MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - TF 1500 VIN Numbers

Hi Everyone,

Saw a MG TF 1500 for sale on ebay. Dismantled for restoration with the original engine/Tranny missing.The car did not meet reserve and now people are negotiating with the owner to buy this car. I am one of them and my question relates to the information he provided about the VIN numbers on the car.According to the owner TF 14749 is the number he gave as the body number. His title says that VIN is ADE 43/5249.

Looked up this information in Clausagers book and according to the book ADE could be HDE ( MG two seater
North American production car with a green paint )But according to Clausager the first TF 1500 starts with VIN 6501 and this car is 5249 ? can anyone tell me whether there is a plausible explanation to this numbering being from a TF 1500.
Since TF 1500's ended with number 10100, the TF 14749 number that he gave cannot be a VIN number from the 1500 production line for these cars either. Also I read in the book that TF 1500's had merely TF written on the Brass plate as the body type and there were no identifying numbers such as TF 14749 given by this owner as the body number for this car. Is this car an original TF 1500 worthy of restoration or disaster waiting to happen.Thanks in advance for your input, and maybe I will save some money and learn at the same time. thanks ED
Ed Johnson

Ed - If you can see the car, check the left front frame extension just below the fender mounting. The correct car number (VIN number) will be stamped into the frame there. I can't say about the TFs, but the TDs have a plate with "body" number on it and it is the same two or three numbers for all TDs. Another thing to check would be the maker's plate on the firewall. It should have both the car number and the engine number on it. If the car number on the maker's plate matches the number on the front frame extension and the engine number starts with XPEG, then you have a real 1500, if not then it is someone's wishful thinking and could well be a nightmare for the buyer. This is a case where the buyer definitely needs to beware.
Good luck - Dave
David DuBois

ED,
Could "14749" actually be "/4749" ?
I had a simular problem with my TF 1500...
Tittled as "17427" when it should have been "/7427".
I had to drag a boat-load of books to the tittle office as well as the ID plate and notarized statement to get that fixed on mine! "1" & "/" look much alike on these cars!
I can also tell you there are a bunch of "1250's" out there wearing $40.00 worth of "TF1500" Badges & Rear reflectors! For that matter another $20.00 will get you a blank ID tag to fill in any way you want!
Personally I would invest the money in obtaining the BMHT documentation and make an offer along those guidlines keeping in mind that this lack of correct motor will have some effect on the worth of the car at some point in it's life.
Cheers,
David 55 TF 1500
David Sheward

I saw this car on eBay, and It doesn't have the correct engine, and seems to be missing a lot of things you would need to restore it. I thought that it wasn't a good deal unless you already had an XPEG engine or a source for one. OTOH, the tub wood had been redone, and I happen to know firsthand how expensive that can be. If I had a trashed TF with rotten wood (I was there a couple of years ago), I might have been tempted to bid on it, just for the tub and fenders + tons of parts. But since I finished paying (and paying and paying) for my tub rebuild this summer, I passed.

From the VIN#, it probably was originally a TF 1250, but since it doesn't have the correct engine, you could put a 1500 in it if you could find one, and then it would be a 1500. There really aren't any other differences that I know of, except perhaps the placement of the fuel pump and reflectors and badges as previously noted.

FWIW, my TF-1500 is registered with the engine # (XPEG ####) instead of car number. I probably will try to fix that before I get the car on the road, but maybe it isn't that important.

Mark Barrington
1955 MG TF 1500 (in pieces)
Car 10030
Mark B.

Hi Mark,
"maybe it isn't that important"
One thing to consider here....you are going to have a lot of $ invested when "done".(there is no such thing as "done") Like most of us you will no doubt not get it back and that's not what we we do it for! We do it for the love and MGjoyment of driving & owning these cars ;-)!!!! (or because we are nuts!...or both)
Anyway ...when you do go to "put her rubber to the pavement" your going to want to insure it! Most classic insurance will want the car appraised to do this. A "good" appraiser will know the differance in value of the aprx. 1/3 of these cars that were really 1500's. It can be a big help in getting you policy somewhat closer to what you have invested. From my experance here....get the BMHT cert.,get the "books" ready to show the appraiser,(many of these "fellows" use a computer pgm. that does NOT show production totals for 1250/1500), take the "tittle lady" some cookies and offer to take her for a ride when you are sorted out!
Cheers,
David 55 TF 1500
David Sheward

Hi, David

I used to have a motorcycle that was registered with the engine # instead of the actual VIN, and it never seemed to cause any problems. On old vehicles, the title bureau doesn't seem to know what number to use, and whoever registered this car first in the US* probably read them the engine number off the ID plate to the clerk and they issued them the title. The VIN shown on the title is "XPEG 3888" so it is clearly the engine number. Despite the general decrepit condition of the car when I got it, all of the numbers match, so in my opinion, I got a really good car to work with. I have to refurbish almost everything, but I have most of the original parts to work with.

I may go to the title bureau and try to get the car registered under the car number (10030) instead of the engine number, but I'm unsure whether that will cause more problems than it solves. I've got at least another year before I'm back on the road, so I've got time to mull it over.


*The car was brought into US from Singapore sometime in the 80s. It's right hand drive, and I intend to keep it that way.
Mark B.

ED
Ed for what its worth Im going to email you a register of TFs I have been compiling the past three years. While not a complete accounting there are 800 or so listed. That said according to my record if the cars chassis number was HDE/43/5249 it would be a 1250 not a 1500. I dont have that particular car on my list I do have several close in production all 1250s with XPAG engines. Most likely the seller was hoping it was a 1500 as they do fetch a higher price, but with the tranny and engine missing the point is moot. As the two Daves have mentioned check the build plate on the firewall for correct engine. If your young enough and dont mind tossing money at the project TFs are a joy to drive once up and running...1250 or 1500
jeff payne

Chaps, I had a similar problem with my TF. When I bought it it had the VIN "TF1042" on the ID plate, and the actual engine number didn't agree with the plate either (the ID plate was not the original, and had been badly done). Jeff Payne sent me a copy of his TF Register and helped with the correct number sequence, so armed with this I went along to Gaydon (BMHT) and looked through the TF production records to find the details of my car. I subsequently had the car inspected by the Vehicle licensing people, who were very helpful, and it now has its correct identity (HDB46/1042) and engine number carefully stamped on a new plate. The original details are easy to get from BMHT, and a copy is also held by the T Register of the MG Car Club here in the UK, whom I have found to be helpful - they are in the process of updating all the information they hold on the surviving T Types, so would, I am sure, be pleased to hear from you. AB
Adrian Bennett

Gday Ed,
Body #14749 is about the right number to match a chassis in the 5000's (remembering that the bodies were a little reshuffled between the bodyworks and the Abingdon assembly line). I don't think 1250 VS 1500 is any big deal.
Cheers, Matthew.
1500 #9097, Body 19671.
Matthew Magilton

Hey Jeff,
When you get a chance ...fire the latest version of your list this way...been a while since I have up-dated!
Thanks,
David
David Sheward

This thread was discussed between 04/12/2002 and 05/12/2002

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.