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 - Suggestions On Selling TF1500

Is it my imagination or is it getting harder to sell older MG's. I've advertised my original,matching numbers, California "Black Plate" TF 1500 in the local newspaper, local MG Club, and in "The Sacred Octagon" and never got any serious inquiries. I had the car listed at $22,500 giving me some room to negotiate a selling price but nothing.
I am seeking suggestions on ways to sell my TF 1500. I still enjoy the car, everything on it works but am getting older and can't do things I used to (Maybe I just answered my own question!)
Thanks,
Mark Stolzenburg
Chesterfield, MO
TF 8263
Mark Stolzenburg

It's a bad time of year to be selling classic cars for much of the country. I'd give Bring A Trailer some thought.
Steve Simmons

That sounds like a reasonable price really, there is one, a 1250 is for sale for an asking price of $24K. From a few pictures it looks nice.

BAT usually sees activity.

Peter
P G Gilvarry

Mark,

Perhaps it is different in Australia, due to the numbers available, and the age demographic? However, maybe I was keener to buy because of my age and the world financial situation but, I just purchased my first T Type and frankly, couldn't pay the price quickly enough.

Given that interest rates on savings are less than inflation, stocks are bleeding value, so I felt that I could satisfy two things important to me. The first was the 62 year long, un-requieted love affair with an mgtf 1500, and the other was how do I conserve some my savings from inflation?

This was one way for me to satisfy both issues. It could be the new age males don't share our passions and quite rightly, but I believe that classic cars are headed for a resurgence, because of diminishing numbers and historic values.

Who would have thought that a James Bond era Aston Martin DB whatever, or early model Ferrari's would sell for what, a million dollars or more? Hope this helps

Maurie P

R M Prior

I've seen it before but never used it, however Bring a Trailer sounds like a viable option.
Mark Stolzenburg
TF 8263
Mark Stolzenburg

If you go with BAT, just make sure you don't let them bully you into a lower reserve than you want. They tend to push people into lowering their reserve because they make money when the car sells, so they want to make sure it sells.
Steve Simmons

That would be an extremely competitive price in the UK, if the car's in good fettle.
Peter Allen

Peter, The TF 1500 was an original California car, and had no rust-out on any of the body panels. Also all the wood was in great shape!
Mark Stolzenburg
TF 8263
Mark Stolzenburg

Trying to sell TF9851 in Australia and the interest seems to be the more pure of mind and those numbers all have to line up! With a replacement head and a missing brass block ID tag even a really well presented car draws limited interest. However, as was said, there is an imminent resurgence in classic car values just over the horizon so I think I'll hang on and take it to the pub (so non PC!) more often. Cloth cap included!
L D I Scott

Mark, that looks a very pretty car without being OTT shiny. In my book, all this matching numbers stuff is for those who want the car as a short/medium term investment. I'd rather have a car with mismatching numbers, battered paintwork and commensurately lower price so I could use it on a daily basis (as I do my MGB and Riley 1 1/2). Over here they call it in 'oily rag' condition. An MG was originally aimed at the young, or young at heart, who just wanted to have fun on the back roads and that's where it belongs.
Peter Allen

I'm into my cars for the long haul, lifetime actually, and I definitely care about matching numbers. It's the history of it that I appreciate, knowing that's the engine a pair of guys put into the car in Abingdon. And knowing the car and engine have been working together all that time. The stories they could tell...

I'd pay more for a numbers matching car than a non-matching one, and I would still drive it daily. In fact that's what I already do with my MGs. MGB daily duties and all the others regularly driven from around town to long distance tours. There's no reason why a car needs to be battered to be driven daily! It's just more work to keep them nice when they see so many miles, that's all.
Steve Simmons


L D I Scott wrote..........

"Trying to sell TF9851 in Australia and the interest seems to be the more pure of mind and those numbers all have to line up! With a replacement head and a missing brass block ID tag even a really well presented car draws limited interest"

In the years that I have been involved with MG's, I have found that a great many MG buyers/owners are excessively cautious, almost to the point of absurdity. Maybe it is the age group, the over 65's etc, who are wanting to have a desirable classic MG, but unwilling to pay for that privilege.

I have been told by parts sellers of how difficult they are with parts purchases. Descriptions of them being, mean, stingy, miserly, and scrooge like, ad nauseam. I hope that I am not one of them, and I really believe that classic MGs are undervalued. I hope I am not proved wrong on this prediction.

Maurie P
R M Prior

Not so sure about selling my TF on "Bring A Trailer". While I mentioned previously that selling my TF 1500 on "Bring A Trailer" looked like a viable option, research on selling on "Bring a Trailer" does not look good. Extremely poor rating on several website and extremely negative customer experiences. Anybody out there have any experience selling their car on "Bring A Trailer"?
Thanks
Mark Stolzenburg
TF 8263
Mark Stolzenburg

Does anybody have any other suggestions or "good" experiences selling their MG on other sites besides "Bring A Trailer"? I am serious about selling my TF 1500 and would really appreciate suggestions.
Thanks'
Mark Stolzenburg
Chesterfield, Missouri
TF 8263
Mark Stolzenburg

You could always do ebay but I am not sure it's "better". You might get lucky.

You can also call around to various restoration shops and see if they have any interest or know someone looking for a car. A TF1500 is still the nicest driving T series car IMHO.
Christopher Couper


Place an ad in The Sacred Octagon, that's the perfect audience.

Jim
James Neel

To Jim Ansel, his original post stated that is one of the places he has been marketing it. One down side of the sacred octagon..anyone subscribing will in all probability already gave an MG.

Regards, Tom
tm peterson

Sorry, missed that. How about Hemmings and Classic Motorsports Magazine.

Jim
James Neel

Right now’s probably a bad time to sell anything, but last fall I had good luck selling my old VW van on Craigslist. There was a lot of interest and very few scammers responded to my ad. I know that MG’s are hardly comparable to VW’s but I got a good price from a guy who came twice from about 250 miles away, once to look at the van and once to bring me the money.
Joe
Joe Olson

Mark

You have mail.
Dave O'Neill 2

This matching numbers thing has no value for two reasons:- a) I have never seen a T-Series in which the engine number and the chassis nbr were identical. At the factory, engines were not sequential but were selected at random and as far as I know, NEVER matched the chassis nbr. b) A blank car plate and a blank octagonal engine plate can both be bought, and stamped with the numbers of your choice. Makes the "matching numbers " thing a joke. Might be great for Yankee iron, but I would be suspicious of this, if I ever saw it on a T.

How many people reading this forum, can attest to owing their T-Series 66 years? How many can say they have personally driven their T-Series over 350,000 miles? I can! I still average 6,000 miles per summer. So you might say that I am in it for the long haul too. And my PA was 'born' the year after I was born!

If I were buying a T-Series, things like matching numbers, white-wall tires, clear coat, spare tire covers, radios and fog lights, would just de-value the car. I would prefer a clean and straight car with a strong drive train, good electrics and good suspension. A little scruffy paint would simply add to the patina!

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gord Clark

To: Gord Clark,
I understand your position on the "Numbers Matching" cars. I think some people are offended by the term because they think the person is trying to be "Uppity" - their car is somehow better than other peoples non matching cars.
However, I disagree with that position. When I refer to a "Numbers Matching" car (such as I did on my TF) I'm not only referring to the car's "original" data plate numbers and Octagonal shaped engine numbers tag matching (knowing full well that someone might make up new plates) but also if the engine block has the diamond "W" logo and has the correct casting numbers from the factory for the block AEF117 and head AEF118 including any other stamping marks the factory might have made. I check the numbers so I can be sure that the engine in my car is a real 1500 and hopefully is the one original to the car and not something else that someone dropped into it.
Is a Non-numbers matching car as much fun as a matching numbers car - Absolutely!
When I buy a car I check the numbers so I know what I'm paying for. I would expect the same from any buyer!
Mark Stolzenburg
TF 8263
Mark Stolzenburg

I have to agree with you on that very salient point, Mark. The unique identification of the TF1500 is an absolute must.

I used to do evaluations for insurance companies. On two occasions, I came across TF1500s w/o the W in the diamond, and told the insurance company. The owner was furious with me. In one case, the owner called me and accused me of devaluing his TF by several thousand dollars, and threatened to sue me. I'm still waiting.

I've also had a similar case with a "Mark II" missing the TD/C

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gord Clark

So if numbers matching makes no difference to desirability, then why does it matter if a TF has the correct markings? The driving experience doesn't rely on numbers either way. Machinery is machinery.

What matters to me is the history. If I was presented with two completely identical cars, one a short term owner with no history, and the other a 50-year owner, I would pay more money for the 50 year owned car. And for the same reason, the more parts that are original to the car, the more I want it and therefore the more I am willing to pay. Every time I drive, or even touch the car, I feel a physical connection to the past. To me that's priceless. But some people simply want the car and the history is secondary. And that's ok with me.
Steve Simmons

Consider a base line for a valuation. An unsold, 1 owner, 1954 MG TF in show room condition. Climate stored, cleaned and serviced. Less than 1,000 miles. This could be a $35,000 plus car.

Any deviation from this condition would be a deduction. What would be the highest deduction?Quantity of owners and incomplete documentation?
Engine replaced?
Peter Dahlquist

I think it's more complicated than that. The engine for example... if it was replaced in 1952, it wouldn't be nearly as big a deduction than if it had been replaced in 2010. To someone who doesn't care about the history of the car, it of course wouldn't matter at all either way. This is definitely a matter of personal preference!
Steve Simmons

Steve,

I'm 87 and still enjoying mt TF. Drive it most of the time with the windscreen down ... maybe there's a bonus for that!

I've owned the car 64 years (still have the bill of sale) and plan to sell the car in 2033. I will even drive it to California for you (won't be the first time).

This TF oozes patina, history and originality. I'll enter this into my Day-Timer and will contact you in 13 years!

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gord Clark

Go Gord! There's a guy in our club, Cedric, who's 91 and you cant stop him. He's currently restoring a TF and he does all of the work himself. He's forgotten how many T Types he's restored. (This corrects a couple of typos in the previous post if it was actually posted). Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

To: Gord,
I'd love to see a picture of your TF. I don't think I have ever seen a TF that someone has owned for 67 years! I take it you are the second owner of the car? Where did you buy it?
Mark Stolzenburg
Chesterfield, MO.
TF 8263
Mark Stolzenburg

My favorite TF ever was this original owner car. It was purchased in 1954 by a woman in our TC club, who still had it when I took the photo in 2008. She was embarrassed by the condition of the paint, and couldn't understand why I found her car more desirable than the immaculately restored TFs on each side of her.


Steve Simmons

I haven't seen my favourite TF yet but I know where it is and I do plan to make the trip. I've had a long chat with the owner who purchased the car new. (He will be the second person I've met whose owned a TF since new). It's been restored with him doing all the work himself. He even had the LUCAS battery rebuilt more times than he can remember. He was at pains to impress upon me that he was very much into originality and that every bolt and nut went back exactly where it came from. This is one car that I'd like to photograph extensively. It's hoped to be the subject of a TTORC event later in the year. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Here's Gord with his TF at the GOF 2013.


Frank Cronin


I will turn 80 years of age in mid April this year. When I was 17, in 1957, I lusted after an MGTF 1250 or 1500 and it didn’t matter which, as I wasn’t au fait with the difference. Thing was, I couldn’t afford one, and so, the immediacy passed, to be replaced by other things, like girls, and sport, and education etc etc. The desire and longing never left me.
Fast forward to 2020. 63 years later. World events and financial upheavals, finally make the decision for me. I purchased a restored TF 1500, because I loved how this car sat and looked.

I loved the paint colour, and the trim colours. It was 1,000 miles or 1600 kilometres south from where I lived, so I didn’t fly down to inspect it before buying it. I bought it essentially sight unseen, over the net, because I have no idea, of how long I will live for.

I had the money, and can’t take it with me when I cark it. In between now and when the big death word happens, I will look at it, drive it, sit in it, polish it, and love it to bits, because I finally own a piece of classic car history.

There will never be any more made. This is history in my hands, numbers don’t match and I don’t give a rats about it. I am the embodiment, of the market for cars like MG T-Types. Numbers do not matter.

R M Prior

To: R.M. Prior,
FANTASTIC comments about owning your first TF when you are about to turn 80! Enjoy that TF and drive it everyday you can! Great story!!!
Mark Stolzenburg
TF 8263
Mark Stolzenburg

This thread was discussed between 05/03/2020 and 27/03/2020

MG TD TF 1500 index

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