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MG TD TF 1500 - Dashboard Color - TD

Sorry to be bothering w/ so many color/finish questions, but I'm beginning to realize a lot on my car may not be "right"

The original color of my TD was Ivory (Cream) with a Red interior. The car was repainted and is currently Autumn Red with a black interior. The dash covering is black to match the seats. Was the dash always black, or should it match the interior color?
S.E. Griffis

Stan - The original dash color was red. Since you are struggling with points of originality (as we all have at one time or the other), there are a couple of books that will help you. One is the "T Series Handbook" put out by the New England MG T Register, the other is the "Original MG T series" The Restorer's Guide to MG TA, TB, TC, TD and TF by Anders Ditlev Clausager. Both of these books have a lot of information on originality of the cars and are available from Moss Motors or from BritBook <http://www.britbooks.com/index.htm>. An additional source is the Original MGTD midget <http://www.mgcars.org.uk/mgtd/>
One further book that is an invaluable aid to the restorer of a TD is "The Complete MG TD Restoration Manual" by Horst Schach. You can purchase tis book directly from Horst. His e-mail address is hschach@uky.edu.
Good luck with your restoration
David DuBois

Dash color should match the interior. Black was not an original color option for the interior. My TD has a walnut dash, after-market.
D F Sexton

A few more points. The TD always had black carpets, no carpet behind the seats, and the grill was usually painted to match the interior color. In the case of the OEW body and red interior, the grill would have been red.
Bullwinkle

I don't believe the factory painted the grill slats the interior color at any time. In the fifties, many people painted the grill slats in a finishing flag motiff(black and white squares). My TDs had carpeting in the "boot" from new.
George B.

George:

<<<snip>>>
I don't believe the factory painted the grill slats the interior color at any time. In the fifties, many people
painted the grill slats in a finishing flag motiff(black and white squares). My TDs had carpeting in the "boot" from new
<<<snip>>>
Whoops on both counts. Any changes from what I've said must have been done by the dealer. Goto http://www.mgcars.org.uk/mgtd/mgtd_mistakes.htm
Bullwinkle

Hmmmm? It was my understanding that the dash color on all TD's was sort of a tan color. Mine too was once covered in black vinyl. This go around I may cover it with an English plaid fabric just for kicks, though I hate to stray from originality any further than I already have.
Robert

Stan
An original Ivory TD would have had Red or Green trim, Autumn Red cars came with Red or Beige trim. TD dashes were covered with rexine vinyl to match the colour of the trim. Black trim was never an option, apart from the carpets which were always Black. The radiator slats were factory painted to match the trim, but on Red or Green cars with Beige trim, the slats could be painted in the body colour.
John
John James

Well, my car was Ivory originally and had a red interior, so I'm guessing when I peel back the black vinyl on the dash I'll find a layer of red to match the red leather I know is hiding underneath the black vinyl kit that is currently installed. The radiator slats are currently black to match the non-original interior, so I'll be needing to get that back to original as well.

Now if I could just figure out why my bonnet latches are dull metal underneath the paint that was put on them instead of "chromed pot metal" as I've learned on another post out here. I don't see how the chrome that supposedly used to be on them is totally gone, rather than scratched or dull like you'd expect chromed metal to get.
Stan Griffis

This thread was discussed between 05/08/2003 and 07/08/2003

MG TD TF 1500 index

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