MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

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 - Oh....my God!

Just came in from sitting on the front porch....I live in a tourist town (Niagara on the Lake)...an older couple riding 'rent-a' bikes ride past....MG sitting up in the driveway, top up....the woman in front points and says "Look...a Volkswagon convertable" and the two ride on.....arrrggghhhhh!!!
gblawson - TD#27667

Don't be too dismayed. I had my '53 TD entered in a local car show (benefiting cancer research)and was beaten out for the best foreign entry by a pink volkwagen beetle with a drive-in food tray attached to the driver-side window. That's an arrggghhhhhh!!!
RF Wacht

Several years ago,laying under my Jaguar Etype coupe and a little boy comes up and asks me if it is a Datsun? arrrrgggghhhh!
Mwhitt

Years ago I was at a car show with my TD and "Joe Suave" in order to impress his female companion told her after looking at my car "I don't like these MG's they look too much like the replicas". It took all of my wife's strength to keep me seated and not go for his throat. A good friend has two TD's, his and hers, and his license plate reads, "Real MG".

George herschell
George R Herschell

Gordon,

I didn't realize you were that close to me. We live in Webster NY just outside of Rochester, and have been to your home town many times. Although I must say I liked it much better the way it was about 10 years ago vs as it is now. I think you know what I'm talking about. If you would like to chat, drop me an E mail at the address listed and I'll give you some info on our car show held every year for 35 years.
Check out www.mgcarclub.com and click on event pictures. From there go to Sports Car and Vintage Auto Festival. Many photos to see. Also what day are you going to arrive at Stowe? We'll be getting there sometime around noon on Friday and will be staying at the Golden Eagle. Hope we can link up there.

George Herschell
George R Herschell

Gentlemen,
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry the other day at Tim Horton's (our Canadian doughnut, coffee, and gabbing place of choice) when I overheard a husband and wife remark on my TF: "Is that a kit car?" ... "Can't be, Honey. Its leaking oil."
Gene
Gene Burgess

Hello George... I think its Gord from Quebec who is going to Stowe..but yes, your about an hour from here...let me know next time your coming up?
gblawson - TD#27667

Gordan;;
I was driving a friends TC towards St Pete Fla. This TC had just won AACA Grand National and was in perfect condition. A beautiful Black Porsche 917 complete with bushy bearded driver pulled along side and remarked " my wife has a Duchesse just like it"I think he was surprized when I responded "and your driving a volkswagen too". He left in a huff.
For those not familiar with Duchesse it was a mock-up model of a TD with VW running gear. for a while they were on display in many major Fla airport using airport transfers tonbridges.
Sandy Sanders
Sandy Sanders

Gord-George

Gordo, (Clark), reputedly of the RCMP, will be staying with us for the Invasion, (no one else will have him). I am not sure if Bob and Odette are hosting the usual Canadian dead cow roast on Saturday, but anyone, repeat ANYONE, is encouraged to get in touch with me for arranging some sort of BBS get together while we are all in Stowe. We have a couple of condos at Notchbrook, though it is usually the 'short straw' who sleeps in the room with Gordo. I have lots of T bits I don't won't to haul home, so if there are any requests, send them along.

Safety Fast

Paul
Paul

I've had love and hate in my Spitfire.

1. At a Wendy's drive-up: "Oh it's a Stuart Little car."

2. At a red light: "hey, is that a Ferarri?"
Richard

Gee, I had love and hate in a Mini once, but I was younger!
gblawson - TD#27667

George

That is what my TD says. I got tired of politely saying " NO, it is not a kit"

http://community.webshots.com/photo/425130233/1425165119036619046OEFGpJ

Actually I leave it to my wife. We went to a car show and they parked us next to a kit. The wife of the owner of the kit came over and asked who made our kit. My wife looks her in the eye and says MG.
Bruce Cunha

At a car show with a bonnet side up to show off all the vintage brightwork and a "not so bright light" walks up with his son and tells him "this one's not real, the real ones have the engine in the back". Aaaarrrrrgggggghhhhhh
Or when you drive up to the convenience store and the bad biker walks up and says "what kind of drive train does it have?" and you get to say "MG"! My tact failed - I laughed at him. Usually I can do better than that.
Cheers,
Phil
The Other MG Brother - Phil White

Q: "Who made Your kit car?"
A: "Panel Bashers of Abingdon."
Q2: "I don't get it?"
A2: "I know!"

"not so bright light" with his son:
This guy must make the rounds...I saw them in Ohio a few years ago!
Differance between an elephant and this guy driving home?
Elephant has the trunk up frount and the A_H in the back!
Cheers,
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

Yeah, I'll be at both the BI and the GOF and I'll be staying with Paul & his bro. Looks like I'm going to have to lock my bedroom door this year! Paul in a known sleep-walker! But there won't be any Canadian Cow unless one expects to spend the week-end in a US Border Patrol lock-up! Bob & Odette will be having the usual piss-up (eve of Sept. 16). Gene, let me know if you want to join, but arriving at their place requires an MG or an Amilcar, and a btl or two of wine (plonk not permitted!).

I understand space at Stowe is scarce this year. Our Rockburnian gang usually take a wing of the Colonial but not this year, as it was reserved very early as were many other accomodations

Further to Gene's comment, I occasionnaly get the kit car question. I respond by asking the guy "Why didn't you first ask me if its a real TF?, rather than first asking if its a kit car? I usually get a blank look accompanied by a shrug.

But the ultimate insult came one day whilst I was parking my Ferrari 275GTB/4 - "Wow, look at that - an Opel GT"! Now, is that an arrrrgggghhhh! or waht?

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A. Clark

Gord,
These people must "migrate" from Canada to Ohio! (or vise-versa!) I know you won't believe this...(when I get my other computer back I will send you a picture off the BBS!)
Last time the wife and I were out for a spin in her 1973 Opel GT this question at a gas station:
"Hey , what year is your Ferrari?"
The guy was staring right at the back of the car:
"OPEL GT" (2" chrome letters) right there above the historic liscense plate "1973 GT"!
It's gotta be the same guy!
(Had that "few fries short of a happy-meal" look on his face ...right?)
Cheers,
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

BY the way ...I responded by taking off my glasses and squinting at the plate whilst saying "hmmm let me check...why?, you want to buy it!" LOL! ;-)
David

OK Gord, I will bring the Amilcar on the trailer and the A7 in the bed. Have a surprise in the bay in front of the condo, ...ends in F, your comments will be forwarded to my brother who will surely supply you with appropriate grape aftermath, and single malts.

As to unusual misrepresentations; I do have a soft side---
Once upon a time I was stopped in a rest-area on the Parkway and a father with his young lads in tow passed by the front of my TD-MKII. One enterprising youth asked him what it was. Caught in a 'Father is supposed to know best, or at least All-moment, he quickly responded, 'It's a Packard'.' The other sleuth-like-child, standing in front of the car asked, "If its a Packard, why does it say MG on the front?" Sensing the need for a bridge to an otherwise regular guy and fellow father of inquisative kids, (there had been no pretentions, or obnoxious behaviors on his part), I responded "The MG stands for 'Minor Grade', as it is one of the small roadsters." The look of relief and thanks on his face, was worth many miles of relaxed motoring afterwards.

Safety Fast

Paul
Paul

Paul; Your comments reminded me of a Christmas parade held in Clearwater Florida around 1985. We had arouind 20 MG-T series in the parade. As you know parades flow and stop. At one of our stops there was a group of elderly ladies in lawn chairs. One of them commented "Oh look at all the pretty Packards"
Sandy Sanders
Suncoast Classic MG Car Club
Sandy Sanders

I was getting such a kick out of the remarks, I thought I would share my experiences.

In 1971, I stopped at a full service gas station in the pan handle of Florida. As I was getting gas,the attendant commented that he had never seen a VW like mine. When I told him it was an MG, he said he had never seen an MGVW. Then he started carrying on about it being the first VW he had seen with an engine in the front. I gave up...

Back in the 80's I bought a new BMW 633 CSI, and after a couple of days of driving it to the office, I heard one of the office staff bragging to her husband, that Cleve bought a new Thunderbird! That made me so sick!

A friend of mine stopped to inquire about a FIAT spider parked in a man's yard. When he asked the guy if it was for sale, he said the car was worth a fortune, because it was a FIARRAI. Unfortunately, all of the FIAT badges had worn off, and my friend could not convince the guy it was a FIAT.

When I was working at the local MG-FIAT-Alfa-Rover-Jaguar-Triumph dealer, we had a guy come in and ask one of the salesman how much we were asking for the Airplane. The puzzled salesman said, what airplane? The man said the blue one, on the end. We thought he was drunk, so we asked him to walk down and put his hand on the "airplane". He proudly walked straight to the blue Sunbeam, put his finger on the script that said Alpine, and said THIS AIRPLANE,IDIOT!

Oh, and my favorite was when customers would say, "how much is the little MG"? I would always reply, they're all little, which one are you interested in?


Cleve

Yeah and that ex-Québecer and deserter Sanders, - he's a sleep-walker too!

He thought Florida was utopia 'till his house dissappeard in a sink-hole. In fact his SA sunk so far, it ended up in England.

Surley Sandy, Bagotville couldn't have been THAT bad!

GAC
Gordon A. Clark

Gordon:
Bagotville was wonderful and COLD. May I remind you that had I been still there I would have been a victim of that huge flood in the Saguenay valley.
What is the matter with you asking for help with a flat tire. I thought that since certain Quebecois are full of hot air???????.
Our house is all repaired and still above ground.Weather is fine ,presently around 78 degrees and going up at 0845 AM.
PS. It was a VA.
Sandy
Sandy Sanders

Cleve,
Way off the MG thread but your comment on "full service gas station" made me recall my all time favorite car ever owned for "full service"!
Anybody out there remember the 1950 Cadilac? I had a Fleetwood-Short Convertable (wish I still had "Clyde" in any shape...no doubt worth a little more these days than the $100 I sold it for!)...anyway, anybody out there remember where you put gas in one of these land yahts? hint: I think they did this from 50/53 or 54.
What Fun! We used to buy gas a dollar at a time just to watch the gas attendents try to find it!
Cheers,
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

Dave-
Not the old trick tail lamp gambit??

I don't miss the fender well skirts and the sliced fingers trying to change a tire.

Safety Fast

Paul
Paul

Mis-comments continued. A (late) friend of mine had a TD and went to the motor vehicle bureau to re register it after it's winter storage. The lady put down two door. My friend questioned that and the lady says replys "it says so right here, TD". To which my friend (stiffling laughter) replys "no that stands for Top Down".
Bruce,
A friend from the Albany area has the same (NY) Plate on his TF.

George Herschell
George R Herschell

Paul,
Yep ...you got it...push in taillamp reflector and the whole lamp assembly "popped" up reveling the gas filler cap! We had a ball watching attendents walking back and forth pulling on the lisence plate and searching everywhere for the filler!
David Sheward

This thread was discussed between 20/08/2006 and 26/08/2006

MG TD TF 1500 index

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