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 - Should I buy it?

A friend is offering me his '55 TF for $6000. The car is complete, but needs total restoration. The interior and top are in tatters, the engine is in the car but dissassembled (engine interior coated with lubricant), surface rust only in certain spots, frame looks good, no bad rust that I can see. No evidence of being hit, except for minor scrape on front left wing. Quite a project. I see a whole year and about $15k out of pocket (I can do all the mechanical). Is the $6k worth it?

thanks,
Tyler
Tyler

Tyler, I would guess that restored body parts, fenders, etc., would be work $4,000 to $6,000. If you enjoy restoration it will be a great project. I'm restoring a 1952 TD in similar condition and consider my investment well worth it.
Good luck.
Mike
MJG Mike

$6000 for a complete TF sounds pretty good to me... photos would help -1250 or 1500 engine?, but still, that is pretty cheap for a TF.
gblawson - TD#27667

Tyler, $15,000 was what I was guessing when I bought
my $6000 54 TF. Double that figure. Thats where I wound up at. I would be happy to send you a list of the work and parts if you like. Only work done by others was engine machine work, powdercoated frame and chrome. I did spend more than I had to. Steel to Chrome wire wheels, 5 speed transmission and a heater.

LaVerne
LaVerne

I have photos, but guess I need a URL or and web page to attach photos, right? Also, being a '55TF, I'm leary of altering the car, like I did my MGA.
Tyler
Tyler

Tyler... send them to me and I will put them up for a week or so.....
I'm out tonight, but will have them up by morning.
gblawson - TD#27667

gblawson@vaxxine.com
gblawson - TD#27667

That sounds like a good price to me - I agree with GB.

Especially if it is a 1500. Still a good purchase for a 1250.

JD
J Delk

Sounds like a great buy to me. the tranny and wheels that LaVerne bought would be about 6000.00 so you could cut that out. Body and paint work in this area on a T type run about 4-6000 and if you do the rest yourselfe 15000 would get a nece car. Maybe not Pebble Bearch but a good running nice driveing TF.
Tom

I don't think you should buy it.

errr... what is the fellow's phone number so I can contact him?

Just kidding. A TF costs a bit more than a TD to restore because of the seats and some of the body details. Figure $4000 for the engine, $7000 for the body and fenders, $3500 for the suspension and all the frame, brakes, steering, wheels and tires, about $2000 in chrome, $3000 on the interior and tops, $2500 for electrical and other finishing issues, including anything the transmission may need.

Unless you are really good at project management, double your time estimate. There will be unavoidable delays where you are 'stopped' for weeks at a time.

About $28000 including your $6000 asking price. The estimate includes farming out some of the work, but doing the majority yourself.

You will have a bunch of fun! It is always better to start with a fairly complete car, you could take the same money and buy something really nice, but you wouldn't know what you have like you will when you've touched nearly every nut and bolt on the car.

good luck what ever you decide,
dave
Dave Braun

Hi Tyler,

What a nice opportunity!At only $6000,the car has only amounted to roughly $117.64 a year for 51 years-that would not even cover storage fees!If it is a genuine TF1500,with the factory producing only 3,400 then all the better.

However,as Dave Braun has rightly pointed out,the monetary cost may test your real interest and resolve.
Although total restorations seem initially rather daunting,the finished product is very rewarding with usually, trouble free motoring.

A TD or TF can be taken apart over 2 weekends.It realistically may take 3 to 5 years to do a total restoration.I have seen so many T Types taken apart to be left in parts boxes for 15 to 30 years.When the car is in this state and later sold it makes the job for the next owner much more difficult.

If you are an enthusiast for TF's,the restoration process is easy.You meet an amazing array of nice people from a multitude of professional,interesting backgrounds.But if you are not committed to the restoration process,it is possibly better to leave the car intact.

Cheers
Rob. Grantham
Rob Grantham

When I got my '50 TD (my father gave it to me), it was a basket case. I figured it would take me six months to disassemble it, clean everything up, paint it, then re-assemble it.....that was five years ago and I'm still working on it, though I'm in the final stages. I don't know how much I've spent on the project so far, but I do keep an expense log and diary. I'll add up the dollars and hours when I'm finished.

If you have a 'day job', are married, or have any other interests whatsoever (basically, if you have a life other than MG's), then plan on a very long, slow process. You'll be amazed at how long it can take to tackle even the smallest task. But, you'll love every minute of it! Sort of!

Go for it! The TF is the classiest of all MG's in my opinion.
robert

I'm north of $20K so far and still have the seats, carpet, top, side curtains, instrument re-building, and selected chrome parts to re-do. I'm figuring about another $6K to finish. Of course I originally figured I'd be there $5K ago !!

Cheers,

Jim
Jim Rice

I sent GB some photos, so stay tuned to view the critter. Hopefully, he'll post them soon. I've already done a '58 A (GB: I'll send a photo of that, too), and believe one car is enough, and know exactly what I'm getting into. Still debating it. TFs are hard to resist.
Tyler
Tyler

Looks pretty darn good to me... You might find that by cleaning it up and getting it running, you could do a drive and rebuild...
The others have pretty well stripped their's down to the frame and built back up again with new or rebuilt parts... thats not the only way to go. Try a little rubbing compound, a little wax, a little mechanics and you might have a driver for a few thousand dollars... Think I have about $3 thousand in mine above the purchase price and that includes tools and 'stuff'.

http://www.gblandco.com/gb/mgtf/album/index.html

gblawson - TD#27667

Ok, remove the old top... adjust the door locks....wash and wax... It will all look a lot different.... ohhhhhhh I love dust on cars in garages... Oh...and throw that Texaco sign in the back of the car when you take it and send it to me!!!!!!!
gblawson - TD#27667

Looks a lot better than what I drug home.
LED DOWNEY

I think Gordon is infatuated with the steering wheel.

I am a sucker for cars in this condition, but would definitely try to get the price down, if possible. You have to remember that your friend had his reasons for not paying more attention to the car than he did. And those reasons may affect your diligence as well. The love he had for the car has allowed him to keep it around, as it has done to me with my neglected cars. But he can't expect too much for the car, not having made any effort to show it for sale.

Having said all that, the price could be OK as is, it's subjective, to say the least.

The new owner syndrome improves many cars, even gets them back on the road to be enjoyed again, as Gordon has done. I recommend his method to start, so you don't get too bogged down and the car ends up a basket case.

Have fun, I'm drooling over the pics, can almost smell the dust and grease and dank upholstery. It's a totally enjoyable sickness.
Tom

BTW, I also like the Falcon Ranchero and "Christine", the TF's bedfellows...maybe a package deal? The garage and all that's in it?
Tom

Hi Tyler,

From the photos,as you say, "TFs are hard to resist"
-dust or no dust!!

Cheers
Rob. Grantham
Rob. Grantham

Tyler -- Buy it, I'll put my check in the mail today (if you send me an address).

The puzzeling thing is there appears to be "TF1500" badges on the bonnet sides but no reflectors on the rear of the tub. That may indicate a crash sometime in it's life or an upgrade to a 1500 engine. Get the numbers off the manufacturers plate and put them on the BBS. there is a list that should tell if it originally had a 1500 engine.

Anyway, good luck with your decision.
Bob
R. K. (Bob) Jeffers

Spread $4500 on the hood and keep an extra pocketfull of hundreds available. I bet he scoops that cash right up and you do better than 6k. I did that with my GT and got it for less than half the asking price. The smile on his face when I had all those hundreds and fifties on the car was priceless.

Don't let this car go.
V.W. Piña

If you don't I will. You're right next door after all :-)
D Clark

Heck, my TD won't look that good AFTER I finish the restoration! Buy!
robert

Irwin,

Gord Lawson has the right approach ... remove the old top... adjust the door locks....wash and wax.

See if the engine will run (note: see archives for proceedure to re-start engine after nnn years), but expect dried seals, hoses ,etc.

Spend minimum bucks getting it running.

And by getting it running and even driving it, you will quickly learn exactly what has to be done in the way of a restoration, but I doubt from the pix, that you will have to remove the tub. Not all TF1500s had the rear reflectors.

Keep the BB up-to-date.

Don't let this one get away.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.

Gordon A. Clark

It still amazes me that there are still a lot of these little cars out there that are just setting. I really hate to see one get away and become junk from rotting out. This one looks about the same shape as my TD was when I purchased it. Mine did run but I did a full restoration and now have a fine little car. It took me 4 years to complete the rebuild but I drove it every year during that time except for the last 10 months for body and paint work.This TF sure seems like a good one to start with since it appears to be all there. Good luck if you get it.
TOm

I bought a TR3B in boxes and pieces. The frame was painted and the suspension was redone. The drive train ( except carbs and radiator) was installed and new brake lines were in. the body tub was painted and sitting on the frame. No other body parts were on and all were bare metal. It took me 3 years to finish. No real budget and probably better not to know. I had the paint work and the small amount of body work needed done at a local shop and I did almost all of the rest. Three years was a long time to wait to drive it.
SO thenI wanted a T Series car. TC's are gorgeous but too primitive and I already have a car with headlights molded into the body so a TD seemed right and a red 1952 it is. This time I can and do drive it. It could use a new interior and the top is new but black and it has no curtains (OK, they exist but are totally shot). The wood is good and the engine was rebuilt about 10,000 miles back. The paint isn't perfect but it is a real good ten footer. To me the important thing is that I can drive it now and maybe deal with the paint and chrome issues later. That could take more than a winter to accomplish. I'm sure (?) I can do the interior and rewire the istrument panel over the winter when I'm ready.
Doing the restoration was great fun and if you haven't, you should. Don't count your time or the
money and don't set a deadline to finish. Enjoy the experience-- and all the comments and thumbs up when you get it on the road. "Nice car! What is it?"
Gary
GG Krafft

Well, the latest is..... it's a 1500 engine, and I offered the owner $6000, but he wants $6500 (his original asking price), or he'll put it on Ebay. Dang! I hate dealing with sellers who won't bargain. But I guess I should bite the bullet, eh?
Tyler
tyler

Yes, bite the bullet...give him the cheque*

*The writer of the above post assumes no financial liability or responsibility for the results of said post. He will however accept all responsibilty for any and all enjoyment resulting from said posting!
gblawson - TD#27667

Tyler,

I've not seen an undriveable T-Series fetch much on ebay, buyers tend to shy from something partly disassembled. I think $6000 or $6500 to be pretty good prices, but honestly, with some things apart, unless you really know TFs you can't be sure what you will have to supply later. $500 will buy an unsupplied piece or two, or a new top.

Also, unless the bidder is as close by as you are, shipping charges will have to factor in his decision to bid. Did you try your $6000 offer in cash? If not, go back with a car trailer and 65 $100 bills and give him 60 of them first.

Good luck, I'm expecting you to report back with your first TF specific question soon!

dave

Dave Braun

Tyler....I might be out of line here....but it doesn't seem that he's much of a friend as you first noted if all he's focused on is the money. Of course seeing the condition he's kept the TF and the other "jewels" in while being stored ...that may be all he cares about anyway. I find it a bit galling that he'd rather put it on e-bay that move a few bucks to help you out. That said, you'll find significantly better friends on this BBS who share your enthusiasm and passion for these little cars, and will be more than willing to help you get the TF in running order. Welcome to the group and we hope you buy it!

Cheers,

Jim
Jim Rice

Buy it instantly before he changes his mind! If it has an original TF 1500 motor in it then it is a bargain at the price of $6500. A TF 1500 bare ENGINE sold for over $6000 a few weeks ago on eBay. If your friend put the car on eBay I suspect he would get over $10K for it and I would be right there in the bidding. If it does not have the original 1500 engine then $6500 is about right.
Hugh Pite
Hugh Pite

Look on the engine octagonal plate for XPEG or on the car number plate!
gblawson - TD#27667

Well, is it bought yet?????
D Clark

I agree, verify that it has the correct engine. I have a TF 1500 that has a 1250. A quite a few of those 1500s bit the dust.

Man, I used to have an early Ranchero like that.
Carl Floyd

This thread was discussed between 13/10/2006 and 17/10/2006

MG TD TF 1500 index

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