MG TD TF 1500 TF brightwork & chrome BBS discussion at MG-Cars.net

MG TD TF 1500 - TF brightwork & chrome

Hello group, Before sending out my metal to the chrome guy, I have some questions and some observations. My TF is an early one finished at the factory Nov 30 1953. For one thing, what is really neat when taking these cars apart are the numerous metals and metal plating finishes they used to make them - copper, brass, stainless, cadmium, chrome, or simply painted etc. I posted some pictures so you can see. I will have to do multiple post since I can only post one pic per post. I do refer the Original mgtf website as a guide and to compare to my car. Since the car has been in the family since '57, there is less chance with multiple owners adding, customizing to the car. Having said that, to determine what color a certain piece is, metal finish, I am allowing the car "speak to me" how it was when I left the factory. Here is my first question / observation. The hood center strip and side strips. My center strip is chrome and the hood side strips are not plated. They are stainless. I look on the Original MGTF it is reversed. It states the hood center strip was polished stainless and the side strips are chrome. Here is a pic with a quick buff on the wheel to the side strip. So you TF owners out there, is this consistent with your cars you have? Frank

Frank Cronin

The second item are the knockoffs for the wheels and the spare wheel. My spare wheel is definitely chrome but the wheel knock offs are not. The pictures are not great since the sun was starting to go down and taken indoors but you should be able to get the idea. The ears to the knock offs have rust probably when the shop reshaped them from being dented in the past by my dad using the wrong hammer to remove them. A steel hammer may have impregnated some steel in the alloy. In any case, I am not sure of the alloy they are made of but they seem light. I did not buff the knockoff entirely, only the ears slightly just to see what potential finish it was. It is the second one from the left. So with more time buffing, they can be nice and shiny and could it be mistaken they were always originally chrome?

Frank Cronin

This is the front bumper. My question is about the holes. I believe the holes on the top above where the crank hole is not original because there was some half assed bracket to install a front license plate for the state of MA to pass road inspection. Am I correct? Fill them in? The holes on the bottom correct I think. They are evenly spaced and I think consistent how the British installed those long licence plates to be mounted below the bumper. Am I correct on this?

Frank Cronin

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Frank Cronin

My last are the headlamp trim rings. There is a copper rivet and it looks like it was added after chroming to install the tab. The tab underneath is just plain metal. Where can I get a copper rivet or does anyone know the size??

Frank Cronin

I think that the rivet on the OEW headlight ring were originally chrome. The repos. from Moss have no rivet just a dimple. The ones that Scarborough Faire sells do have the rivet, but no current repo. has the tab.

David Werblow

This is great stuff! Thanks to all who responded. The center hood / side strip finish discussion is interesting with all the different combinations. Perhaps supply and using different vendors when these cars were made. It is almost similar to a tool roll if your car came with a Shelly or King Dick jack or screw driver, it depended on what was in stock at the time. As for the knock offs, mine are definitely not plated. I can remember as a small boy and when I was older washing the car noticing that the wheel knock offs were not bright and shiny like the spare wheel. Chrome peels and pits with age... these have a dull looking "patina" to them but with some time on the buffing wheel, they can get bright and shiny. So who knows... I'm curious what you find in your attic George. I took better picture of the headlamp trim ring outdoors and this tab I'm talking about. My Harley has something like it for the same function called a top spring. Basically to secure the top half of the ring and then screw to tighten in place on the bottom. The picture clearly shows that this copper rivet was added after the ring was chromed. Just trying to figure out the exact size. If someone has a trim ring with the rivet taken out and measure the hole, I will be able to figure out what size I need to replace. Thanks, Frank

Frank Cronin

This thread was discussed between 13/12/2012 and 20/12/2012

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