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MG TD TF 1500 - Month/Year of Manufacture [TF]

When re-registering my fully restored, MG-TF earlier this year, I was amazed to read on my registration papers that the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority had incorrectly listed my car as '1955'.

Without going into all of the frustrations of getting THEIR error corrected, they tell me that it is up to me to prove that:
(i) It's not a TD [which they claim it is, because
they say it is a 1955 car and the TF was not
built in 1955 !!]
(ii) Its year of manufacture [month and year]

I have had the vehicle thoroughly examined by a
local/reputable British Cars Specialist.

He and I could laugh at the RTA's error [except it is not very funny - time-wise - trying to get the error corrected].

Help please.

I need proof positive [not just from the 'Big Book' which we've also consulted].

The details:
[As seen by the RTA officer !?*!!!]
Engine capacity 1250 cc
Engine Number 36363 [on engine + on compliance plate]
XPAG / TF / 35103 [on compliance plate]
Chassis Number TF - 5127 [on near-side sub-frame under
front bumper bar]
Car No: HD P26 / 5127 [on compliance plate]
Body Number 19333 [on body and compliance plate]

My enquiries suggest that it was built between
Sept 53 and December 53.

People out there in the know ....
what light can you shed on this for me please.
I'd really like to prove the RTA's information is incorrect.

What a run-around !!

Graeme Akhurst
Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
Graeme Akhurst

Hello. According to The T-Series Handbook (by the N.E. T-register, 1986 edition, page 142, TF #4552 to #5226 were built in April 1954. #s 501 to 2177 were made in '53. Glad to hear there are incompetent beaurocrats in other contries besides ours!
George Butz

Thanks so much, George B, from Florida.
I really appreciate your comments and advice re this.
The UK MG people have not responded yet.

Isn't technology wonderful these days. I just sit here
at my computer and you respond from all the way over 'there'. Good stuff !!

Keep in touch. I'll take the information you've given me to the RTA and see what happens. Bureaucracies !!!
Bah humbug !!

[I am a School Principal. I should be used to them.]
Graeme Akhurst

Graeme, I own a '53 TF and I have a Certificate from the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust that confirms the information on my car is correct - this is worth having. Also, the Moss Motors catalogue (either UK or USA) has some useful, although limited information on build dates for the T series from TA to TF. If you have access to this catalogue, have a look on page 5. For info, chassis numbers and build dates for the TF are as follows:

1953 Sep17 - Dec 31 TF0501 - TF2177
1954 Jan 4 - Dec 30 TF2178 - TF8643
1955 Jan 4 - Apr 4 TF8644 - TF10100

Don't know if you're a member of the local MG Car Club, but they might have some useful information on your car, especially if it belonged to someone else who is or was a member. Notwithstanding, the local MG Car Club might be able to provide some assistance either in the form of a "Help Line" or through the Club Registrar.

Hope this helps.

Phil
Phil

Graeme,
To confirm to the Bureaucrats you may need "something official". Get a Heritage Certificate for your TF, mentioned above.
It looks so imposing, it's bound to impress the "censored" clerks at you motor bureau.
You could also take in a copy of "The Original T-Series" and the Noss Catalog, but if they are like some here only an "Official" document may impress them.
Don Harmer

This info may be of some help. Ref: Graham Robson's book MG T Series the complete story. Pg 152
A comparison of your car with ours HDC46 6688 XPAG/Ft 36351.
Note final assy dates for chassis are as follows:
Chassis 501-6500 XPAG1250 16Sep53-14Jul54 (yours)
Chassis 6661-6740 XPAG1250 10Aug54-26Aug54 (ours)
Our eng no 36351 and your present eng no 36364 show that these engines were built in a close time frame (13 eng no's apart). However the plate no for eng no XPAG35103 may be the"original" eng no as it is 1248 eng no's apart from ours (36351). Time logic of assy would indicate that XPAG35103 was probably the original engine no. The chassis no's for these cars are as much as a month or more apart, whereas the engine build progression is only a couple of days.

Logic would say that chassis no's and engine no's would have a progression, but MG have little logic.

This could have been the result of MG building a lot of 1250cc ahead of time as they were in the process of building both the 1250 and 1500. So much for production control and first in first out inventory of MG.

We estimate that our car as built on 14 Aug 1954.

No MG TF 1250 were built after 22 Sep 54 and the last chassis no was 6950.

It is reasonable to conclude that your car is a 1954 model.

Hope this makes some sense.
colin stafford

Graeme,
One other point, most of the 53 built TF's have a low pressure fuel pump on the firewall like the TD's.
Mine is chassis #1487 with the engine # 30368 and was probably built in Sept 53 or thereabouts.
The later 54 TF's have the high pressure pump at the rear underside.

Wayne
Wayne Styles

Graeme
I recomend contacting British Motor Heritage Trust for accurate confirmation of your TFs build dates.My TF is chassis #HDC46/1085 engine #31311 Body #9669 which was built from November 11-13 of 1953. It was dispatched from the factory on November 16 1953. My car was the 581st of the mgtf production run, the fuel pump is as mentioned above mounted on the fire wall, I believe the pump was repositioned to the rear frame rail fairly early on in the production run. Im still trying to find which dealership originally sold my car. There is a white painted stencil reading INSKIP NEW YORK beneath the floor boards on the passenger side, unfortunately I think they went out of bussiness in the late 50s or early 60s....anyone out ther have access or knowledge of INSKIP MOYORS? Would like to see your car...send a photo and I will do likewise.....Safety Fast!!! Jeff
Jeff Payne

This thread was discussed between 23/01/2000 and 02/02/2000

MG TD TF 1500 index

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