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MG TD TF 1500 - TD Dash

Howdy all,*

On a 1952 TD what was the standard Original dash from the factory?
Was it Wood? Plain or Fancy Veneer?
Was it leather?
Was it wrapped? Vinyl or leather?
Did it always have an instrument cluster backplate?
Did it alwyas have a glove box with a door?
Would it have a glove box & no door?
Pics would also help.

I have just learned that the PO2 had it replaced and PO1 only remembers it as plain wood.

Thanks
Vinnie
V.W. Piņa

Vinnie,

The dash from the factory was covered with a vinyl material (Rexine) that matched the interior color. Many were changed afterwards (including mine - by me) to plain wood (in my case walnut).

As far as instrument cluster and glove box, I'm 99.9% sure that all had the same instrument cluster backplate (sort of a bronze color with polished metal edging) and a glove box with door. Considering British manufacturing practices of the era, I'm sure there were minor variations in colors, materials, etc., but generally they were all the same.

Hope this helps.

Larry Thompson
Larry Thompson

Plywood originally covered with "Rexine", a thin, early vinyl, wrapped over the edges trimmed with chrome bead top, bottom, and around the glove box, with "piping" to match interior between top of dash and body. Yes, glovebox had a door on TD's. Not sure about inst. cluster backplate- all I have seen just bolted on to the wooden dash with 6 bolts/nuts, but no backplate. May I suggest buying Clausager's "Original MG-T series" and the NEMGTR's "T-series Handbook" (names close- books are at home). Picts and descriptions of this and the entire car. George
George Butz

OK, maybe the Brit Blokes can chime in here, but, my interpretation learned back in 1956(and there abouts) was that the Brit religion was: ROADSTERS-DASH COVERING-ALWAYS-VINYL,REXINE,LEATHER; DROP-HEADS AND SALONS POLISHED WOOD GRAINED.
Being that polished wood grains would not hold up under the weather conditions that a roadster would endure but would be safe in a closed car environment.
Now I want to make it clear that I am expressing absolutly no opinon on having polished wood grained dashes in roadsters "to each his own I have found my own".
Greg & grimm
G.J. Cenzer

Larry and I must have been typing at the same time. From his post I figured out when you said backplate, you meant the curved chrome-edged plate that the oil pressure, ammeter, cables and switches mount on. I thought you meant something behind that. My mistake. George
George Butz

Vinnie, most of your questions about originality can be answered at http://www.british-cars.org.uk/kimber/mgtd/
Yes, the gauges, etc., were mounted on a panel. Only the tachometer and speedometer were mounted directly into holes in the dash.
Bud Krueger

Thanks,
I have had several of you guys direct me towards "THE ORIGINAL MGTD midget" site. I have been there myself several times & it is a great site. Am I to understand that this is "THE" place to go on the web to find out all Original info in regards to TD's?.
I am in the process of finishing off my book collection of MG TD's and Clausager is on the way.
Thanks to all who have been helping me for the past week or so. I really appreciate it and you are a wealth if information.
Vinnie
V.W. Piņa

How do I go about getting a copy or the Original MG T Series by Clausager?
Does anyone have a copy for sale?
Vinnie
V.W. Piņa

Vinnie,

I believe the book is out of print. You may try Britbooks and see if they have any.

www.britbooks.com

Dave
D Runnings

This thread was discussed between 14/03/2005 and 21/03/2005

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