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MG TD TF 1500 - 2 bows or 3 bows soft top?

I recently purchased a 1953 mg td. It came with a reasonably "new" soft top, but without bows. How do I know if it is a 2 or 3 bows soft top ?
Thanks for your help.
C.M. groucho

You have a so called late TD, so a 3 way bow. Early ones have a 2 way bow.
JL Nederhoed

...but of course I don't know what kind of top you've got. Is that the right one???

Jasper
JL Nederhoed

Any idea "where it" (new top) came from?
I am still very confused as to difference between 2 and 3 bow.
I ordered a new 3 bow for my TF years ago only to find my TF had a 2 bow frame.
I was lucky in that the installer I hired was able to use it and it fits very nicely.

I will be watching this thread curiously.

Good luck!
David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

Dave, I dug up a couple of photos for your comparison between a 2 bow and a 3 bow top. The later TDs were equipped with a three bow top to provide a little more head room as I understand it. The first picture is of Dave Braun's exquisite TD with a 2 bow. The bows are very prominent in his picture with a perfect top fit.
I will follow up this message with a photo of someone's 3 bow.

Jim Merz

Ok here is a picture I found on line of an unknown owners car with a three bow top. You have to look closely to see the three bumps. I don't know anything about TF tops.

Jim Merz

Here's a similar view of the 3-bow top that I put on 'the53' last year. Bud

Bud Krueger

It seems that what CM needs to know is a measurement or some other criteria to distinguish a 2-bow top from a 3-bow top so he'll know which frame to get. My late (Feb '53) TD came from the PO with a 2-bow frame and no soft top. Although I'm pretty certain that the frame is not original to the car, by ordering a two bow top from Moss everything fit pretty well. I doubt a top cut and sewn for a 3-bow frame would have fit properly.

My first thought was to measure frm the front edge of the top to the seam above the rear window but because the from edge is unfinished and may get cut to length during installation, that won't work. If someone knows a distinquishing measurement for 2 and 3-bow tops I can measure mine and a 3-bow owner can measure his and we can pass that infor on to CM.

Jud
J K Chapin

From what I have heard/read all TF's should be 3 bow.
All of them except mine that is!

I ordered a TF hood from LBC (3 bow).
When I went to put it on, I discovered I had a 2 bow frame.
Jeff at LBC worked closely with me to remedy this...making several calls to his suppliers, and even offering to send a 2 bow hood for us to try. He may or may not be able to help on this?

After seeing quite a few hoods that fit like "socks on a duck" I had decided to leave the install to a pro.

Where this is all heading is, I have a 2 bow frame with a 3 bow hood installed on it. When my installer did mine he had a 2bow TD, a 3bow TD, and a 3 bow TF in his shop, (also my 2bow TF). When done, mine was the best fit, and had more headroom than the others, go figure?

When I sent pics to Jeff of finished install he asked if he could use them for his website...they are still on there. http://www.lbcarco.com/

Conclusion: Either it is possible that a "3bow hood" actually fits a "2bow frame" better ...or my installer was just that good. I just don't know!

IMHO: If C.M. knows "who" the supplier was, and "if" they will work with him, maybe get both and see what fits best? Then again ...who knows for a 53 TD? (Also "should be" a 3 bow.)


David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

Thank you for the informations. The problem is that the car comes from the US, and I am in Switzerland. The former owner does not remember if hé bought a 2 or 3 bows hood. Anyway I will order a 3 bows frame and have it installed by a professional. I will let you know what happened!!!!
C.M. groucho

I agree with David, as I always thought all TFs had 3 bow tops. My 55 does, but maybe the very early 54s had a two bow. Seems I heard that some time back. PJ
Paul S Jennings

C.M., check the strip that goes across the front of the hood, against the windscreen. If it has cutouts for three wiper pieces it's probably for a 3-bow top. Bud
Bud Krueger

This thread was discussed between 13/08/2014 and 14/08/2014

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