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MG TD TF 1500 - Grill finish

On some T-Types the grill looks a bit gold-colored where others are shiney chrome. For example, the photo on the cover of the latest Moss catalog is gold-ish. Is this the zinc finish as compared to chrome? Or is it a lighting thing?
Steve Simmons

Steve, I dont have the latest copy of the Moss catalog but I can say that the original factory color of the grill matched the interior. On the later TD Mark II models,it was chrome plated. There are many variations now from the factory colors.
Jim Merz

To add to Jim's comments, the TD grills were painted to match the interior, or in some cases the exterior color. The later TD MKIIs and the TF grills were chrome plated. This is from the factory. What happened to them in the intervening years is anybody's guess, I have even seen grills painted in a checker board pattern. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

The Moss catalogue seems to have a "tan" or "biscuit" painted grille (to match the interior)... I of course have a black and white checked "seersucker" interior!!!!!!!
gordon lawson

I've seen more than one T-Series that looked like metal plating of some sort with a goldish tint. Maybe it was just the lighting.

Here's one I found on the web: http://maisach.klabaster.com/pics/old29.jpg

This one is hard to tell, looks like chrome: http://mgcccomau.ozstaging.com/mgtc/webpictures/headpic.jpg

Here's another: http://www.ritzsite.demon.nl/RAI99_classic_NO/BIN/MG_TC_1948.jpg

And another: http://www.mg-rover.ru/picsMG/MG%20TC-Type%20midget%20250pix.jpg

This one looks like tan paint: http://www.mgcarclub.it/soci2/veneto%20parolin%20TC49.JPG

One last photo: http://www.nemgt.org/lens_tc.jpg
Steve Simmons

I have only seen two T-Cars that had gold plated grills. One was the 4 passenger TD Inskip model formerly owned by Lee Majors that had been the 1953 New York Auto Show car (and fetched about $80K at auction OFF eBay) ........ and mine. I know that mine is gold plated because I did it myself about 3 weeks ago on a brand new chrome grill from Moss Motors. Why? Because I did NOT like the red slats that matched (for the time being) my interior. And I did NOT like the look of solid chrome either. However, when I saw that Lee Majors car (first)on eBay, I knew what I was going to have. Anyone else wants me to do one for them, write me and we will work something out. It was a heck of a lot of work beyond the stripping off of the chrome and the putting on of the gold. Dealing with the soldered-in studs holding the grill to the shell was a bear (I had to move about 5 of them).
John
John Redman

Steve,

I would hazard to guess that of all the examples of grilles that you provided links to were, in fact, tan (biscuit) painted grilles to match the biscuit interiors. Granted, in some cases the coloring (colouring for our Candadian and British brothers - Aussies also?) seems very light, almost golden. I presume this is due to the photo display. But, you can see in all of those photos where the interior is visible, they are also biscuit.

Larry Thompson
Larry Thompson

Ooops, except for one - the red TC with red interior - though I suspect the interior was originally biscuit (matching the grill).
Larry Thompson

A gold plated grille! What are we dealing with here a MG of a "p*.pmobile". Maybe MM will come out with those spinner hubcaps for the T series.
Colin Stafford

Now Colin, you seem to be forgetting the rules. The flame section is near the bottom (for good reason). I explained the reason as well as I can. When I get a chance I will upload a picture or two. I think that it is the solid chrome grill that looks too bright. The gold tones it down.

John
John Redman

This thread was discussed between 29/05/2005 and 01/06/2005

MG TD TF 1500 index

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