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MG TD TF 1500 - Need the most basic of help

To all out there, I have been very impressed with this forum. There seems to be more information given out at this site that any other that I have found. That is why I am turning to you for what will seem to be very basic information.

About two weeks ago my mother-in-law informed me that she wanted to give me a car that her first husband, now since deceased 10 years, had put in storage at least 20 years ago. She believes it to be a 53' TD. I had seen the car once 14 years ago when my then father-in-law proudly showed me his "someday-to-be" prize. It was half taken apart and not in great shape then, and to my knowledge, he hadn't touched it in years and never touched it again.

Last weekend, I was able to spend some time digging out from under years of things that are stored in unused garages. I now know that I should have been looking for the engine serial number and the body serial number. A little research has taught me where to find the engine number but I still can not figur out were to look to find the body number.

This post identifies me as the novice TD owner that I am so any information would be appriciated.

As a side note, a little research has taught me that painted headlights are a characteristic of 53s (and my soon to be TD has painted headlights). But 53s are also identified by there "round" tale lights and this one has elongated cutouts for headlights in the rear fenders. (I am still looking for the tale lights themselves.) Are there other characteristics of 53s that are easy to identify?

Once again, thankyou for even considering this request and I'm sure that this is only the beginning of many more inquires.

D P Earles

TD's did not really come in model years. They started production in 49, stopped in 53 and made changes throughout the period. When I refer to my car as a 1950 it is because it was produced in Sept of 50.
The body number would be under the bonnet (hood)in the engine compartment on a plate attached on the left side of the toolbox/battery box area. The engine number will be on the same plate. If the plate is missing, the body number is stamped on the left dumb iron, the frame extension that the front bumper bolts to -- but it may be covered with dirt, paint, crud and be partially under the wing (fender).
Look here for a picture http://ttalk.info/
Lots of cars have had replacement parts so any one feature may suggest an earlier or later year and not be correct.
Look here for production date and other details http://www.british-cars.org.uk/kimber/mgtd/index.html

Finally, welcome aboard the bbs and to the world of TD's. There are a number of TD owners in Alabama, join a british car club and you may find some new best friends.
Regards,
Dennis
D F Sexton

The "car/chassis number" and the "engine" number will be on one large brass plate screwed to the front of the tool box, the "body type/number" will be either on a smaller plate just beside and below it, or on the underside of the tool box lid (later cars).

http://www.niagarabritishcarclub.org/mgtnumbers/numbers.html

gordon lawson - TD 27667

To D P Earles ----- Welcome to the world of TD/TF's. You will find the nicest people on earth here. Nobody tries to put anybody down and everybody tries to help each other, particularly people who are getting basket cases back together. On one of the other threads today is a good list of books that apply to TD/TF's. Pick one or two to start with. I think you will find that as your knowledge grows so too will your affection for these wonderful little cars.

I bought my first TF in 1958, owned it for 21 years. After I sold it I had a real identity crisis. I no longer was a sports car owner. After getting some other things in my life straightened out I got another one, this time a TD. Before I could get that on the road I bought another TF. Now I have both restored and on the road and am a very happy camper.

Best of Luck to You, holler if I can be of help.

Bob
R. K. (Bob) Jeffers

Hope we haven't confused you. There are three numbers that are unique to any TD. Probably the most important of these is called the Car No., the equivalent of the VIN. It's listed on the big brass plate that shows in Gordon's listing. More importantly, it's stamped into the left front frame of the car, see
http://www.ttalk.info/Tech/CarNumber.html for an example.
The Body Number is very elusive and probably can not be found on the car. Here's where I did find it on mine http://www.ttalk.info/Tech/BodyPlate.html
The originalEngine Number will be stamped on the large plate and should be found on a brass octagonal disc on the front right side of the engine block. The number should also be stamped into the block just above this disc.
An excellent source for TD information is a website done by Chris Couper http://www.british-cars.org.uk/kimber/mgtd/
Welcome to the family. Bud
Bud Krueger

Thank you to all for the help. Your posts have enabled me to identify exactly where to look for the body identification numbers. As it turns out, I had taken a digital picture with the plates in the backround last weekend and didn't realize what they were at the time. I will be going back this weekend (hopefully to bring the car and its pieces home) and I will identify which TD it is (and answer the question as to what month and year it was built).

Also, thank you for the suggestions on how to get started. I had already ordered one of the books recommended in an earlier post to see if I really want to tackle this undertaking. Thanks again.
D P Earles

Be sure to visit the data base site and enter all the three numbers and colours etc....

http://www.niagarabritishcarclub.org/mgtnumbers/numbers.html

thanks
gordon lawson - TD 27667

Where are you in Alabama?
Jeff McWhirter

Jeff McWhirter, I am located in Huntsville.
D P Earles

Okay, so I've got different numbers...

The chassis number is 12984 (the one stamped on the frame extension).

The chassis ID plate says 19998.

So apparently the body was originally a Jan 52, but the tool box might have been replaced with one from a later car, or just the ID plates replaced.

So, just how do you identify a car like this? By using all of the different numbers?

At least this explains why the three holes for the floor-mounted dipper don't exist in this one!

Thanks,
Scott

Scott

If you check your body numbers and engine number against the chassis numbers in the data base, you might get an idea of which chassis the body belongs to... the numbers don't go up in absolute order, but might give you an idea. (Don't have a lot of body numbers listed however)
gordon lawson - TD 27667

Judging by the body numbers you posted, i would say the body number plate belongs to 12984 and the car/chassis plate is from another vehicle. Does the engine number on the plate match the number on the engine?
gordon lawson - TD 27667

Should have added this to the above post:

Car/Chassis #12984 should have XPAG (about) 134??
Car/Chassis#19998 should have XPAG (about) 203??
gordon lawson - TD 27667

Gordon,

Right on. Here is what I have found out.

The car was originally registered with a VIN of 13469. I only have records of one registration before my father bought it.

We went down to the DMV today, and they said that older cars were often registered off the engine # vs. the chassis number.

The chassis # on the frame extension is 12984. That would be consistent with engine # 13469.

The ID plate has chassis # 19998, and engine # 20347.

The ID plate on the engine is # 20347.

So it looks like the chassis ID plate was replaced when the engine was replaced. So the car is originally # 12984, but now has engine # 20347.

This occurred at least 29 years ago. Perhaps the original engine blew up and they found a donor car to get engine & plate from...

Anyway, this was interesting to try to explain to the DMV when changing the title over from my parents to me. I'm not sure if we should eventually change the VIN # from 13469 or not; it will be a hassle and we will have to drive 90+ miles round trip, in the TD, to change the VIN. But then again, there currently isn't any "13469" to be found anywhere on the car...

Thanks for all the help,
Scott
Scott

Arrrghhh... (and i thought keeping a d/b would be simple).
There again, if the engine number was used as the VIN, i suppose it would have made sense to just switch the plates?
Have added the correct info...
gordon lawson - TD 27667

While the headlights and taillight should be obvious indicators of the "model year," don't forget that these are relatively easy items to change. No telling what a previous owner did to make the car better-fit his personal tastes. Somewhere in this website they post monthly production numbers. Once you know the serial number, you should be able to find the month in which your car was born.

Best of luck with your new family member.

Steve Markman
50 TD
Steve Markman

> There again, if the engine number was used as the VIN, i suppose it would have made sense to just switch the plates?

Probably not, given that the two engines have changes between them (oil pump is just one that I know of). So changing the engine plate would possibly cause one to order the wrong parts for the engine...

I'm thinking of ordering a new chassis ID plate, putting the chassis # on it (original), the replacement engine # on it (non-original), and then later changing the VIN over to the chassis #.

Scott
Scott Linn

Its because the two had changes that having the "new" engine number plate on the car would give you the right parts for the engine?
gordon lawson - TD 27667

I'm not sure I follow your question, but here's my thinking.

There were some changes made by MG in-between engine 13469 to 20347. So, if I rebadge engine #20347 as #13469, it might confuse a future owner since parts which are supposed to fit 13469 won't...

Scott
Scott Linn

I think we are both saying the same thing...

Your car (12984)came from the factory with Car#12984/XPAG 13469 stamped on it.
The engine was replaced with XPAG 20347 and the car #/eng.# plate was switched to Car#19998/XPAG#20347 to match the engine.
So the engine number is correct and the car number is wrong and your ownership doesn't have any of your actual numbers on it.
Your right in having a new plate made with the right body number/engine number on it. Switch your vin number registration back to the chassis number and Bob's your uncle.

And somewhere car #19998 is now a row of tin cans on a grocery shelf.
gordon lawson - TD 27667

This thread was discussed between 19/07/2005 and 27/07/2005

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