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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 TF 8541

Please take a look at TF 8541 on the Original MG TF website in the gallery section managed by Chris Couper.

http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtf/Pictures/TF8541/Thumbnails/mg

I met Dick Little the owner of this beautiful survivor at the GOF Lebanon, NH.

Dick has owned the car since 1978. This car still has the original Factory hood and sidescreens. The hood over time has shrunk and is very tight and brittle. Dick keeps the hood up fearing it with crumble apart. He drives his TA to satisfy his need for spirited driving with the top down.

This car still has the Factory Dunlop spare tire, tool roll, and Karvel carpet which are often replaced during the life of the car.


An after market heater which was a dealer add on is installed. Dick has installed a Lucas 576 lamp and badge bar.


This car is very similar to TF9052 less the more miles on the clock and use.

Pictures help substantiate under the bonnet that screws and bolt heads, Simmonds areo juts. P clips to the wiring, nail heads to the bonnet rest rubber, straps holding the water temperature line on the stay tube were hand painted either body color or black.

Great thanks to Mr Little for sharing his car for all T Series enthusiasts seeking originality for research and restoration purposes.

Frank Cronin

TF 1414




Frank Cronin

Thanks,Frank- great photos!
J K Barter

Dick is quite a guy! He helped us with the Safety Fast inspection on Saturday at the GOF. . He was out in the sun and over 90' heat for hours, never took a break. He has driven his TA for years.
It was great seeing you at the GOF. I can't wait to see your TF, it will be spectacular. It is great to see you taking so much time to get the details right.
D. Sander

Frank
Much thanks for the photos. What a trove of detail! Well done.

Tom
'54 TF
T Norby

I did this post with my phone so I don't think the link worked.

http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtf/Pictures/TF8541/Thumbnails/mgtf_tf8541.htm

I know this site doesn't like links so if you type into Google search " Original MG TF midget ". Once there, click on gallery on the top header and select unrestored TF8541.

Frank

TF1414
Frank Cronin

That is a fantastic collection of photos of an amazingly original car. Well done Frank and Chris.

Matthew.
M Magilton

Hi All,

Brilliant photos once again ! Great and appreciated effort Frank.

I liked looking at the rear sidescreen aluminium dome headed, solid rivets with washers, the BEES brand bolts attaching the front guard flange to the engine side panel, and the BEES brand bolts attaching the correct MGTF1500 Lucas LA model (versus the Q12 for the 1250) coil to the bulkhead.

Cheers also to Dick Little for giving the access to view his very original TF.
Much appreciated.

Cheers
Rob Grantham
TF3719('Aramis"),TF9177("Athos").
Rob Grantham

Looks pretty good from this angle but I do have to ask: Why do you only have 1 running board strip?
Christopher Couper

I visited 8541 tonight. I wanted to measure the running board strips to see how they are staggered on the running board. I used the rubber strip as a guide between the wings and the running board. I also wanted to get close ups of the name on the heads of the bolts. I’m seeing a 5/16” BEES 45R55 for the attachment of the wings to the side panels. 5/16” SPARTS R on the bottom of the side panel to the frame. I forget what my car has but I know mine doesn’t say that. First I’ve seen SPARTS stamped on the head since none were on my car. I should know since I’ve handled every bolt on this car cleaning and chasing threads on each one. I’m picking up my bolts from the plater from cad plating tomorrow so we’ll see. In any case, I think the supply of which bolt manufacture changed quite often depending on what was on hand and when it was on the production line. Early and late. For restorers to be certain all the stamped bolts match. On this car two 5/16” hardware to the running board to the front wing. A single 3/8” bolt connecting rear wing to the rear of the running board. On 1414, I have all three attachments with 3/8” hardware with Philliadas lock nuts…. Go figure…….

Tried to find if there was a Lucas ID tag on the ground wire. It’s probably there but it’s so tight under the bonnet I couldn’t see anything……..

3/8” hardware for the four bolts that attach the front wing stay bar support. A good picture of someone with a black paint brush really trying to paint the bolt head closest to the radiator and failing miserably getting paint on the inside of the of the red side panel instead!

I had a question if the two bolts that are under the spare wheel to the rear splash. On my car, they were hex and was curious if they were natural or painted. I reached out to R. Grantham a while back and cars he’s taken down were chromed phillips.

So I guess this is another case where there is a difference between early TF’s and later TF’s. Similar to the bolts that are seen in the rear of the tub that anchor the top brackets for the fuel tank straps. Early had hex. Later cars phillips.



Frank Cronin

2


Frank Cronin

TF1414 rear splash


Frank Cronin

TF8541 chrome phillips


Frank Cronin

last one for now.........


Frank Cronin

one more pic

Nitty details.... Every nut and exposed thread on the bolt was painted body color under the bonnet. In this picture you can see someone got a little sloppy and got some paint on the wiring. Probably a car detailed by someone who had a few pints at lunch.......



Frank Cronin

This thread was discussed between 20/07/2018 and 23/08/2019

MG TD TF 1500 index

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