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MG TD TF 1500 - Ebay TD

130590440677

Are they crazy? Check the buy it now price! Nice interior, especially the 3 inch wide seat pleats. "Correct blackl canvas", on and on. Otherwise looks like a pretty nice car, no picts of the underneath. Gerge
George Butz

I have seen others in this asking-price range....
Helps us , who have nice drivers, to get better prices when we sell...
As owners of these cars, we don't see them the way the non-owning TD buyer might....
Full restoration, is very expensive, as you know....especially if it is done right (we have no real idea, without seeing the car)....
I would think that a complete , nut and bolt , ground-up restoration, with all parts restored or replaced , would probably cost $30,000+ , if the owner did most of the work.....Does it seem rediculous?....Maybe...
Personally, I hope it sells...Will be interesting to see.
Edward
E.B. Wesson

Not a bad looking car. Although not "correct" I do like the dash. Too bad the instrument panel color is so off. It looks like it has an Optima battery hiding under a tar toppr kit. Not a bad way to go.
Again, the ad is a little annoying. "correct" interior, black top and Vredensteen tires? Really?
-David
D. Sander

What's wrong with Vredstein tires?

BobbyG
Bobby Galvez

The seller boaasts that the car has "correct" Vredestein's - 5.50x15's?

Tom Lange
Bar Harbor, Maine (with a rolling chassis in the yard having 4 original 5.50x15 Dunlop's!)
t lange

There is nothing wrong with Vredstein tires, the way the ad is written it sounds like the TD left the factory with Vredstein tires, and the only correct tire for the TD is Vredstein tires.
It may have struck a nerve with me. My TD lost a lot of points in a car show this summer because it has Michelin x radials on it. The judges stated they were an incorrect accessory. When I pointed out that they were avalable in 1953, and a very popular replacement tire, the judges told me I did not know anything about cars, because anybody who knows anything knows a TD will handle and drive better with bias ply tires, and I should throw the radials away and replace them with bias ply tires. Ugh!
I will continue to suffer with my inferior tires.
David
D. Sander

David,
I would suggest that a "judge" who would make a statement about the superiority of the bias tire over the radial, has never had the opportunity to drive each one in competition. I could not wait to get rid of the original Dunlops and replace them with the Michelin. The performance between the two could not be compared in speed events. It would be disappointing to be scored in the event by a judge with that kind of attitude.

George
George Raham [TD4224]

Other comments by this "judge"?:

A rock is a far superior tool than a hammer for driving nails.

A srewdriver works much better than a electric drill for hanging drywall.

A candle supplies far better light than an electric bulb.

A block of ice in a wooden box is much better than a refridgearator.

The guy has obviously never driven a T with radials.
David Sheward

The second and last time my TD was judged in a cousours, same deal- they didn't like the radials. I told them that since the orignal Dunlap bias plys have never been reproduced, it was impossible to have original tires, etc. Wouldn't use them even if they existed. Edward, I have no problem with asking near $40K for the car, or even if they get it. I just think the interior is hideous, color aside. Hopefully a buyer would realize that, and have the price adjusted accordingly. Not a hugely expensive fix if the rest of the car is correct. George
George Butz

What looks like a very nice TD. I would agree. If one has all the work done by someone else, 30 thousand for a restoration is not out of the ball park. But like the announcers on Barrett Jackson are quick to point out. Many of those cars sell for less than what it would cost to pay for the restoration.

I do have one question. The seat upholstery. Did the later TD have that smooth front piece on the seat? All I have seen have only pleats. I also wonder on the width of the back pleats.

Again, the ID tag should have been nickle plated.

I hope the seller gets his price.
Bruce Cunha

Thanks for the replies. I was worried that dogs would start breaking into my garage just to pee on my Vredsteins out of contempt! ;-)

I should be far enough south in Texas to be safe from the Vermont concours judges, so the dogs will not have to wait in line.

Cheers!!!

BobbyG

Bobby Galvez

I believe that the ride and handling of a T-type equipped with bias-ply tires is different from one with radials, but I know you can climb a wet,grassy hill with radials but you can't climb the same hill with bias ones.
David Werblow

I wish the board had spell check for my bad typing, I meant concours of course.
George Butz

I originally had my TD work done at Ragtops & Roadsters...a fine restoration place...they got it up to a very good driver status...Atlantic to Pacific 2 times in the last 5 years...this summer I inquired about doing some work and on a lark I asked what a frame off restoration is going for on a TD...about $40,000-$50,000...so the price isn't all that far out to lunch...
Bob Dougherty

My own experience is that there is a huge difference between what you spend on a car and what you can get for it when sold. Just because you spend $40-50,000 on a restoration doesn't mean you will necessarily get that if you sell it. There are relatively few TD's worth that, IMHO, and they approach 100-point show cars.

Tom Lange
Bar Harbor, Maine
t lange

There are prices and then there are prices asked for T cars...
5,000-10,000 ... a car that needs a lot done to get it on the road....might be a basket case...might be a chassis with running gear, but bad, bad tub with lots of parts missing....or the whole car in boxes....
10,000 -15,000 should get you an 'all there' car that might run, or need a small amount of work to get running....but no major overhaul.

15,000 - 20,000 should get you a very good example of a fairly new restoration...5 to 10 years old, but in great shape...everything should be running...some things might not be original...vinyl upholstery, etc.

20-40,000 should be a concours restoration where the restorers knew what and what not to do to the car....it should be 'showroom' condition... If the interior is all wrong, and the colour black is anywhere near it or the weather items, then they didn't know what the hell they were doing and it should drop 15,000 cause you know you are going to find all sorts of things not correct (for that money)

If that one sells for that kind of money, then there 'is one born every minute' .... cause to get it to that value, you would spend another 5,000 .......(and still not have a 40,000 car)
gblawson(gordon- TD27667)

Total agreeent with above comments- the relationship on what is spent restoring vs what a car is worth has no relation whatsoever. Same idea with major house renovation or anything else. I really agree with Gordon that they may not have known what they were doing, etc. Gerge
George Butz

If somebody wants to pay me that for mine ..I'll deliver it in the lower 48 ..no charge and.... wait there's more...I'll even fill the gas tank.


LaVerne

If the "mascots" come with it ....could be a good investment!
David Sheward

What car????
Edward
E.B. Wesson

Think those headlights are the way they came from the factory?
LaVerne

Left side aftermarket?
George Butz

36D?
David Sheward

I love a place that protects OWLS///
Tom Maine (TD8105)

This thread was discussed between 22/10/2011 and 26/10/2011

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