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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 - High price for SU fuel pump

I've always been a bit envious of the lower prices charged for TD parts in the US, but a reconditioned SU AUA 25 (370572613278 on e-Bay) clearly bucks the trend.

$390 for a starting bid ($439 buy-it-now)? How do these people dream-up these prices and, more to the point, does anyone fall for them?

Also, if I'm reading the description correctly, to add insult to injury the seller wants your old pump back (or it looks like another $100?) as part of the deal.

On the other hand, a brand-new AUA25 - admittedly not electronic - at: http://www.sucarb.co.uk/SUpumpClassic.aspx?ProductId=26721 will cost you £70 (+VAT & shipping) [I've no connection with that firm, BTW].

- Tom
Tom Bennett - 53TD 24232

Tom - The pump in question is a brass based pump that has been completely restored. They are in a rather rare and high demand for the early T series and prewar cars. This is not to justify the price, that will be done if it sells. Watch the add on e-bay and see what is being paid for original, unrestored brass based pumps or the price Moss offers the new brass based pumps for a comparison. The more common alloy based pumps are still available at a relatively reasonable (?) price. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Dave,
Burden sells a new brass fuel pump for 150 GBP so it's still kind of an outrageous price.
Best,
Gene
Gene Gillam

They also don't look anything like the original for the person who is interested concourse showing. Cheers,
Dave
David DuBois

The last brass-base pump I got for a customer cost $150 for the core, and I had it rebuilt on top of that. It was an original pre-war pump, which is what he needed. My thinking was that he could always buy a new pump, but it would never be period-correct to the car.

Tom Lange
bar harbor, Maine
t lange

I will admit that $439 is a lot to pay for a fuel pump of any kind (except for those in today's cars that burn out if you run out of gas), but there are those out there who will pay that for an original pump, particularly with the amount of detail that went into that pump. I don't know how much the seller paid for the core, but I do know how much he paid to have it restored and the base polished and while he will make a tidy profit on it, he may well have to sit on his investment for a bit in order to get it. Not only is it period correct in all details, it is also solid state, which cannot be purchased from Moss or Burlen Fuel Systems. When you consider that Moss is selling the pumps that they get from BFS for $459.95 and the pump has a steel inlet fitting on it, the casting is not the same as the original, the coil housing is not as the original, a ground screw is used instead of a ground stud as on the original and it has a blue tape on it (that was never on the original), our e-bay seller is offering the original pump that he has invested in is offering a bit of a bargain - not for you or me, I will agree, but it is for the individual going after absolute originality. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Tom Bennett - I just had an e-mail exchange with the e-bay seller (I have just finished another batch of pumps for him) and the $100 core refund comes off the price he is selling the pump for. That makes quite a bargain for whoever has an old brass based pump laying around needing restoration. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Personally, I don't think the price is out of line to someone who needs this item to complete his concourse restoration. I saw a little brass carburetor go for over $1000, because it was so rare and needed to complete a restoration project on a 1918 American car. Was the price fair? I don't know, but someone did. I judge prices by the rarity and also perfection of restoration. I agree with those who consider prices today to be slightly, and I use that term loosely, over the top. Well, I guess that's the penalty we pay for being old car crazy. But then again, thank goodness we can still find original and reproduction parts for these cars and there are professional restorers who can make the originals like new again. So we put out $30,000 and have a $20,000 car. It's still better than going to Vegas! At least you have something to show for it!(Grin). PJ
P. Jennings

Dave.

Apologies for the late reply but I've been away. I hadn't intended to start a ruckus on the Board and I stand corrected on the $100 core refund, which to my mind makes quite a difference.

Perhaps the vendor could usefully make that clearer in the description.

Regards,

- Tom.
Tom Bennett - 53TD 24232

Tom - I think that he changed the write up to make that clearer. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Guys, I'm the money hungry bloke charging the insane price for the fuel pump. I give 10% of the selling price to the Wounded Warrior Project through eBay giving off the top, putting my net under $300 if you return a core. It cost more than half of that to have it restored, as Dave does a world class job converting them to solid state. Acquiring an original brass based pump ain't cheap, either, in case you haven't tried to find one. The Wounded Warriors net more than I do on this pump. I believe I'm supplying good value for a rare piece of MG TA TB and TC history and there are cheap alternatives available if all you need to do is get gas from the tank to your engine. Cheers, George Wolf
G. J. Wolf

This thread was discussed between 08/01/2012 and 15/01/2012

MG TD TF 1500 index

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