MG-Cars.com
MG TD TF 1500 Survivor TD on eBay BBS discussion at MG-Cars.net
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 - Survivor TD on eBay
| This car (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1951-MG-TD-in-Original-Condition-/171020156459?_trksid=p2045573.m2042&_trkparms=aid=111000&algo=REC.CURRENT&ao=1&asc=27&meid=6795433073791118420&pid=100033&prg=1011&rk=1&sd=171020156459&&forcev4exp=true#ht_500wt_1064) is an interesting survivor. The same family has owned the car since 1954, and the car has never been restored. Original (non-patterned Rexine cloth) dash and door panels, old, if not original paint, and only a valve job at 55,000 mi. A bit steep at $15,000, and it probably won't sell at that. It looks like an honest car, a rarity among un-restored TD's. Tom Lange MGT Repair |
| t lange |
| What a great car. Would love to get a couple thousand pictures as it really appears to have had little done to it. Mid 1950's from the vin. Runs nice, with some smoke. (See YouTube wademiddletonco). A couple of interesting thing on this TD that add to some of our discussions. This car is about 500 newer than mine. It has the exack same temp gauge in exactly the same place. Includine exactly the same spot for the sensor on the radiator. Just got to wonder if this could have been an option. Other thing of interest is the headlights. Painted, not chrome. Thought the Early's had chrome? Mine did. Last is the rear view mirror. It looks older. Not seen one like it. Just another example of variation in our cars and another to add to our discussions on originality |
| Bruce Cunha |
| What a great car. Would love to get a couplevthoudand pictures as it really appears to have had little done to it. Mid 1950's from the vin. Runs nice, with some smoke. (See YouTube wademiddletoco). A couple of interesting thing on this TD that add to some of our discussions. This car is about 500 newer than mine. It has the exack same temp gauge in exactly the same place. Includine exactly the same spot for the sensor on the radiator. Just got to wonder if this could have been an option. Other thing of interest is the headlights. Painted, not chrome. Thought the Early's had chrome? Mine did. Last is the rear view mirror. It looks older. Not seen one like it. Just another example of variation in our cars |
| Bruce Cunha |
| Bruce, As I mentioned in the other thread on water temp gauges...my single water temp gauge is also in the same position on my 1950 TD (serial number in the 500s). Since it matches the other gauges it may have been an option...either that or MG had some laying around the factory and they decided to use them up. |
| Charles Duffy |
| "Other thing of interest is the headlights. Painted, not chrome. Thought the Early's had chrome? Mine did." According to Chris Cooper's web site, Original MGTD midget, it is implied that 1949, 1950 and early 1951 TDs came with chrome headlight buckets. However on page 45 of the T Series Handbook, published by the New England MG 'T' Register, F. E. "Chip" Old states that there is considerable disagreement as to when the chrome headlight buckets were chromed, with many experts claiming that on early TD the headlight buckets were chromed and on later cars they weren't, with the dividing line in question. Other experts claim that early cars had the headlight buckets where chromed, mid production cars weren't and that it was picked up again on later cars. Chip further states that this argument has been ongoing for years and may never be resolved. Cheers - Dave |
| David DuBois |
| HI Dave Well, this one would seem to add to the discussion. I am comfortable that my chrome headlight are original from some of the pictures I have from the original owner, unless he had them chromed by the dealer. Yet this car is 500 older and has painted. Again. Another potential option? Does anyone have a TD with an original radiator that does not have the radiator plug for the temp gauge in it? Understand that does not mean it was an accessory, but why add it if it was not thought of as something that might be needed? |
| Bruce Cunha |
A bit steep I think as well. I bought mine for $17K and I've put over three thousand trouble free miles on it since I got it road worthy with new wheel cylinders and a shock rebuild. I love this little red car. I drive it locally any day the sun's shining and it's above 35 F. The only time I put the top up was to take the attached photo. Otherwise I'm wearing my Elmer Fudd hat and a thick jacket.
 |
| R C Flowers |
| it appears the carb overflow pipes go over the bracket, not through the hole and forward... The factory fit of the top of the glovebox door to dash looks a little "casual". Interesting to see a survivor car. Thanks for the link! Regards, Tom |
| tom peterson |
| Interesting indeed,,,, What is the (electrical?) item next to the voltage regulator?? Also, the temp guage line is not wrapped... SPW |
| STEVE WINCZE |
| I've tried to date this photo, which appears to be taken taken at a new car show, I guess import or British section. I haven't been able to pin it to an exact year. But as you see, the car has painted buckets. The chrome wheels were probably a little dealer glitter for the show. I get a kick out of this photo as my wifes prom dress looked a lot like that, in fact the girl reminds me of her back them. PJ  |
| Paul sr |
| My TD#3966 is from October 1950. Is has chromed headlights and the brackets body color. I've got period pics to prove it. PO did the brackets so they are chromed now. Jasper |
| JL Nederhoed TD#3966 |
| Steve, the electrical item looks like a Lucas Smoke Capacitor, similar to the flux capacitor but produces more than 1.21 gigawatts. The horns look like they are gray or silver or maybe the paint has just worn off. |
| Richard Taylor TD3983 |
| I don't think I'm buying everything stated in the script. Statement says it has never been repainted. Interesting then that photos show red paint on the VIN and Patent plate from poorly masked job and also that the bonnet rubber is painted over in red. Puts everything else in question in my my mind. Paul did you notice that not only are the buckets painted in your photo, but so are the trim rings? Interesting. |
| L E D LaVerne |
| We know that the early TD had chrome headlamps, later ones were painted with a chrome ring, and the final TDs had chrome buckets with a riveted on chrome base. The issue becomes unclear when trying to nail down at which points in the production sequence these changes took place. I would suspect a number of the early cars with the chrome headlamps had the buckets painted body color when the chrome started to age. This would have been much cheaper, easier, personal preference, and a way to "modernize" the car. -David |
| D. Sander |
| Humm... In the photo of the front of the TD. The wheel on the right appears almost straight forward. The wheel on the left appears to be pointed out 90 degrees... I don't know when the video of the TD in motion was taken, but as the TD stands now, it's not a driver...! The two front fenders/wings don't seem to have the same, exact shape...The curves are slightly different. But, it does have a heater....! Peace. DrRx. |
| drcrougeux |
| "The car has not ben repainted, or touched in any way other than having a ring job at 55,000 miles." I am not a "believer". |
| David Sheward |
| LaVerne, Yes I did notice the rings were painted also. Confusing, as this has the appearance of a new car show, so why the painted rings on a new specimen? And the chrome wheels ads another issue to the mystery. Sure would like to know the year of it. PJ |
| Paul sr |
| Paul, the only visible hint as to the age of the car in the black and white photo is the wiper motor on the passenger side - it didn't get relocated to the middle of the windscreen until car # 22315 in Nov. of 1952, so says Clausager. So, that really provides little by way of point of reference. Clausager says that headlamp buckets cmae in either chrome or painted, but the trim ring was chrome regardless - on this one the trim rings are painted, too. One can only guess as to why. We can safely conclude that it's a nice car and a lovely lady! BobbyG |
| Bobby Galvez |
| I purchased my TD around 1965. Its car #12789 Engine # XPAG 12789. According to the registry, it would have been shipped the first week in 1952. It was originally black with a tan interior. The engine was replaced with #16052 The buckets were painted. The headlamp rims were chrome. The wheels were painted silver. I had stripped them and there was no evidence of any other color. One thing that has puzzled me is the tail light. All the TD's I see are chrome. Mine was painted body color. The interior was white, perhaps silver, to reflect the light but the outside was painted black. Jim B. |
| JA Benjamin |
| Definitely has been repainted. Looks like it was originally "Clipper Blue" from the paint showing on bonnet louvers and around the tool box flange. No doubt an early Re-sale red paint job. Over all looks pretty correct. Temperature gauge looks like a period installed accessory. Interior panels look original. |
| C.R. Tyrell |
| I also noticed the "Clipper Blue" that is all over the car as well as the obvious red overspray. Asked the seller about it: "You sure about this not having been re-painted? In some of your pictures it looks like it used to be Clipper Blue and Red overspray can be seen several places. (vin plates for one)" Took a while, but got an answer this morning: "It is all original" My "question" did not show up in the listing ...no surprise there! Not a "bad car", mostly unmolested, ...but IMHO:"all original Survivor" NO WAY. We could start a pretty long list starting with the black vinyl hood. I'd file this one under buyer beware! |
| David Sheward |
| All original? Just like Pamela Anderson's boobs. :-) |
| L E D LaVerne |
| I must not be the only one that wrote him...buy it now price is down a bit! |
| David Sheward |
| David, maybe he changed the description after your question - it says that the car was repainted shortly after purchase. BobbyG |
| Bobby Galvez |
| Been talking to the guy and he seems real decent. "Thanks, I do appreciate it. Since the original owner has passed, his grandson has the car (he is my neighbor) so my infor is from him. I do want the car represented properly in any case!" Wished him the best ...he certainly was quick to correct the info! |
| David Sheward |
I must apologize! I was totally incorrect. I was reviewing an old photograph of the TD taken in 1967 or 1968 and the wheels were body color.
 |
| JA Benjamin |
This thread was discussed between 07/04/2013 and 11/04/2013
MG TD TF 1500 index
This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.