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MG TD TF 1500 - Looking to get First TF

Hi! Any input would be appreciated. Having owned B's and midgets before, I am now looking to start on a new adventure... a TF. Should I be looking for something already restored? a project car? or something in the "preservation" category (AACA... means looks like sh*t, runs and has never been restored). Comments, any suggestions where to start? Thanks! Bart
BartTS

Hi Bart:

I've had a 'B for a dozen years and I love it. Last year, I took the plunge and bought a 55 TF (1500). I wasn't really planning to buy, but last October I was offered a non-running car for a terrific price. The owner had broken a driveshaft flange 10 years ago, and parked it in a barn. TF's don't go on the market often, so I swallowed hard and bought it, even though I didn't have the money up front to do the resto.

This summer I finally started disassembling the car. Ouch! There is not a single thing on the car that will not need to be renewed or replaced. The body, which looked solid when together, has significant rust under the running boards. The bulkhead behind the seat is somewhat holey, and will need major repair or replacement. I pulled the body off the frame yesterday, and all the wood that I can see looks solid, but I'm not sure if I should replace it all anyway, since it seems kind of hard and brittle (an effect of aging?).

I'm not saying that I have buyer's remorse, but I'm kind of overwhelmed by what I have in front of me. It may be a couple of years before I can drive the car, and a whole lot of blood, sweat, and tears. Not to mention money. In the end, I'm sure I will be glad I bought the TF, but I think now it would have been wiser to buy a running car or older restoration.

I still drive the MGB several times a week, so that keeps my spirits up. So what's the point of this post? If you buy a nonrestored car, be prepared for a tough (but rewarding) trip. It may be a better bargain to buy an older restoration. It will probably be less money in the long run, and you can drive it right away. Personally, I derive a great deal of pleasure from the restoration process, and I like to learn, so I'm OK with the choice that I made, but most people wouldn't be. Buy the car that fits what you want. If you are a garage rat, buy a fixer upper, otherwise, get the most done car you can find and afford, and enjoy driving it.
Mark B.

Bart - If you are looking for the best price on the finished car, by a TF that is already restored. You will never be able to restore a car for the price that you can buy an already restored car. If you are looking for a retirement project (regardless of your present age) and enjoy lots and lost of work with your hands, buy a basket case and and enjoy. Either way, the cars are indead a great deal of enjoyment.
Good luck - Dave
David DuBois

Bart:

Depending on your passion for working on cars every weekend and evenings, I agree with both Dave and Mark. Yor are going to spend the money one way or the other. Might as well get one that you can enjoy driving instead of imagining the final outcome for several years. It's been over two and a half years ago that I first rolled my MG off the cross-country transporter and into the garage. Like Mark, I've had to redo almost everything on the car. I estimate that when all is said and done, I'll spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $16K to finish it......and it still won't be Concours quality. What remains to be done is paint, interior, new wheels and tires. Even though I'm driving it, it's still not yet the readily driveable car I intend it to be. It's been a little dis-heartening after all this time.

What I've done to keep me focused is to have a picture of a restored TF as wallpaper on my computers both at home and the office. There are several out there you can download. Also, this BBS forum has been a source of encouragement as well. Seem that several others have also spend much time and effort working on their cars. That helps to rationalize the efforts and expense. If my car had not been in our family since 1960, I would have opted for a restored TF instead.

Jim
Jim Rice

Just to pin it down, it will cost you just about twice as much to restore it as to buy it. But restoration is fun. Dave#1.
capdave

I'm not the "restoration" type (yet) so I wasn't even considering buying a car to restore. I had the money to buy a decent car - not in concourse condition, but it was pretty good and in any event, I wanted to drive the damn thing, not bundle it in cotton wool and never drive it. I drive it most weekends and love every minute of it. Sometimes it's hard to know which I enjoy driving more; the TF or the F!

Get yourself a roadworthy TF and start enjoying it straight away!

Cheers,
Phil
Phil

Hi Bart,
I toyed with the same things as you are going through and I chose to buy the nicest car I could AFFORD and I am glad I did. It is not concours but it is an eye-catching driver. Its lots of fun! But you have to make that decision for yourself! If you are handy and money and time are not an issue, then do it yourself because there are shows that I go to where I see cars that are perfect and I am envyous of that BUT are they having as much fun as I am?...I don't think so!
Cheers!
Mike
mike

Bart,

As previously mentioned, try and find the best you can afford, or additioally, if possible, an abandoned restoration effort that has most of the hard work done. MGs, especially T-ABCDs, are fairly straight forward to restore, after all, they were essentially hand assembled. Currently I am working on a pair of Jag XK120s, roadsters, and the bodywork is a nightmare, give me a T series anyday. My TF 1500 is an unrestored original, decent but with chipped paint and a ding here and there. I plan on leaving it that way, as others may want to see what the 'before' really looked like! It is possible to do a driving restoration, that way your TF gets better each year and the expenses are spread out. Cheers, Lee
Lee

Bart,

Now c'mon - you must've known the answer before you asked the question. The rule of thumb is ALWAYS to buy the best one you can possibly afford - whether it's a '57 Buick Roadmaster or a 'TF.

True, the T series have their peculiarities, but an old car is an old car - and the cost of restoring one in time and energy and MONEY is virtually NEVER recouped - except of course if you include your own enjoyment of restoration - if, in fact, you DO enjoy that. As a side note - I'm currently restoring a Z Magnette saloon, which was practically GIVEN to me. It is in sound shape, having come from California. But by the time I am done restoring it, I will probably have at least $10-12,000 in it - and maybe more. Magnettes are not really worth more than $8000 - and that would be a very nice one. Now, will mine be done right? Yes. Will I know the car intimately when it's over? Yes. Will I be able to rely on every component, nut, bolt and accessory when I'm through? I hope so. It is worth it? Hmmmmm I'll have to get back to you...

I would say, with rates being what they are, and more and more banks recognizing the saftey in loaning money or older cars (safer, in fact, than loaning money on new ones) that I would rather borrow the money any day to buy a very nice, completely done car, than to start a restoration and spend even MORE money - especially if you start charging services & parts and good old plastic.

For any T series car - I would join the New England MG T Register immediately. They are a wonderful bunch of people, the magazine alone ("The Sacred Octagon") is worth more than the membership costs - and always has a nice selection of enthusiastically maintained cars for sale.

Unless you like the ritual of getting dirty (and I kinda do - but don't tell anyone) for several months or years in a row, buy one that's done and you can run!

Cheers my friend,

Tom
MG Tom

Buy a Corvette with a hurst shifter and 350 cubic inches or more.
Bob Marshall

Ughhhh!
Geoff Love

This thread was discussed between 02/09/2001 and 06/10/2001

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