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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 - MG Howlers

I have just been obtaining quotations full insurance as opposed to off the road cover. Two "specialist" brokers tried to close the deal by offering free £1000 cover for installed audio and sat nav equipment and up to £500 for lost keys and lock replacement. I recently bought two FA keys at an autojumble for £3. Eventually got comprehensive cover including breakdown recovery and £30,000 agreed value for £100.
An even better howler was the road worthiness test failure of my brother's TC because the sills (rockers in the US?) Had been repaired with wood.
My lighthearted posts are due to the time of year. In Scotland it is now cold, dark and damp by 3.00pm and my ageing bones lead me indoors mid afternoon


Jan T
J Targosz

Hi Jan,
They tried to fail my TF because the indicator repeater bulb was out. I explained that, 1. I can't see the lamp anyway (6 ft and seat raised) and 2. I can see the indicators from my seat!.
Even though an MOT is not required I keep it up for peace of mind. What idiot in the DVLA thought a car did not need checking every year.
Going back to the bulb, you have a KL heater fitted so you know there is no way to get your hand in without disturbing something else.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

When I purchased my TD, I had to have the serial number verified by physical inspection since it was an out-of-state car. The local police does this service (for $60.00). The young officer's first question was "Who made this car?" It took her a while to believe that there was an MG car company.

The second fun point was the actual VIN (Serial number). She didn't believe that 0581 was the VIN since it wasn't 13 digits (standard in the US). Finally got her and another officer to agree that 0581 was, indeed the legitimate serial number of the car.

Finally, since I do not five digits in my VIN, I cannot use the California DMV's on-line site to renew my registration...have to send them a check .
Charles Duffy

I had fun registering my TD as it turned out the VIN number was incorrect on the title, and had been so for thirty years! It took multiple visits to the MVD to get it all cleared up, when they agreed to "adjust" the number.
In the meantime, as my insurance listed the correct VIN, the state decided that the MG was in fact NOT insured, and kept threatening to arrest me in various nasty letters...

They also had trouble figuring out the make and model as it wasn't in their books at all(they settled on MG and type "roadster").
Thankfully, inspections are not needed on vehicles in AZ prior to a certain age (and inspections are one time only, not annually), so they didn't care that my turn signals are the wrong color, and manual, or anything else. They did a level III inspection which just cleared up the VIN issue, printed me a new title, and I was on my way.
Geoffrey M Baker

Charles - I had to take our TD in to get the VIN changed to reflect the correct number on the car. I went armed with the T Series Handbook, published by the New England MG 'T' Register, along with several other books/documents that bolstered my request. The inspector at the State Patrol office looked a bit askance at as I explained what I needed done, but started reading through all the stuff I had brought with me. He finally looked up and agreed that I was on the up and up. I asked him if he would like to make copies of all the documentation I had brought - his eyes lit up and he scooped it all up and went off to make copies. From that point on there was no question that I would get the change I needed (and the State Patrol inspection office has all the documentation for the next TD that might arrive on their door step. Cheers - Dave
D W DuBois

Dave, you are lucky to get it changed.
My Ford Explorer is titled as a "Blazer" and I cannot get it changed. Better to drive a Ford Blazer than contend with the DMV in Georgia!
Larry Brown

My Y-type arrived from Canada with the VIN number listed as the engine number of an MG TC. As the DMV could not help me, I took the car to a CHP inspection station. The officer came out and stood there with a blank stare as I explained my problem in detail. Finally he asked "So what do you want me to do?" I said I want to change the number on the title from this, to this. He wrote the number on a form, handed it to me and walked away. I had come armed with a canon but only needed a slingshot.
Steve S

A friend took his early Bugatti for a roadworthy/MOT inspection. As he is sitting in the car a puzzled inspector asks him to operate the right indicator, so the driver holds out his right hand (the old hand signal). Umm ... Okay, Left? Holds right hand vertically. Umm ... Okay, you pass.

Matthew.
M Magilton

Matthew: I think you have heard me mention that when my father bought our TD new he could have either a late 52 or a 53. He asked the dealer what the difference was:

The 53 had round tail lamps, center windshield wiper motor and turn indicators.

My father thought the turn indicators sounded like a good idea. He then asked what the price differential was. The dealer quoted $200 dollars more for the 53.

My fathers response to the dealer was 'he could keep the 53' and for $200 he would continue signaling with his arms like had had for the last 20 years :-)
Christopher Couper

I often supplement my TF indicators with hand signals, especially when the sun is low in the sky and the indicators are hard to see. I think other drivers slow down anyway just to figure out what on earth I am doing.

Matthew.
M Magilton

On a related note: I was at a concours last year and just before I left I noticed my brake switch had stopped working. Knowing that I would loose points for that I came up with a plan. After they checked the directional indicators they wanted to check the brake lights. I watched the judge in the rear view mirror and his focus was on one side of the car. So I flipped that turn signal on and as soon as his glance moved to the other side I flipped the switch to the other side. It worked and I got credit for working brake lights.

Needless to say I replaced the switch before the next outing.
Christopher Couper

When standing in for the Site Eng. at Camp New Amsterdam in Zeist Holland. I had just arrived from Germany in my TD and was driving around a dual-carriage bypass with my Boss in front of me, when I was pulled over by a traffic cop and his mate and we started a conversation about my knock offs protruding outside the Wing of the car. Apparently not allowed.
My Boss who was taking me to the Air Base as I had not been there before, had come back to see what was up and was told to move along in no uncertain terms. One of the cops was on his radio for some time and the other kept me in conversation. He had been to England many times and could speak perfect English. I explained to him that the car had no seat belts as new and the wheels and knock offs were original from 1953. After about 1/2 an hour his mate came back to him and they talked for a few minutes. The one I had been talking to then said I was free to go and he put his hand up to his face with his fingers spread and said “We will not look so closely next time". I was very relieved. :)

Rod
Rod Jones

A local club member was driving her TC to an event with her 5 year old son. A local police officer stopped the car and walking over to the left side of the TC, remarked to her son that he was clearly too young to be driving a car. The woman remarked back to the officer that he was also too young to have the steering wheel. THEN the officer glanced over to the right side of the car, noticed the right hand drive, issued a humble apology, and left them to drive on.
Lew Palmer

This thread was discussed between 26/11/2014 and 27/11/2014

MG TD TF 1500 index

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