but the costs are rising quickly and the unknowns are many.

Bill Chasser
TD-4834
W A Chasser

I think it's a car I would have to look at before deciding. What is there looks nicely done, but there are so many unknowns. If there is truly just no spark, the engine seems pretty straight-forward; I would be surprised if someone did all that body work and ignored the engine, but stranger things have been known.

I think $8,500 is over the TOP of the price range with all the uncertainties, and I would probably be where Bill C. is in terms of pricing - $6,000 feels fair to me.

Why didn't I just write, "I second what Bill says"?

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Being that it is in ND, figure in $1K to move it east in an enclosed trailer versus a car that I can go get in an afternoon, even on a snowy day.

But, it should be preserved.

My 02c worth.

Peter
P G Gilvarry

I thought MG went to round tail/brake lights in 1952 or earlier.

Jud
J. K. Chapin

Round tail-lights were at the end of the run, in 53.

I also meant to point out that the quality of the under-bonnet work is definitely disappointing, and is much inferior to the external paint. That's not a good sign of a good and careful workman.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

TD18353 has a production date of 7/21/52. The external features that generally say '53' are the round tail lights (10/24/52) and the central wiper motor. It doesn't have either. But, TDs don't have model years. Bud
Bud Krueger

Per Chris Couper's site: Round Stoplamps Oct 1952-1953, from 21303. This car was built 21-Jul-1952

Tim
Timothy Burchfield

If you, US guys don't buy it, I'm pretty sure that a european dealer will bring it back.
A new condenser or just cleaning points to get the engine running and he will make a lot of money.

Laurent.

LC Laurent31

Laurent if that is all it needs then one would think the seller would take care of it and ask more for it. I have a gut feeling there is more to it than that. Exactly what that might be is the big unknown. Since it would require further investigation after the point of sale, it is all speculation at this point. I’d rather hedge my bets to my advantage rather than the sellers.

Tom mentions the quality of the paint job vs the condition under the bonnet lending credence to the lack of quality in workmanship. This was what I was alluding to regarding the paintwork. There is quite a bit of overspray which tells me little attention to detail was made in the masking of adjacent parts.and the proper detail in painting the side panels I question the test of the paintwork as well and wonder how long it will last. Simply put.... There is no way to properly paint these cars intact and call it a quality job. Pictures in many cases don’t tell a thousand words. Pictures can hide a multitude flaws.

Bill Chasser
TD-4834
W A Chasser

OK, upon further thought, $6K would be better. If it ran well and stopped, and had good wood, then the $8+ would be fine. Anyone notice no block drain tap? Obviously needs a lot of stuff, and much would clean up nicely. Typical 70s/80s "restoration". Besides engine internal, wood would be the big question. To look nice would need total restoration of course.
George Butz III

George, Mentioned in the second post...

Bill Chasser
TD-4834
W A Chasser

I am wondering why the block drain is not installed? Also why the motor was not painted. But overall, from the pictures, it looks OK. Only body detail not correct is the fuel tank side panels. No chrome. They painted the whole thing. Not a big deal.

I would guess less than $1500 in tires and other parts if the engine is good.
Bruce Cunha

I'm with Bill. The seller doesn't say how long the PO had the car since the engine had turned over under its own steam. The missing drain plug is a big clue. The rust on the block there seems to be long standing. My guess is it's been a while since the engine actually ran and you'd have to wonder why remove the drain cock? Seems a weird thing to do unless the PO was worried about the block cracking if the water inside froze? Which again suggests standing for quite a while. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Last time I bought a seemingly attractive car but not running, I encountered significant problems. I was able to make the engine run, but after a a ninute, i didn't like how it sounded. When apart, I found the bearings were trashed and the crank scored. The transmission was usable, but it would have been very noisy since all the bearings needed replaced. I'd prefer a car I know more about, so I'm thinking this one looks like a good opportunity but as others have said there are lots of unknowns. Buy low and hope for the best.
Charlie Adams

This thread was discussed between 28/10/2018 and 30/10/2018

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