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MG TD TF 1500 - Need opinion on devaluation due to RHD

I need members opinion on valuation due to RHD. I'm about to finalize purchase of a 1950 RHD TD in superior condition (except for a fair number of paint chips). Since I'm not that familiar with how RHD affects value I thought I'd bounce the question off the members of this board. I will check EBay.
Jim Tatol

Jim,

From what little I know, the effect is minimal. If this were a regular road-going car, passing at speed can be a problem. The price of RHD Jags are quite a bit lower, for example.

If it were a small 4-cyl SUV, I'd classify it as a mail delivery vehicle.

Parking and exiting the vehicle, is a plus.

But Ts aren't notorious for high speed motoring and most owners of RHD Ts (especially TCs) just seem to adapt. The ONLY number I ever heard, and this was quite a few years ago, was 10%.

You can always convert it to LHD, but the pedal box is complicated.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.


The only number
Gordon A. Clark

Jim--Gordon;
I have driven a RH drive Va for the past 18 years. I find that it is actually easier to pass as you do not need to pull out to see if it sfe to pass. All I do is move to the right and take a look.I sold the VA last year but am looking forward to my TA-Tickford if I ever get it finished.
Sandy Sanders
Hudson Florida
Sandy Sanders

I currently drive a rhd mgtf. I also own a rhd Jaguar 3.4S that I purchased and brought back from the UK while in the USAF. No problems driving, but value was your question.

I have had the TF for two years and it sounds like yours. I had thought of selling it once and ran some ads. The rhd put most people off, however the scarcity of it made me decide to keep it. Yes, price in the USA will be a little lower, however not that many home market cars were produced and even less remain in existance. I like rarity and it adds to the character of the car. I wouldn't worry about it being worth a few quid less than a lhd car. There is always an overseas market.

Our local MG club has both a rhd TF and a rhd TD, almost common around here.

Mark
M Whitt

A slightly lower (and I'm not sure if it makes much difference) NA price I think is offset by the number being brought back 'home' and converted... This saves all that work so should be pretty appealing to the U.K. market. And besides, its really neat to drive RHD!
gordon lawson - TD 27667

My own opinion would be that RHD adds to the value. Something about authenticity or rarity or something like that. Maybe just neat.

Cheers - Dennis
Dennis & Pat Rainey

I was willing to pay more for my RHD TD because I wanted something that stood apart from the others. I enjoy the extra Oohhs that I get from the non-MG motoring crowd!
Robert Dougherty

Don't be put off by RHD, it is an easy transition to make, as the others said. If you can leverage the price lower, all the better.

I've been driving a RHD MG for a year now, and am amazed at all the enjoyment I've been missing.

Tom
Tom Balutis

jim, i agree with these fellows. i think these cars deliver more fun pound per pound /dollar for dollar than any other vintage vehicle. as such i think they are a great value. it's funny, i would rather have a RHD, but could not find any when i was looking so i bought a LHD. regards, tom
tm peterson

Go for it. When you pull up to a stop light and your face is right next to a beautifull chick and you say "Cheers Doll" they will go bonkers!
Greg & Grimm
Reported from previous experience.
G.J. Cenzer

I always thought RHD was worth a bit more. You know it was imported. To me, that adds a bit more to the mistuque of the brand. But that is how my brain works.
Bruce Cunha

I have owned a RHD car since 1978. There have been 4 so far. Love the fun factor. Wish our TD was RHD. Mskes it seem more British that way.
John Masters

RHD...doesn't get any more British than that! The first time I ever drove a RHD car was on a vacation to Scotland. Landed in Glasgow, rented a car (RHD with manual transmission) and hit the road. First thing I encountered was a series of roundabouts coming out of the airport using airport transfers tunbridge wells. Then the interstate. You talk about a 'freaky' feeling...whizzing down the highway at 70mph with cars coming at you from the wrong side!

After a couple of days in Edinburgh, drove up to St. Andrews. On the way, passed what looked like an old fashioned service station in the middle of nowhere. In the parking lot were 20-30 classic English cars beautifully restored and for sale. Several T-cars in the mix. Of course, the lot were all RHD. Turns out, it was a restoration shop. It was quite a thrill seeing all those cars against the rural, misty backdrop of their true natural element.
Robert

I would personally pay a small amount extra for RHD if I were given the choice of two cars otherwise equal. I currently own three RHD cars, one as my daily driver ('67 MGB GT).

One day when I was exceptionally bored, I wrote a list on the pros and cons of driving a RHD car in the USA.

http://www.mgnuts.com/mg/rhdcars
Steve Simmons

Steve,
Interesting..."pros and cons" ...in my old RHD Bug-Eye I used to go through the bank & burger lines (and parking garages) backwards...I kind of miss that! It was a lot of fun waving to little ones in the car behind me and the girls at that bank never asked me for ID! ...they seemed to remember me for some reason! (try it at the bank ...(another one for your "pro" list!)
PS : Everybody that has seen my "desktop" has loved "Admiring Glances" ...such a great picture!
Cheer's,
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

That's a funny story! I've considered going through drive-thrus backwards but never got up the nerve.

Glad you're enjoying the photo. :)
Steve Simmons

Hey David,

What's the chance of sharing you're desk top "Admiring Glances"??? You've peeked my interest...

Cheers - Dennis
Dennis & Pat Rainey

Dennis,
Follow the link from Steve on the "GoF West 2006 - Trip Report!" thread. He took the picture.....I'm just "admiring" it. (There is a great shot of Steves TC in there with some horses "checking it out".)

Steve, The fun part of going through the drive-though backwards was doing a "sliding speed turn" when you leave!
Full throttle backwards, lock up the brakes, hard turn, double clutch into 1st whislt turnning around, and zipping away in forward gear! AT that time we had 2 BRG Bug Eyes (one with stock 948cc the other had a 289 Cobra-Jet engine) I did this all the time in the "Jet-Eye". I offten wonder where that car ended up...I really miss it. We had the stock one first...then purchased one that the frame was gone on. A friend of mine had totaled a mustang cobra and we got the drive train cheap. Another friend (racecar builder) made a frame for me and we had a ball with these cars. Side by side they looked identical,(even ran the same plate #...very illegal)We never let anybody look under the bonnet on the 289. I would blow the doors off somebody and a couple of days later they would see the wife with the bonnet up adding oil to the 948cc! Best of these was a guy with a new Corvette that I just toasted, next day he saw my wife at gas station and about fainted when he saw that little engine....she just smiled and told him, "you must have run into my husband ...just a matter of knowing when to shift gears at the right time"! He is no doubt still scratching his head.
Cheers,
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

I have owned my RHD TD since '62. The most fun I have had is the looks I see on people's faces when I answer the question, "is a RHD hard to get used to?". My answer is: "The most difficult part is having to learn to use the clutch with the right foot and the gas pedal and brake with the left foot". Then they look in the car.
Jim Merz

This thread was discussed between 22/07/2006 and 26/07/2006

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