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MG TD TF 1500 - MG TF Dashboard Colours

I am restoring a 1955 MG TF1500 to its original specification. Could anyone tell me whether the colour of the Dashboard was supposed to match the body colour, or that of the interior trim.

The body colour of my particular vehicle was Ivory, and the interior trim was green. This information has been gained from the archives of British Motor Industry Heritage Trust in Gaydon, Warwickshire, UK.

If the dashboard is to match the interior trim, then what was the shade of green or the code of the paint?
Robert Lynex

The TF dash was Red unless the interior was green. Then it was green, intending to match the color of the green interior. Basically it was the same green as the Green TF. See The T-Series Handbook for paint codes. I am not near one now. It did not match the exterior color or interior color for Black, red, grey, Ivory,etc unless thr interior was green. SeeClaussinger's book, a must if youare restoring!
Don Harmer

Our 1954 TF1250 sn 6688 still has orig.paint. Exterior color is Autumn Red, however the dash is a different red altogether, much redder and brighter and does not match interior leather. We also have original leather seat trim and tucked away inside the seat cover are sections of the original hide color.
Inst. cluster is metallic, pale gold/beige.
Robert, we have a very original, unrestored TF that is for its age in mint condition. 30,000 miles. Would be glad to help you on info if I can. Expatriate Brit.
colin stafford

As the previous responder has said:
The panel red is a bright red, not the more maroon of MG & Autum Red. It more nearly matched the original red of the leather. However, in time the red leather darkened ( even in hidden areas). I have seen a true original T-1500 that was stored soon after purchase in 1955 with only 1000 mi on the clock. The leather was a much "redder" than the almost maroon that Moss sells and of that of cars with more exposure. The nearest red to the panel I found was the red Ford trucks used to be painted in the '50's-'60's.
The green is also a "medium" green, but is more like the green MG used on the TF bodies, and close to the (new) leather color green.
Don Harmer

Rob, there some pretty good reference books out on the market on the TF but one that I read recently, was authored by Anders Ditlev Clauseger (check my spelling on this). He is also the archivist at the British Motor Heritage Centre in the UK - TEL (1926) 645076 and FAX (1926) 641555. His book contained some paint codes for interior and exterior but unsure whether they were original codes or the lastest available. Remember though, (and I may be telling you to suck eggs here) that only the area surrounding the instrument panel dash is green (in your case) whereas the centre section is painted in a goldy/bronzy colour as is the steering wheel hub. Interestingly, my car should also be Ivory exterior and green interior, but the bloke who did the last rebuild swapped the colours around. Looks nice, however I do intend restoring to original colour in a few years time when I do the major rebuild.

Cheers,
Phil
Phil

This thread was discussed between 22/11/1999 and 08/12/1999

MG TD TF 1500 index

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