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 - Good E-bay posting

We have discussed in numerous threads E-bay postings of T's

Here is one that just listed. I feel the seller has done a pretty good job of posting and documenting. I have no affiliation, just offer as a example of what I consider a resonably good posting.

Overall a nice TD.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MG-T-Series-TD-Roadster-1952-MG-TD-Roadster-CA-Black-Plates-Super-Nice_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ31858QQitemZ4601471201QQrdZ1
Bruce Cunha

That's closer to the truth... I did get a kick out of the original key with a matching number comment... of course a replacement key and dip switch would have a matching (but not original) key!

dave
Dave Braun

The ignition switch is not the original as fitted to a TD. MG did not use the window switch with the white window, the switches were lettered. The window switch was common though on many other Britsh cars of the 40s and early 50s. Terry
Terry O'Brien

Bruce, Dave and Terry
I only wish that my car looked this good. For the last couple of weeks some of us/you on this board have pretty well ripped apart every MG T Series listed on eBay. Why aren’t you doing it to this one? I mostly lurk and don’t post, but I’m curious now.
<These are the original head light pods and turn signals, both extremely rare. Most that you see are repros.>
Well guys 52 TD’s did not originally have turn signals. The extremely rare headlight “pods”on this eBay listing are the same as the extremely rare “headlight pods” on my TD and more than likely yours as well.
Running board rubber strips are square cut and not tapered/ buffed.
Bad fit on side curtain frames to wind screen frame.
Bad fit on both doors top to bottom.
Gas tank steel hold down straps studs/ bolts should be chrome acorn nuts not raw painted bolt heads with painted washers on the interior of the car.
And lastly Terry as all of us TD owners know all you need to have, to steal someone else’s TD is the ignition key number code-FS 800 and location of the car. You can not get a better deal than this listing on eBay with this code, free and that’s the real“ kick”.
So here is my question, dose this seller really know this T Series car better than the other ones we ripped apart. Or is he/ she just another used car sales person?
Thanks Bob
Bob

I agree. Very good listing and a nice car to boot. Good luck!!!! I'm watching this one.
SEAMUS
F. HEALY

Bruce-
Must agree. This is one of the most proper cars offered in a long time. I use the word proper, so as to allow myself a certain shield against the 'correct' police.

I must differ on the ignition switch though, as I have had the same window switch on my MKII since I got it in the early 70's and it was on it in England some time before that. From memory, and after too many miles...., I believe the TC was windowed, with a change over in the TD at some point, to the painted/lettered dial. Remember who we are dealing with here. If it was in the bin, it got put on the car.

Happy New Year
Safety Fast

Paul
TDs,YB,etc.
Paul

Beautiful and almost perfect.

Helling air cleaners
Non-standard flex oil line to head
and plastic, after-market parking lamp lenses

But what I like, is the great job on the leather

Let's hope it finds a good home.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A. Clark

Sorry Paul but my references say that you are mistaken. See Clausager Original T Series or Craig Seabrook's catalogue. Craig can convert the window type switch to the proper switch for the TC/TD/YT. Terry
Terry O'Brien

My caveat was 'proper', not correct. Once upon a time, I was a 'purist' of the highest order. I now embrace 'period authentic'. I doubt there are more than a handful of Original cars left out there, or cars done with 100% NOS spares. Remember, every 'improvement', be it a seal, bushing, transistor clock, etc., is a departure. This car, is as close to a Proper car as I have seen in a long time and sure beats $95K for a bad job TF.
Safety Fast
Paul
Paul

Hi Terry
I've been in and around TD's since the late 50's. In TDs I’ve owned I have had both version of the Lucas ignition switch, which I assumed to be original.(I was never the very first owner of any of these TDs) I have also seen pictures of the assembly line at Abingdon. What I’m wondering is when the journeyman mechanic sent the parts boy/punk/ apprentice to fetch another ignition switch and the peach basket was empty, I’m wondering, did he secretly go over to the “Y” assembly line peach basket and take one of theirs. This happened with door handles and I would assume it happened with ignition switches, also. But to be 100% sure we would have had to been there. Other wise we would just be reading what was supposed to be put on these cars. I like to think of it as ASSUMEing. And you know what happens when we assume………. Roger
P.S. I tend to agree with Paul. What happens if you put
10W- 30 HD motor oil in your T Series car engine is it origional?
Rodger T.

A little different take on things: My TD came as a frame with a tub balanced on top of it, and a lot of cardboard boxes. Everytime I see another picture I find a place for another part out of one of the boxes. I'm saving these pics for future reference.

Tom
tom

Sorry about that Tom. Let me change those peach baskets to cardboard boxes. Do you have any way of telling if they are the "original" cardboard boxes? Also Tom the pictures you are saving are they of your assembly line? Roger
Rodger T.

Again, experts picking nits with cars they 'think' they know intimately because they've 'read books'. Trust me, Clausager's book has a number of non-original cars shown and I'm sure that Craig Seabrook wouldn't swear that the parts he provides were used on all cars.

People, just enjoy the cars...they're over 50+ years old and none are original anymore. Unless you were on the assembly line for every TD/TF manufactured you'd never know what was absolutely original and what wasn't on each car.
Up-To-Here

I agree with all the above. I do feel our "review" of the for sale cars is more as a way to go over items such as mentioned here.

Yes, this person has a few words in his ad that are not exactly correct, but he has provided enough information and pictures so that you get a good idea of what the vehicle is.

I still feel you want someone to get an actual look at any vehicle bought through e-bay or any other service where you do not have direct access, but at least with this listing, you have a better idea of the condition of the vehicle and the owner has identifed the bigger flaws.

As for going over an MG. I know my TD would have a lot of items as pointed out (different ignition switch), but if I were to sell mine (NOT going to happen), I would list all items I knew of that are not correct. Correct being not a part of the TD when it was sold (as well as I know them).

Replacement parts that are not absolutly original are a little different issue. It may be that this was all that was available when the part was ordered.

This owner is not pushing his car as a show car, or one restored to win events like others are.
Bruce Cunha

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MGTD-in-drive-away-condition-Drive-it-home-today_W0QQitemZ4600959170QQcategoryZ31858QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I recieved some nice pics of this car from the seller. It has a F/G hardtop. One pic shows the dynamo with no tach drive attached. I questioned Him on it and this was His answer:
Glad to learn that they came through. Dynamo? The tach works but I am not sure what drives it.

Happy New year!

Greg & Grimm




G.J. Cenzer

Bob - did you notice that no one answered your question? That you were almost ignored? This is a pretty tight little group, that seldom sways once they've made up their collective mind, but jeez, such manners! - - Alec


.
Alec Darnall

Why do do many TDs have Hellings air filters. Mine does. Was there a common problem with the original setup?
Russ Oakley

Well my comment on the ignition switch stirred things up a bit.In my part of the world British cars from the 1930's and 40's were common when I grew up. My family had some. Austin 10, Flying Standard, Jowett, Hillman.They were all closed cars and at least some(memory fades) had the window switch.Have had my MGYT for 50 years and it has its original switch(non window).

All the cars pictured in Clausager's book are restored,but he points out at least with the switch where it is wrong. See pages 48&89.

None of us were at the factory when the T series were built but I think it highly unlikeley that one just reached into a bin and took the next switch to come along no matter if it had a window. As MG didn't use the window switch there would be none. The same applies to TD and Y door handles which look the same but the shaft length is not the same. I don't think anyone on the assembly line would be taking out a hacksaw to cut to fit.

The two variants( and there are more) of the switch do exactly the same thing. I suspect that the window version was more widely used so was the NOS spare in the 50's and 60's. Its use does not detract in any way from the TD on offer but don't imply that it is original. The same goes for switches on Ebay (often from NZ) being passed off as T series switches when in fact, as the seller well knows, they are from one of the cars mentioned above or the like. Terry

Terry O'Brien

12292 actually makes it a 1951 TD, not '52 as listed. December, in fact - mine's 12308.

Let's not have any of that " ... but '52 is when it was first registered in the US."

I'm another lurker like Wisconsin Bob and I acknowledge the US majority who populate this forum.

But let's all promote the only internationally consistent TD birthday - when it finally emerged from Abingdon.

How's that for pedantry?
Steve Swann

This thread was discussed between 02/01/2006 and 04/01/2006

MG TD TF 1500 index

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