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MG TD TF 1500 - TD Mystery Part 1

I am a new member and am about to begin restoration of '51 TD. I wonder if anyone may have an idea of the purpose of these parts. There is another set on the passenger side.


W H Reid

Hi,

They may have been used to affix aeroscreens at some point.

Regards,
Mike
M Spencer

Wind screens. They can either be affixed to the windshield stantionss, or unclipped form the windshield and clipped here for use with the windscreen folded flat. You can pick up a few mph with the widened shield folded down.
-David
D. Sander

You do see those brackets for wind screens on TD's fairly frequently (not original factory, of course), and also sometimes you see sockets, for use with the curved aero screens.

I love to see original Rexine dash coverings; shows that it is an unrestored or older restoration.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Welcome WH. I also have a 51 TD. Could I respectfully suggest that you take as many detailed digital pics of your car as humanly possible before & during your tear down. I agree with Tom's comment about your dash. Your car may well provide clues to the answers to some debated points of originality. I'm sure Chris Couper would also be interested. Good luck. If you can't find the answers to your queries in the archive here just ask the question. I've found this site to be a great resource.
Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Tom and others are right, I had them on my TC in 1958. They allow you to use the rectangular wind-wings as aeroscreens They are not visible in this photo as the tonneau is on.


David Werblow

Why restore it? The cost will be much greater that you budgeted for and it will have a deterious impact upon your libido etc. There are very few original T types or even ones as they were 40/50 years ago. So if needs just a bit of mechanical attention then do that but leave the paint. The world is full of glossy shiny pampered T types which go nowhere and then only on fine days. I have rebuilt our TF twice. The first time it was falling apart and the second time it had to come apart because a tree jumped out and hit it on a country lane. This work took about 25 years (new jobs, children etc) and was done because my eldest daughter (who had it for her 21st birthday) wanted to drive it. It has been across Europe and used hard over the past 15/18 years since it was rebuilt. Thus it is not in the best of conditon but she gooes and is FUN.

The TD we used for trialling and after one trial where we hit a wall and got axle deep in mud and the wiring was rubbish and the body resembled lace I decided to rebuild it. Now it sits there prisitine and shiny such that I am wary of using it and it needs using.
R J Marshall

RJ - " I decided to rebuild it. Now it sits there prisitine and shiny such that I am wary of using it and it needs using."
Hire someone to come around in the dark of the night and put a small dent or scratch in the body somewhere - anywhere. It isn't until you get the first dent or scratch into a newly restored vehicle that you can take it out and enjoy driving it the way it should be driven. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

WH - of course, what you do with your car is unquestionably YOUR decision. But that being said, I have a terrible fondness for older cars that have a nice patina, SIMPLY BECAUSE that have never been restored. I won't bore with with a list of cars I have here waiting for that treatment (6 of my 8 TD's); ultimately, a car can only be original once. Even if it is rough around the edges, it's still original, and interesting to many in that form.

Here's a thought - show us some pictures, and let us describe for you what WE would do. It will be instructive, and you still get to decide whatever you ultimately want to do!

And we're happy to help in any way we can - we all live vicariously through others' work on their cars, and we ALL learn.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

This car may be more, or less, than what we think it might be. Bill is sending me some more pictures and has already started to describe it but its still a mystery at this point. It does look tempting as an un-restored car.

For example it actually may have started out in life as a green/green car.

Back on the original thread subject. I see these brackets frequently but have yet to see a set of the windwings in place. Waiting for a picture with baited breath.

And what's wrong with my libido? My TD has never complained. :-)
Christopher Couper

Chris - I have a car with sockets and aero screens, if you want a picture of them in situ.

Tom Lange
t lange

...I too love original Rexine...





gblawson(gordon- TD27667)

Mr. Reid

Please post more pictures and the car number. Flat gauges, so it is an early TD.
Bruce Cunha

The car number is 4618. According to what I have been able to determine it was produced in November 1950...Any way I can narrow that date down?....I am going to include several pictures later today...Any and all comments would be appreciated....

Bill
Bill Reid

Nov. 27, 1950, and it was produced with engine XPAG/TD/LHX 5017.

Tom Lange
M<GT Repair
t lange

Correct on the engine number....it is really neat that a car produced within a few days of my sixth birthday, three thousand miles away, now sits in my garage waiting to be brought back to life....curious Tom....where would one find the detailed production info you provided?
Bill Reid

Pics


Bill Reid


Two places: on-line there is reasonably-accurate information, but not flawless: http://www.tregister.org/search_prod.php

Also, I have copies of the original factory production ledgers, which, alas, is all that remains of the TD records. The detailed records of each car's color, extras, etc., were tossed when the factory needed more room to expand MGB production. The production records occasionally have interesting information such as when a car had a defective engine replaced on the production line, or when a group of special cars wewre made.

Do show us more pictures! I adore unrestored cars.
Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

This is the left gas tank support. The color under the respray ifor both s silver as are the headlight supports. There is no color below the silver, suggesting that they were originally silver. Is this possible?


Bill Reid

Headlight support.


Bill Reid

Well, I sent a bunch of others before the two above, but they do not seem to have arrived???
Bill Reid

Tried again....no luck...maybe later
Bill Reid

Left side


Bill Reid

Another left side view


Bill Reid

Tools


Bill Reid

Bill

My TD is 4139 and it was produced Nov 1 1950. Yours is the closest to mine that I think I have seen.

As for the paint. Silver was not used on the TD (according to this link http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtd/mgtd_finishes.htm#ColorSchemes)

Don't put a lot of faith in dates with the TD. If you note it says Sunburst Bronze was available in 1951. Well my TD was originally Sunburst Bronze.

MG went more on where they were with production than what the date on the calender was. It is not unusual to see parts on a car that are earlier that what is listed.

If you take off the side panel on the gas tank, you may find the original color.
Bruce Cunha

Right side....


Bill Reid

Left rear....


Bill Reid

Dash


Bill Reid

Speedo


Bill Reid

Engine..left side


Bill Reid

Engine left side 2


Bill Reid

Engine right side


Bill Reid

Inside left door


Bill Reid

Data plate 1


Bill Reid

Data plate2


Bill Reid

If you would like a different view let me know.....
Bill Reid

Wow! I'm not a purist but I'd be inclined to just clean it up, remove anything that was added after production and get it in good running condition. Such a historic treasure. I drool ...

Jud
J K Chapin

I think that the originality comes from the fact that it was owned by a woman for over 40 years. As we know, most guys would have tinkered with it to the point where originality was long gone. I know I did with my early TRs........she just wanted it to start when she needed it.
Bill Reid

Let me add one more picture for Bill. It tells an interesting story. This car was originally green/green. We are still trying to figure out which green and hope to have more details on that soon.

Its had quite a few paint jobs. It may have been painted green over the green, then red and then silver. There may in fact have been other paint jobs too. He is just starting to dive into that.

But after the greens it was clear to the then current owner that the green interior was not working so they very meticulously painted the interior red. If you look at detailed photos you can see what a great job they did. However this finish did not hold up to the test of time and that's the reason the dash has that funny cracked look on it. The red finish basically cracked and was no longer as flexible as the Rexine below it.

All told though this is a fascinating car that needs little to make it original besides finish and a new interior. All the major stuff is there and correct. If I was going to start a restoration this would be the exact type of car I would seek out.


Christopher Couper

Nice car Bill. If you write to the M.G. Car Club in England, give them your car number & request a copy of the original log entry they will send you back a colour photocopy of the hand written entry in the factory production daily log free of charge.
Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Here's a set of brackets that came with my MKII. Marvin,ct


Marvin Stuart

Peter - Or I can do the same thing here in the US, as I have a complete set of copies of those pages.

Bill - send me your e-mail address and I will scan the original production record page.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Many original things- generator, "Mickey Mouse" nut on air cleaner among others. Keep those and restore! Great project car. Would like to see a close-up of the tach drive coupling nut (the brass thing between the drive and generator)have only seen a handful of original ones. Great project car. George
George Butz

George, I will take a pic and post it later tonight...
Bill Reid

Tach Drive Coupling Nut


Bill Reid

You've gotta paint it!
IMHO
Chuck
cj schmit

Battery box shows green paint. I am thinking woodland green with green interior. That would fit the color chart.

One of the things I find interesting is the temperature gauge. I have one exactly like this. in nearly the same spot.

The red paint under the fenders is a bit confusing.
Bruce Cunha

G'day Bill. Referring to the pic posted by CC are the door cards, as the poms say, backed with ply or fibreboard?
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Bill,

Nice Commando!

Jim
JE Carroll

Bill, that is the nicest original coupling nut I have seen. Beautiful "X" pattern in the brass rather than the repro linear deals. Don't hack it up with pliers, very few of these are still around.
George Butz

Jim, thanks for the complement. It is a '74 850 and has been my project for the last few months.....started as a basket case......literally.
Now waiting for the rebuilt engine/trans.....hope to be riding it this summer.

The door cards appear to be plyboard....three ply to be exact. Pics below.

Here is my current take on the paint history of the car:

I believe it left the factory as an Almond Green/Green Interior car. I have sent Chris some more pics and we will see what he has to say. The original paint where it is exposed has a definite sheen to it and becomes bit lighter or darker, depending on the angle of the light. Interestingly, under the gray respray, the headlight brackets and spare tire carrier bracket are the same silver as the wheels. I have found no evidence of green on any of these parts so far. I will explore this further in the days ahead.......I wonder if there is any evidence that this may have been a factory option or perhaps they came that way from a supplier....at some time later the car was sprayed gray, the wheel wells and grill were painted red, as was the upholstery. By the way, the red paint in the wheel wells as poorly done as there is overspray on the chasis and some of the suspension parts. I believe that the respray was done by the last owner. She bought it in 1959 when it was a relatively new car and kept it almost 45 years. I have found no evidence of any further painting.
Bill Reid

Door panel


Bill Reid

This thread was discussed between 13/01/2014 and 16/01/2014

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