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MG TD TF 1500 - Renovation of TD 28584.

Backround: we bought TD 28584 in Melbourne in 1984 (as newlyweds). It had been dry stored since 1969, so only 16 years on the road when we bought it. We kept it stored until 1991, when the late Ray Skewes, mg specialist in Melbourne carried out a full mechanical, electrical etc restoration - every nut and bolt. At the same time, it was stripped to primer and painted a colour close to Old English White. The result was a superb daily driver - and drive it we did, for 20 years, in all weathers, having relocated to sunny Queensland.
By retirement in 2020, we had competing priorities and too little time to enjoy the TD. We all know that these cars are best used and enjoyed.
SO - the time has come to prepare TD 28584, so that a new custodian can enjoy her. She will be stripped (body off) and repainted, all mechanicals, electrics, rubbers etc overhauled and refurbished or replaced as required, and the rest of the apple green leather interior trim installed. We were too busy using the car!
Unlike other MG restorations and renovations done at home over the years, this time I'm setting a time limit as a discipline - and to stop me obsessing, as I am wont to do. I want to have the car ready to go in 12 months' time, but with no corners cut.
Here are a few pictures taken today as the "before" situation. Wish me luck!
I hope this amuses others.
John.







J P Hall

And a couple more pics...





J P Hall

Good luck and hope it finds a loving home like you gave it.

Couple of observations:

* you appear to be missing the inner bonnet supports as your bonnet lays flat and it never should

* I like piping that matches the paint although with black it sort of looks like some of the rubber bits

* I can't tell if your radiator slats are black or dark green. Originally they matched the interior color

* What happened to your right parking lamp?

* You don't like bumper overriders?
Christopher Couper

Ha - thanks Chris - no-one better than you to keep an eye on me.
. Yes I've already loosened the bonnet fixings ready for removal today.
. Back in 91 we couldn't find a suitable close match to oew, so went for the black contrast. What colour piping is preferred with oew body colour?
. Radiator slats definitely green.
. The right 1130 light came off before I remembered to take before photos.
. In 84 the car didn't have overriders, and I never got around to fitting any. I suspect that more TDs in Australia don't have them.
John.
J P Hall

The piping should match the paint color. Find some vinyl and have an upholstery shop fold it over some cord and put in a stitch.

If you want to be a stickler the front splash is 1/8" narrower.
Christopher Couper

Would anyone have a photo of matching piping fitted to a white (or close to white) T series? I have trouble visualising such a combination, but I totally accept that it's the "correct" approach. I guess old english white is also not an original T series colour - sequoia might be the nearest. Thanks all. John.
J P Hall

John.
Have you checked out the web site " The Original MG TD midget", there are a lot of details on there ,plus photos of original cars on there.Click on Gallery and then on 1951 TD (TD 10941)which is a white(ish) TD. It might give you some ideas or help.
R E J Stewart

Here is the link:

https://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtd/mgtd_gallery_unrestored.htm
Christopher Couper

Bob (?) - very helpful link, thank you and Chris. I'm warming to the idea of getting colour-matched piping made up. I'd forgotten how valuable Chris' website is for checking detail - I know I'll be going back to it frequently as the renovation progresses. John.
PS Where in Vic., R.E.J.?
J P Hall

John.
I'm in Greensborough, Melbourne.
Cheers.
Ralph.
R E J Stewart

Ralph, sorry!
I'll be jiggered - we were in Mill Park ( first career) from '88 to '93. Still have an old car mate in South Morang ( previously RM Riley, now a Healey 3000).
J P Hall

This is only my opinion. But save yourself the time , frustration and investment and sell the car as is. You’ll be money ahead in the long run. No one has made a profit restoring these cars. If you were keeping it my opinion would be different. You’re going to be swapping dollars and labor into something that may not show any appreciable return. Honesty, it’s a crapshoot at best. Sell the car before you get into it. Take the money and invest it in a vacation with your wife, or home renovations or financial investments etc.
Restorations will always have cost overruns the farther you delve into them and any timeline you impose on yourself add at least 50%

Bill Chasser
TD-4834
TD/c-8151
W A Chasser

Thanks for chipping in, Bill. My plan is to renovate, which of course wouldn't normally involve body off - but I'm used to the process and happy to get the panels to primer stage before bringing in help for the top coats. The rest is mainly clean and refurbish as appropriate, since the car has been used very sparingly since its full restoration in '91. A bit time-consuming, but I enjoy the work.
I agree with you in principle - the extra effort won't be reflected in wads of money, but I'm happier passing on a well-sorted TD in a year or so. John.
J P Hall

Looks like you wont have too much to do John. Assuming it runs well? I bought mine (TF) a few years ago from a NSW PO who had the car for 58 years. There are always things that a new owner wants to do anyway to 'bond' with the car. Let us know if there is anything you need help with.

Merv
M Hyde

Sorry Merv - I replied to you a few days ago, but it hasn't turned up. Thanks for your support - I've enjoyed your travails over time, and will certainly take up your offer of advice as we go along. The renovation "should" be straightforward on the mechanical and electrical side, the loom is pristine and she ran well at all times. The apple green interior from NTG will clean up well. The bulk of the time-consuming work will be stripping and re-doing the bodywork; disassemble and refurbish running gear, rubber parts, bearings and the like.
Here's the thing: I may be getting old, but I love this stuff and look forward to every day! John.
J P Hall

John-I noticed somewhere (but can't find it again) that you were asking about white paints--shades
I had a 68 MGC years ago in Snowberry white, It's a really nice deep white that looks deeper the more you polish it---not a stark in your face white at all and not a dirty colour like OEW can look at times.
It's paint code is, or was but still is on my rock hard tin- WT4 but the tinters in modern paints are way different to the older paints.
You need to find someone that has mixed/matched the old colours in modern paints to get a good colour match, I'd be just getting a little sample tin first and have a looksee at it.

Looking forward to seeing your TD in Snowberry white

: VG Auto Paints in Girraween, NSW, mixes modern acrylic lacquer or basecoat using the Rover WT.4 code.

willy
William Revit

You're right, Willy - oew is probably a bit drear, Glacier White may be close, Snowberry white I'll definitely revisit. I'd forgotten that one. More news as it comes to hand. Thang god Wimbledon and the World Cup are over (for an ex Pom).
John.
J P Hall

Glacier white, in my opinion would look way too bright/in your face on a TD, it's a fairly stark colour
Snowberry is your friend--
If you lined the three up beside each other itd go bright to not so bright in order

Glacier -very bright
Snowberry -creamier-
OEW -creamier still but sometimes looks dirty
William Revit

Funny, Willy - I had our very nice '73 BGT painted in Toyota's white #040. Man, was it white! I loved it on that car with the Minilite style (Performance) rims and new Webasto sliding sunroof. But it would be waaay too much on a TD. I do like the Snowberry option, looking at Tegler and other paint charts as we speak. John.
J P Hall

SO - July sort of got away from me, then unexpected family stuff away from home - but over the last week, remaining body panels off and inspected. Definitely need a couple of rust excisions - each side of the scuttle top, and the lower edge of one quarter panel. Shame Kilmartins (in Australia) have closed up - I would have loved 2 new quarter panels and their work was top hole.
To Chris Couper: your TD files and photos are like gold. Taking this stuff apart is easy enough - but I know too well how much harder it is to get everything back together - usually after some time has passed!
Onward and upward. John.






J P Hall

This thread was discussed between 10/06/2026 and 24/08/2026

MG TD TF 1500 index

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