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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 - Hood (Bonnet) Louvers on the Top

Am I correct in assuming a louvered hood top would be aftermarket and not original to the TD? I checked the archives but could not find any mention of this feature; only one mention of top louvers on a TF.

Thanks in advance,
Roy
Roy Challberg

You are right, louvers on the top of the hood were custom sheet metal work, The factory proto-type TF had them, but not production cars.
David werblow

Rod

Louvers were a common customization in the 50's and 60's
Bruce-C

There are still louvre machine/punches out there... guy in NY state charges approx $2.50 a punch.
gblawson(gordon)

Roy, Although they are cool to look at and help cool the cockpit, could be a bit messy to engine compartment during car washes and rainstorms. Thought of doing that to my Healey, but floor sealing and insulation worked better. Still love the look though. Still working on TD's side panel louvers to finish painting which I have found to be the hardest part of the body restoration. Bob
R.AF. Robert Finucane

Louvers all the way on this fifties magazine cover....
Cheers,
Nick 52TD

D.G.J. Herwegh

Gordon ,
Do you know how I can get in touch with the fellow in New york state? It night be interesting to look into. Louvers could help reduce fuel vapour lock....and they do look a tad smart! By the way I am now looking for an antique portable radio with leather case . What a great idea putting a MP3 player in one. Good work. You are the MG McGiver! Cheers, Keith
K. McKenzie

Keith,
Contact: http://www.thepanelshop.net/. They are located in Stratford, CT and I am sure they can do louvers. They do wonderful work and their shop rate is about normal for around here.
David werblow

Hi:
I remember that back-in-the-day we used to go to the local Neon sign company because they had a machine that punched cooling louvers in the ends of the signs that they manufactured. For the price of a bottle the old guy in the back would louver a hood with a quality you could not match because he did it every day. The company is gone now but every time I see louvers I think of it and the old craftsman.
:-)
Jc
John Crawley

http://www.hotrodlouvers.com/
gblawson(gordon)

Roy, the Moss 2008 Fall/Winter 'MGT' parts catalog has a TF on the front cover with a louvered hood. It really looks nice. Have been thinking about the same thing myself... John - 54TF
J Ostergren

Re TD Louvered Bonnet tops etc.
Having read the threads on TD louvered bonnet tops,and also seeing the image from D.G.J.Herwegh of the 1952 magazine.
I thought you may like to know about my TD no TD0370 which is an early January 1950 model RHD export model with the plain disc wheels, that ended up in the U.S.
It is very like the ones shown on the magazine cover with louvered bonnet/hood top.leather retaining strap,and the profiled front wings without running boards.
It was reimported back to the UK probably around the 2004/5 time,i have been trying to trace its history without much success,other than it was owned by someone in Ohio up until the mid 1970's.
I would also like to obtain a copy of the magazine,or even a copy if anyone had one.
Many thanks,Mick.
M.D. Challen

Bob Finucane,

At the British Invasion last fall, I saw an MGA with what I call "reverse louvres".

The louvers were put in UNDER the sutface, so that the surface is clear and straight. They were turned around so that any rain water would drain naturally. Then, he added a neat little tray (to both sides) to the underside that would collect any run-off whether moving or standing, and at the rear, drains it to the road through a simple collector.

The trays were placed to stand off the underside of the hood, so air circulation was retained.

I regret I didn't take any pix. All very slick and looked good too.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A. Clark

Mick,
The magazine is the July '52 issue of Auto Speed and Sport (from our American cousins). I can send you jpg's of the relevant pages if you want although I would suggest that it is one of the best issues to buy and well worth the price. I have around 50 magazines from the 50's with mg td info and this one has some super period articles etc.(watch for one on ebay)..... Chris
Chris Malcolm

Mick,
Have enclosed a scanned copy of page 5 of the magazine.
I hope it is readable what they say about the cars on the cover.

Nick, 52TD

D.G.J. Herwegh

Again the cover but now slightly enlarged:

Nick, 52TD

D.G.J. Herwegh

Nick, Interesting picture with 3 cars with louvered bonnets, 1 disc wheel (with chrome rings), tapered front wings with no running boards (similar to mine),the next has correct wire wheels, and the next after market wire wheels. To be a rich young lad in the 50's, ah! Bob
R.AF. Robert Finucane

Are either of those wire wheels "correct" for these cars? Hubs & knock offs don't look right to me and at least 1 looks chromed! I run chromed 60 spokes on my TF ...but did M.G. ever offer anything besides 48 spoke painted on any T series cars?
Cheers,
David 55TF 1500 #7427
David Sheward

Hi,Chris and Nick.
Many thanks for the info and images-Nick.
I would appreciate you sending me the pages-Chris and i will be looking out for the magazine if one comes up.
Regards,Mick
M.D. Challen

The red TD has stubby fenders. Was the TD produced like that, or did somebody cut them. The reason I ask is that the 52 TD I have has stubby fenders. The cost to replace them is shocking to say the least.
SEW Wild

Stubby fenders, do you mean bobbed to look like a TC? I have four original TD fenders for sale, the stubby ones never came from the factory. Bob
R.AF. Robert Finucane

Not bobbed like the TC, but rather curved inward towards the rear to accomodate that there is no running board.

Cheers

Larry
L Karpman

These appear to be "customized" TD (gray is fairly straight). Maroon has front fenders cut and running boards removed. Blue appears to have some older american car wire rims. It also appears to have a supercharger.

Chrome wires and aluminum brake drums are nice.

The late Skip Kelsy (shade tree motors) had TD with the same louvers. Painted black, it was a head turner.
Bruce-C

Bob

I'm going to be up that way sometime in Feb, going to see new Grand-daughter in MA. How much if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks

Scott
SEW Wild

For anyone interested on having louvers made in this area (southern Conn.), I found a restoration shop that has a machine to make them. It is the most incredible shop I have ever seen, over 50 cars in different stages and so rare I could only possibly identify about 5. Was afraid to ask what the cost would be to have louvers done, so if your afraid to ask, then.........
R.AF. Robert Finucane

Scott, Missed your question. I was asking $750 each, but if you wanted a pair I could do alot better. If your driving up, you go right by me anyway and could take a look. Also have many other parts that I'm now sorting out as I'm downsizing (theres another word for that)and don't want to take it all with me. Email me direct if you have an interest. Bob
R.AF. Robert Finucane

This thread was discussed between 25/01/2009 and 31/01/2009

MG TD TF 1500 index

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