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MG TD TF 1500 - That'll buff out

Anyone need a TF restoration project cheap?

http://www.copart.com/us/Lot/18316604?searchId=713838682
David Littlefield

Only good for some parts and that doesn't include burnt sheet metal. But saying that, a check on the chassis number in a couple years to make sure someone didn't slap a coat of paint on it and sell it as a barn find, that would be interesting. I would never use burnt sheet metal. The chassis might be good, along with drive train. But who knows. Sure is a shame. PJ
Paul S Jennings

Won't go cheap - it's a 1500. I was interested in a TC on this site last year; it was a flood-damaged average car, and sold for some $17,000!

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Ugh! Man! That is sad.
Is that a Michigan Plate at the Windscreen? A '1500' Badge. If the XPEG is there....that should drive the price. Lots of potential parts. But yeah Paul, lots of the Sheetmetal is toast. (sorry)
Roof Shingles, Insulation, Garage must have come down on it.
M Brand

I think that sheet metal might be salvageable. The fire did not get too hot, there is still some paint and plastic near the center of the fire. It may need hood panels. It will certainly need wood, interior, gauges, glass, chrome, etc.
It will be a good project for someone.
D. Sander

Looks like a carb fire caused this, given the heat pattern. A (sad) reminder to all of us to seal those leaky carbs up and to *always* carry a good fire extinguisher and keep it in a handy place. Particularly important on our largely 'wooden' cars!
Kevin McLemore

And disconnect the battery, esp if you've got an original wire harness.

...
MAndrus

Est retail value $17,000 they're out of their freaking minds!
W. A. Chasser Jr

It was up for auction a year ago and pulled at the last minute. Here we go again!

From the burnt wood, shingles and other debris, it looks like it was in a garage fire.
JRN JIM

Ok, not a metallurgist, but how significant will heat be to the steel parts? If not warped, does the heat make the steel more brittle? What about engine block?
Bruce TD4139 Cunha

I believe the heat would make the panels more maluable and therefore softer. There is no way a professional panel beater or a smash repairer would consider restoring this body. I'm not a panel beater but a good friend of mine is and he wouldn't touch this with a barge pole. there must be better buts around for $17,000 than this. The owner must be dreaming.
John...Sydney
John Walton

I agree with John, the sheet metal that was hot is junk! Just because it's a TF doesn't make it more repairable than anything else. Sheet metal warps when hot, plus looses some of it's strength. You might save a few pieces of the tub, but not much. I wouldn't touch this car at all. 17K? The guys nuts! 4 to 5K would show a little sanity in the sale, if the engine and transmission are good. JMHO. PJ
Paul S Jennings

Sad to see in such a state. All is toast.
Charlie Adams

Current bid price is only $225. The block and crank alone are worth far more than that.
Jack Long

If you declare it's value at 17k, and it sells for $250.

Someone on this site who is a CPA.

As a business do you get to write off the lose?

That can be the only reason I can think of to put that kind of a price on it.
G D

Copart is a big online company that sells salvage vehicles-- mostly totaled insurance wrecks.

The "retail value" is, I believe, what they consider to be the "repaired value" of the vehicle. They have no expectation of receiving that in their online auctions. If you look at some of the other cars they sell, it
is obvious that they are not worth the retail value.

Most of their cars are run-of-the-mill, late model generic cars of various makes. I know some folks that have bought their cars, fixed them, and drove them or sold them on with salvage titles.

I expect this one was an insurance claim under a collector's policy. The insurance company probably for sold it for next to nothing to Copart and they are trying to get what they can.

Of course, I expect it is only worth the parts value. I was being tongue-in-cheek by calling it a restoration project.


David Littlefield

It would be a good restoration project. I have restored cars far worse than this one. I'd be a shame to part it out, especially if it is a numbers matching car.
David
D. Sander

Did anyone here win this auction? I would be interested in any original branded nuts & bolts if the car was being parted out.
Graeme Melville

This thread was discussed between 09/06/2015 and 26/06/2015

MG TD TF 1500 index

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