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MG TD TF 1500 - TF 1500 on e-Bay
| I came across this listing on e-Bay... It's a beautiful body and interior restoration, but no work was done on the engine, from what is said in the description... Anyway, as you scroll down through the pictures, you will come to a picture of the "bottom line" of the spreadsheet for restoration costs... The restoration cost is also mentioned in the description, near the end of the presentation... It will blow you away !!! Also, near the end of the photo presentation, there are a number of pictures of the car before the restoration... A nice touch, to see the "rebirth" of this classic... It will be interesting to see what this car eventually sells for, if it sells at all based on the unknown "reserve price" the owner expects to get... eBay Motors: MG : T-Series (item 4599666572 end time Jan-02-06 15:46:42 PST) Cheers & Happy New Year to all, Rod Macleod - '55 TF 1500, HDB46/6798 ("Molly") |
| Rod Macleod |
| Note in the description the cost spreadsheet includes the price of the car purchased in 2001. Still, $92,000????? Authenticity on several items such as carpet, beading on seats, and a few other things are in question. Also can anyone tell me what that black hose or whatever is near the oil cap on the rocker cover? Still, a Very Nice example and well presented. This will be interesting indeed. Dave |
| D Clark |
| Hi Dave, I too take acception to the "poetic license" taken with the upholstery (beading on the seats, also the carpet, etc... The "black hose" you mentioned, at the oil cap, looks like some kind of a protective sheathing over the oil cap chain, to prevent scratching the rocker cover... After repainting my rocker cover a couple of times, I replaced the chain witn a black plastic chain from a toilet tank repair kit... It looks good and there are no more scratches on the rocker cover... With a $92,000 cost (including the purchase of the original car)the seller will probably expect to get a handsome sum for this wee car... Without a complete rebuild on the engine/drive train it will have to come from someone with more money than sense... Rod Macleod |
| Rod Macleod |
| There has to be some kind of ceiling on even full restoration 'showroom' cars??? I mean, as much as I love the car, it is still a 1250 (ok, 1500) MG as opposed to an XKE, or Healey, or Aston or whatever? Can't see him getting even half what is invested...? (Gulp... maybe we better just garage them and wait 20 years...or our kids can wait)? |
| gordon lawson - TD 27667 |
| Gordon, Sorry to be an arbinger of bad news but I don't think our kinds will make much profit from a T series in 20 years time. I have been going to the MG Show at Silverstone for a few years - this is probably the largest MG event in the world. I am about the same age as my TD and I was probably the youngest T series owner there! Where the enthusiats to buy T series will come from in the future I just don't know. Happy new year to all Jan T |
| J Targosz |
| Jan, I was thinking the same thing... In 20+ years I will probably be drooling in my soup... In the meantime, I will drive my little TF 1500 at every opportinity, and keep it until I assume room temperature... By the way, I am originaly from Gourock ("doon the watter")... I will be thinking of the cold wind off the Clyde, and remembering the view of Cardwell Bay from Lyle Hill, as I have a wee dram at New Year... Cheers Mate, Rod Macleod |
| Rod Macleod |
| Jan... perhaps by then (when no one who bought one new is still around), they will be "so exotic" that they will fetch the big big bucks...but your right, i will drooling in my soup as well (if i could be so lucky)... Just an aside... when they roll me in my wheelchair over to "that" window and leave me all day... in my mind, I will driving down country roads in the T... they won't know, but perhaps the occasional "vrooom" muttered under my breath will be the tipoff !!!!! |
| gordon lawson - TD 27667 |
| Very nice car! ....pardon whilst I change my drool bucket...FRESH BUCKET FOR MISURE PLEASE....ahhh...thath'zt better! Comeon megga lotto that one is same coloure as "dad's" was if 55! I LIKE it! Gordon...If you beat me to the "window" let me know ...we can transfer the audio (of lil' XPEG in stereo) from my mini-disc to an Ipod for you to listen to! Cheers, David 55 TF1500 #7427 |
| David Sheward |
| Ok...check the invoice... $58,784.54 and $33,819.98... Would think the $33,000 is labour as it isn't itemized... now, what parts, even including the paint job, would add up to $58,000? I'm going to go and add up every part as found in Moss....back in a week! |
| gordon lawson - TD 27667 |
| Well, with my completely worn out and trashed TF, I spent less than 10K at Moss. The biggest ticket item was the crankshaft, but they can't claim that cost since the engine isn't rebuilt. I honestly can't see how you can spend that much on parts. Labor, yes. Certain things just take forever. Which is why I did most of the labor myself. I work incredibly cheap, when it's my own car. |
| Mark Barrington |
| I cant believe that someone would pay over 92 grand to restore that car. It is a nice car but not worth more than a third of the cost that it took to restore. We have some nice TF's in our club that would give this a run for the money and they cost nowhere near what this one did. Restoration costs are going up but 92 grand is way out of line. |
| Tom |
| I can believe that you CAN spend that much, but why? A friend of mine who has a restoration shop billed a client almost $80,000 for the restoration of a TR-3. It ended up as a very nice car, but not worth the money, IMO. Certainly it couldn't be sold for anything near that price. Then again, the client really enjoyed the car, and had no trouble affording the cost. If it made him happy, who am I to criticize? I like to work on cars myself and learn as I go, but my end result isn't necessarily as polished as Bill's work. I can live with the minor imperfections, because I know that I did the work myself. Not that I could afford to pay anyone else to do it. For being such an expensive restoration, it isn't perfect. What about the black vinyl side curtains. I find that rather unattractive. |
| Mark B. |
| Disregarding the price, it is a nice car. Nice but not great. First off I wish peoploe offering a Concours car would learn how to spell the word. The complete title is Concours de Elegance not "Concourse". Now that that's out of the way, I have a few exceptions to the car. First why wouldn't you have painted the nuts and bolts on the underside of the suspension parts to stop rusting? This holds true for most of the fasteners on the undercarriage. Second, I also agree that the colored piping on the seats is out of character for the car. Piping was always the same color as the upholstery. Third, When the top is folded and the tonneau is on the fit is terrible. Either that or the person does not know the proper way to fold the top. Fourth, in the photo showing the rear fender,body and running board there is a great deal of "dirt" there and it almowt looks like the car was never properly cleaned or done over in the first lace. Fifth looking at the close up photo of the ID tag, the paint looks like there is some orange peeliing and it id not as smooth or glossy as a $92,000 car should have. Other than that is is a very nice example but way overpriced. Also I agree with the comments as to where will the price be in 20 + years. Young people today are not getting into T series cars and I am concerned that my two sons will take care of our TD, TF, and B when I'm gone. George Herschell |
| George R Herschell |
| This TF has two different front wings. Look at the height from the bumper. The compare thre space between the grill and the headlight bucket. There was two different front fenders. I heard them called two or three finger models. This was calculated by putting two or three fingers between the bucket and grill. I had a car that the insurance had to replace both fron wings as I could not find and exact replacement for the damaged left front wing. It looked like the same thing with this car. Sandy Sanders |
| Sandy Sanders |
| Took another look and for $90,000.00 it certainly should have a proper color coded wiring harness along with the two straps positioned properly on the hood frame. Does anybody have an idea what is hanging below the right hand glove box? It looks like a rod with a swivel fitting on the end.Also the battery cable will be sparking a lot when it heats up from being in contact with the exhaust manifold. Somebody got tooken methinks. Sandy Sanders |
| Sandy Sanders |
| You guys are a tuff crowd! "hanging below the right hand glove box" is trip reset...if under dash cover were "correct" I think that would be about the right place for it, (I don't have one installed on mine but that is where the cutout is). Suprised nobody noticed ID tags have wrong screws (should be brass round-head slotted, not philips) and the hose clamps are incorrect type also. I should talk ...more "wrong" with mine than this one. I'm tempted to list it on ebay just to see what everybody comes up with! George: "Young people today are not getting into T series cars" ..I don't know if I go along with that...my TF draws children like a magnet..little kids are always asking questions about it and I have a ball at car shows letting them "drive it" for photos. Cheers, David 55 TF1500 #7427 |
| David Sheward |
| $90k bill including cost of car doesn't sound too far off for a chequebook resto... coming from a household who's done it more than once. 8-P Labour rates are a killer. |
| Will |
| <<Where the enthusiats to buy T series will come from in the future I just don't know>> <<Young people today are not getting into T series cars and I am concerned that my two sons will take care of our TD, TF, and B when I'm gone.>> Maybe young people won't line-up to buy T-series, but a problem is also that the (now aging) owners hold on to the good ones too long! Please don't get me wrong; I'm not saying that you pensioners should all die and let us, the next generation(s), have a go. But I do think the growth in T-series for sale is partly a result of the current owners dying of old age, or forced to give up the hobby for age-related reasons. I think young people will learn to love old cars and T-series because of their simplicity. Current cars will be electronically total-loss in 20 years when one of their computers fail. In years to come maybe older cars will be recycled compulsary when you buy a new one? Pre-1985 cars will be useable classics, later cars will be crushed/recycled..... |
| Willem van der Veer |
| Well if we are nit-picking, and for that money, I wouldn't have the dash the wrong colour, and of course the ID plate says it should be ivory .... Regards David |
| David Wardell |
| I agree with all the David’s on this thread. (Tuff crowd and nit picking) I went to the restoration site of the restorer and they do mostly Jag’s. The owner could have better spent their money at a T Series restoration shop. Some of the things I see wrong with this car, for this amount of money are: The extra coil of tubing, for the temperature sending bulb tubing should be coiled under the dash. The carburetor overflow tubing is cut off short. The speedometer cable appears to exit the scuttle on the wrong side of the car. The radiator clamps appear to be modern and not T Series. Although I’m not 100% sure of this but on some models of MGA’s the seats were two different colors. The seats black with the piping red. I don’t know if TF 1500’s were original with two tone or contrasting seats. But I’m sure the TF owners will. When I restored my first TD I entered it in a car show against a professionally restored TD. Needless to say I did not win. The other car had some where in the range of $15,000 US D’s in chrome work. I had $12,000 in my total restoration. IMHO they did not have a better TD than mine they just had a bigger wallet. Now most clubs and shows have first timers’ awards. I also agree that the bolt and nut heads should be painted or cad plated for $90k big ones. Roger |
| Roger Thompson |
| If nothing else, this listing gives me some great pictures to download to aid me when I get under mine (waiting for warmer weather) to do some detailing. SEAMUS |
| F. HEALY |
| Right On George! The Concourse (or somthing similar) is what the train arrives on! Thanks for showing some class. Not intending to "one-up" you, and lving in Québec, the correct spelling is Concours d'Élégance (note accents). The car's not worth $40,000 - too much non-original stuff:- bronze water pipe, black piping on seats - tacky on a TF but not on a RR, black piping separating wings, Sundym glass. No mention of an original tool kit or crank handle, if any. Gord Clark Rockburn, Qué. |
| Gordon A. Clark |
| Not to get nit-picky, but don't you think for $92,600 they could have gotten rid of the extra hole in the I.D. plate? Also I believe the Body I.D. plate properly should be positioned on the underside lid of the tool box on the passenger side, not the driver's side on a left hand drive car. I would also like to see the bill-head to find out who the wealthiest restorer in the country is. SEAMUS Above said, it is still a very nice example of the breed. |
| F. HEALY |
| One other minor point. The verticals in the grille could be 'tweaked' a bit to even up the gaps between. I did this on mine and it really improved the overall impression of the front-on view. SEAMUS |
| F. HEALY |
| As all of you have pointed out. This was not done by a shop that truly knows the exacts of the TF. Just because it is a "Nicely" done restoration does not make it a perfect car. And for $92,000 for a TF, I would want an absolute perfect car. As to young folks getting into the T's. I think that is going to be a tough one. Sure, you can buy a nice TD for low teens, and can find some basket cases for half or less of that, but I can also buy a number of more modern, faster, and better performing cars for 10 to 15 thousand. If I were in my 20's again would I want a TD or a car that is more of the generation I grew up with? I purchased my TD for $750 in 1971. How many of the youth will have the funds to purchase a T in the future? Secondary to getting one handed down from father/mother to son/daughter, I feel most T's are going to stay in the hands of us older fans that have the money to purchase and work on them. |
| Bruce Cunha |
| Here's an interesting article on future valuation (speculation) of LBCs: http://www.mgaguru.com/mgtech/buying/bye103.htm |
| Carl Floyd |
| HFC........Its nice to have a original car, its all correct and its all there and it can't be criticised. Its nice to NOT go to Concour's "competitions", where the guy with the most bucks usually wins and the loser cry. Its nice when someone who really appreciates original cars tells you, "don't ever change it, its the way it should be. |
| Colin Stafford |
| What a tough crowd! Basically a nice, sound TF, but the unpainted, rusty hardware, wrong colors, etc. too much. The oil gauge fitting is in a wierd postition also. I'm in total agreement with everyone's opinions, except two minor things. Based on the "barn-dwelling", 17,000mi. never renovated TF-1500 I helped restore some years back, the body plate was on the driver's (left) side of the inside of the tool box lid. The temp gague tubing did have a "factory" coil between the brace and the end fitting. Unlike the TD, the end bulb fits into the thermostat housing, which rocks with the motor. The coil allows flexing without breaking the tube. I think you could certainly find a better 1500 for $30,000. |
| George Butz |
| Hey ROD! For 90 thou., some restoration clown ought to get it "ALL" correct. I think your car is as good as this one, if not better, and you did it all yourself. This 1500 has a lot of "glaring" mistakes on it, one being the headlamps...they should be Lucas 700's not Tripods. I have a spare set of originals, perhaps I should offer them up for a thou. a piece. That peanuts on a $90,000 car investment. For all you future restorers, find a correct car and copy it....Rod came to my garage and spent a hours getting the details right on his restoration. |
| Colin Stafford |
| I'll jump in with my 2 cents. First of all, to some less familiar with T series cars, or with MG's (or any other car, for that matter), the range of knowledge as to what it original, the research and time required to establish that originality, and what the "restorer" thinks is correct can vary greatly. This BBS is a good example. Half of the questions here regarding originality often receive different, if not conflicting answers. Remember, the assembly and detail items of these cars varied from day to day, because of parts availability, casual production changes, maybe even the mood of the assembly line workers. Unless you find an original car, still owned by the original purchaser, and certified as totally stock and unchanged in any way from day one, it's kinda hard to establish what was really "original". Even the "expert" publications have problems with this one. These cars were manufactured during the "Export or Die" days in post war Britain. The main goal was to slap 'em together, get 'em onto the ship, and get the money to help pay off the war debt. Wasn't the last guy on the TD assembly line armed with tin snips to "adjust" the bonnet to radiator shell alignment? Secondly, regarding restoration costs. Dave Braun is having a quality tub and wing restoration, including paint, done for somewhere around $6500 bucks, while I had some clown (a professional restorer, I might add)quote me 18 grand to do the tub alone. Final cost, no matter how outrageous, does not guarantee originality, quality, or even competence. It just reflects how much some dope is willing to spend. My guy told me the bill for the TD he did came close to $50,000. Some sucker might pay that much, but not me. |
| Peter Whelan |
| The auction notes claim "The restoration cost was just over $92,000, including the original purchase price." so maybe it's not quite so bad ($70k restore?!). But still, I can't see investing $92k total in such an item. Here's a link to http://www.mwrestorations.com , the place that did the work... Hey!... It says they can restore my Bugatti!!! Hmmmm... TF auction link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4599666572 Oh, and what's up with the Western Auto voltage regulator and flasher? |
| Mark |
| Hi Colin - It appears that I really started something when I posted that first thread on that $92,000 TF 1500... Thanks for the kind words about my wee car... I feel fortunate to have had access to your TF, in that it IS AN ORIGINAL CAR... Being a "purist" you have resisted the temptation to make it look "new"... From the patina of the paint, to the worn and comfortable upholstery, she continues to age with grace... I will continue to make every attempt to keep my TF 1500 true to "stock"... How else could anyone possibly enjoy that feeling of "stepping back in time" while driving down a country road?... Have a great New Year... Cheers Mate, Rod Macleod - TF1500 HDB46/6798 ("Molly") |
| Rod Macleod |
| I own MGTD 11547 titled as 1952 supposedly from the "THIRD" owner. It's a nice TD (what ain't been too screwed up)that's why I bought it 3yrs ago from a barn. I have owned 11 MGTD's since 1956. I traded a nice original 1953 TD for a 1932 J2 (not running) even up. Now to my point on "original cars". No matter what brand. In 1975 I inherited from my Wife's StepFather's Mother a 1955 Buick Special 2DR Hardtop with 41000 mi on the clock. This car was painted white on lower, blue in middle and white on roof. It also had a green/gray cloth interior. I had the original dealer invoice which stated that They paid extra for the " Spring Interior trim" along with auto tranns and window washers. Now the people in power at GM Design said (when they saw the car that the interior was not original) They refused to belive my 1955 invoice. Now this vehicle was owned by a First Mate on the Detroit/Cleveland excursion ships. Back then they would sail from Detroit to Cleveland from April to September, and then shut down for the Winter, and the First mate and His wife would go to Florida for the Winter. I can guarante anybody and everybody that this car was as BUILT BY THE FACTORY. But whe I took it to car shows, Buick car shows I always got critisized for the fact that nobody wanted to accept that this car was factory original. I guess my point is there is no way to determine genuine ORIGINAL in any vehicle, Period! Greg & Grimm |
| G.J. Cenzer |
| G & G - As to the "original" issues... With the TF's and TF 1500's there were not very many total made, and a damn site fewer TF 1500's... There were hardly any "options" with these cars, and the variations of choice in color of the body and interior were at a minimum, as I'm sure you are aware... The simplicity of the engine, transmission, suspension, brakes, etc., make it easy to spot diviations... When a car, such as that one owned by Colin Stafford, is looked upon as "an original TF" it is a safe bet... He knows the history of his TF, and in fact it was in his extended family many many years before he owned it... It has basically been "untouched" as far as any changes from a "stock" vehicle... THAT - is as close to "original" as can be seen, without going to a manufacturer's museum... The TF listed on e-Bay, that began this rather long thread, is a beautiful attempt at restoration, although no work seems to have been done on the engine / drive train... It is also evident that the restoration took "poetic license" with the upholstery, carpet, paint, and a few other things that take away not only the "originality" but have even deviated from what was standard for any "TF"... Cheers, Rod Macleod - TF 1500 -HDB46/6798 ("Molly") |
| Rod Macleod |
| from the sales prose... "everything on the TF worked perfectly. There were no odd smells or oil leaks -- a relief and a bit of a disappointment compared to the danger and excitement my last two MGs provided on a regular basis. The floor under the MG was dry. I had to look twice to make sure it was true, then I rechecked to make sure I was looking at an MG." The buyer might want to check the sump, make sure its not dry... :-P |
| Will |
| Regarding originality, I believe MG mixed up a few left hand and right hand drive models in assembly and therefore some things that should be on the left actually end up on the right (wrong) side of the car. One example is the Body I.D. Plate on the TF. I have seen them placed under either tool cover. Does it really matter? As long as the steering wheel ends up on the same side as the pedals I guess that's acceptable. Anyone know of a good ashtray for TF? SEAMUS |
| F. HEALY |
| "Body I.D. Plate on the TF" and Speedo / Tach placement, ect ect! First I have to say "thanks" again to Colin Stafford, given the history of his TF and that he has kept that car all these years with no changes...his was "THE CAR" I studied the most when I got my TF. The other thing I did (before I found this BBS and Colin's help) was to search for old magazines from the 50's with pictures of these cars when they were fresh off the assembly line. It's hard to argue that looking at a picture in a magazine printed in 1953 announcing the "new TF model" that it would not be accurate as to how something was done! I drove my TF for nearly 2 years with speedo & tach in the wrong place for a LHD car, the I.D. "upside-down" on the wrong side of the tool box and with a 2 bow hood frame! What's even funnier than me not noticing this is that the car had actually been through "Concours" judging on at least 3 occasions by "experts" that failed to notice these 3 items and was awarded a "best in class" scoring 98 (no way my car was/is even close to that!)points for one show! (that was after I put 60 spoke chrome wire wheels on it) Part of the fun of owning an MG...they were "hand made" so I really believe, on some things at least, there is no "right or wrong" it is what "happened" as these cars came off the line from a sometimes troubled motor car company hell bent on keeping the doors open & cars going out! One point that I take as a "in-fact" ...all the "books" say "TF's never had black dash". I spoke with my Dad just 2 days ago and he comfirmed (again) that his TF1500 had a black dash (he purchased his car new in 55)..who knows how/where/who did it but, it was black! My TF had a red dash when I purchased it (I hated it...Yellow car/ black interior /red dash....looked, IMHO like something Ronald McDonald should drive!) I had all kinds of old photos from the PO's and the paint was so thick on my dash the chrome trim around gauge cluster had been thrown away because it would no longer fit on it. I stripped it down myself and the last 2 coats were rust colored primer,(that matched areas of the car I am sure nobody had been to since new) and black paint on top of that! Who knows (who cares) it's all part of the fun! Whats really cool about this site is another TF owner sent me a chrome piece for my dash for no cost! (supliers want $400 for one!) Larry if you still read these threads I think about that, and many other "pieces parts" every time I get in the car....just one reason I spend the summer with bugs in my teeth from smiling! SEAMUS: There was an aftermarket ash tray I see come up on ebay every once in a while that mounted to the door..but never been luckey enough to get one at what I consider "reasonable" bid....I use one from auto parts store that looks like a covered "coffee cup" with a hole in the middle of it that keeps ashes from blowing out whilst cornering robustly! Cheers, David 55 TF1500 #7427 |
| David Sheward |
| Hey David. Yes, still alive and kicking, reading the threads. One of the fun parts of being the custodian of these cars is keeping it on the road. Glad I could help you a little. Best wishes for the New Year. Larry |
| Larry Brown |
| Sometimes poetic license can improve the oversights of the manufacturer and not intrinsically damage the originality. In other words, things can be done that are very easily reversible to get them back to their original state. Whoever redid my TF painted the instrument panel a crackle-finished black. It looks much better than the original bronze and I'll keep it that way because I like the way it looks and blends in with the rest of the dashpanel which is also black. The upholstery is red. Whoever gets the car after I croak can easily get it back to original if it pleases him. What bothers me are drilling holes where there aren't supposed to be any, to add some gadget that is not proper for the car, like a cigarette lighter. Things like wind wings, luggage racks, driving lights, or badges can be added and removed at will according to the particular desires of the current owner, with no damage to the originality of the basic vehicle. Sometimes a little bit of individuality makes for an interesting deviation from the next car in line. A checkered grille, for example, does stand out!!! It would be a very boring show if all our cars were exactly the same. Well, off to bed. SEAMUS |
| F. HEALY |
| Right on Seamus. Like my chrome wires, Mona Lisa steering wheel, MGB fan blades, and extra inline fuel pump. The only things not stock or correct on my car. And I like them. But I'd never do something not easily reversable. I guess on the car in question the carpet is easy and relativly cheap but the piping on the seats to me is a big put off. But I like the different color piping on the wifes VDP (Jag). Dave |
| D Clark |
| Seamus - Points well taken concerning the wind wings, badges, etc... However, there are two schools of thought on an antique automobile... There is an "original" car and then there is a "correct" car... Original being just that; untouched throughout its life... Original paint, original upholstery, original mechanicals (apart from replaceable filter elements, light bulbs, etc., of course)... Correct being an impeccably restored car that retains the "original" look, as it was produced by the manufacturer (paint, upholstery, tires, wheels, mechanicals, tops & tonneau covers, etc., etc.)... At a show, with knowlegable judging of a "T" car, the car listed on e-Bay would be consideder "custom" due to the diviations of the interior restoration... For the stated restoration cost of $92,000+ this vehicle is a long way from being "correct" (although pretty)... As an additional observation, note the fit of the passenger side door... Both the inside and outside view of that door shows about a 3/4" to 1" gap, with the door closed and latched (latch is shown closed on the inside view of that door)... There is also a picture showing the "fit" of the passenger side door side curtain... Take a look at the huge gap between that side curtain and the top... That is not a matter of being "correct", it's a matter of sloppy workmanship (as with the deplorable fit of te tonneau cover)... And as mentioned in the threads the engine /drive train have not been rebuilt to be included in the $92k... To find an "original" car, and to keep it that way, is rare... To strive for a "correct" car, during restoration, is an attempt at the preservation of history; an obligation we all have as "caretakers" of these beautiful little roadsters... Cheers & Happy New Year, Rod Macleod - '55 TF 1500 HDB46/6798 ("Molly") |
| Rod Macleod |
| Now that I've slept on it and am now fully (I think)awake, I agree mostly with the above (Rod). Correcting things like wrong piping on body and seats can be VERY expensive and should NEVER have been done in the first place by a sober mind. However things like paint colors on minor parts can be changed by most anyone on a Saturday afternoon in their own garage. Items like instrument panels, sumps, rocker covers (mine is red and I like it), location of Body Plate, selection of tires (tyres), color of grille slats (TD & TC) are variations which I consider acceptable unless, of course, you're looking for points. I drive mine for fun and I believe when I'm done with it the next owner will say 'Wow...nice original unspoiled car.' Have fun and drive on the left!! SEAMUS P.S. By the way, SPEEDWAY (Street Rod Parts supplier) catalog has a very nice clamshell-style, stainless steel exhaust deflector for $14.95. (Beats Moss's for $200.00 + ) I added a small MG cloissone lapel pin logo to mine. It looks and sounds good and is reversible too. |
| F. HEALY |
| Rod, "To find an "original" car, and to keep it that way, is rare... To strive for a "correct" car, during restoration, is an attempt at the preservation of history; an obligation we all have as "caretakers" of these beautiful little roadsters..." Well said sir! I started out thinking I was going to go "correct being impeccably restored car". I studied the pic's of Colins TF and a bunch of old 50's magazines. In the backs of the 50's magazines I would find adds for some pretty neat "period accesories" (the start of a 2ndary hobby...finding them!) So it was on the "shelf" with some of what was "correct" and "on the car" with some of the neater item's I found. I got real lucky when I hooked up with a guy in the UK that had worked in Abingdon in the 50's, he found some (IMHO) neat little items that were mostly NOS so why not! In the back of one of those mags was a set of chrome air claeners with octogon MG logo made in Canada, never been able to find a pair, but if I do they will go on the car...have seen a set of "new one's" that look close, but not intrested in those. I consider this 1 place where I can have my cake and eat it too! Cheers, David 55 TF1500 #7427 |
| David Sheward |
| David Sheward - Hi David, Thanks for the kind words in reference to my thoughts, and passion, for these wee cars...I visit this BBS with some regularity, and find it to be by far the best collection of informed enthusiasts anywhere... For the most part, a gathering of gracious and helpful folks... We seem to have some things in common, in that we both have a TF 1500, and have visited the "altar" known as Colin Stafford's car for guidance... I live in Michigan, as you can see from the thread headings, and travel all of North America (and overseas) on business... I get down to Ohio from time to time, and would very much enjoy seeing your car sometime, if schedules permit... Please send me an e-mail when you get a chance (Scotty214@aol.com) and let me know where in Ohio you are located... Cheers Mate, Rod Macleod - '55 TF 1500 HDB46/6798 ("Molly") |
| Rod Macleod |
| This was a VERY interesting and informative thread. Too bad the other marques can't do the same. Let's go, boys. Get going on all those pre-war and TCs out there. We need all the info we can get !!! SEAMUS |
| F. HEALY |
| The auction ended 1-02-06 and we still need to chip in another $58k big ones to break even. I wonder if thats US'D or Canadian D's oh well it would not matter any way, I don't have either. Roger |
| Rodger T. |
This thread was discussed between 27/12/2005 and 03/01/2006
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