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MG TD TF 1500 - TF Dashboard Color

I am getting ready to have my TF media blasted in prep for painting. I have searched sites to find out what color the dashboards were painted. I understand that the underside of the scuttle was painted to match the interior color but what colors were the dashboards? Did they match the color of the interior or exterior?
J Fleshman

Here's an untouched original. Moss sells a paint for this. PJ

The underside of my scuttle is a variety of primer and red paint over spray. Not neat at all! PJ




P. Jennings

I painted my "center" with Moss supplied paint.
Disclaimer: What they sold 10+ years ago, from what I have heard what they sell now is not quite as good a match?

The "outer" dash should be interior color.
2nd Disclaimer: My car came with a fairly nice "Black" interior so I went with black on the dash. This was not an "option" when the car was built.
My is not "correct" ...but Ivory car w/ black interior & red dash didn't cut it for me.


David Sheward

I thought the main dash was colored in conjunction with the exterior color of the car. No?? PJ
P. Jennings

TFs,main dash(versus the metallic bronze instrument panel)was interior colour.

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

The original TF I worked on years ago had a red interior, red main dash, black exterior. See NEMGTR T-series handbook for color info.George
George Butz

Does this help?

http://www.mgcars.org.uk/mgtf/mgtf_finishes.htm

Again Mine IS wrong in that there was (?) only 1 TF made at Abingdon with a black interior, (a white car).
Then again, I belive strongly that not "all" color changes done on the line made it into production records. My fathers TF1500 was a black car w/bisquit interior & back dash and he purchased it new. (It could have been a dealer "change", but a doubt it.)

Conversations I had with one that worked at Abingdon durring TF production stated they would have painted a TF "pink w/ purple poka-dots if they knew it would sell". At the tyme, not a very "popular car" and built in a factory that was on the verge of clossing.
David Sheward

The TF dash was either red, green, or tan to match the interior color. The bottom of the scuttle was also painted to match, as was the metal glove box. The cardboard lids of the glove boxes was covered in rexine to match.

-David
D. Sander

Try going to www.mgcars.org.uk/mgtf/index.html. On the site you will find the finishes and colors of the MGTF. This includes not only the basic body colors but virtually every part on the car.

Larry
LD Kanaster

Or just click the link above, that will take you to that page.
David Sheward

In the case of green TF's with a green interior the dash color was not the same as the exterior green, but a different green color that was supposed to match the interior. I don't know if red on red had a different interior red or not............?
James
J K Barter

James,
The chart I posted a link to above shows a "different" shade of both campaired to body colour.
David Sheward

You need to paint the underside of the scuttle as when you sit in the drivers/passenger seat you can see it. The dash leans away from the driver leaving a gap. I know I didn't paint mine and had to take it apart again!

AJ


A R Jones

Here is the color scheme for a black TF car with green dash and black instrument panel. I found a closely matching paint for under the scuttle. The dash is truly the original color and has not been repainted. But the digital camera kind of horsed up the colors a bit, as the dash is not quite that bluish. I may have messed up the edge of the scuttle under the pad by painting it the black, however. Mike


MW Davis

Interesting photo Mike. Yes, the green dashes did fade slightly towards a bluish colour and the original green upholstery had a slightly aqua green look to it which was different to the apple green of the TD's and TC's. I am not sure about your black instrument panel though as yours is the only example I have come across.
I have attached a picture of the original dash and upholstery kindly sent to me by the owner of TF7249.

J.Fleshman: Let us know what colour scheme you decide on as I may have pics of original paint for to see.

James: I have seen two cars which had lighter factory red paint on the dash.

Matthew.



Matthew Magilton

Matthew,I am not sure about your black instrument panel though as yours is the only example I have come across.


Matthew, Here's the one from my 55 as it came off the car. The original exterior color was MG red, not sure about the interior, but the seats and panels were black I also questioned this dash color and the fabric cover. Could very well have been done by some previous owner. But that is just speculation on my part. PJ


P. Jennings

If the seats were black then I would suggest the instrument panel was altered at the same time.

Matthew.
Matthew Magilton

Those are my thoughts also Matthew. I plan to put it back to the original color, But I'm told that the Moss paint is a shade or two off. I painted my steering wheel with the Moss paint after I restored it and it looks great, but of course the outer rim isn't the lighter marble effect as original. The interior is being re done in tan and the body is going back to a red, possibly an Autumn Red/ Burgundy?? The main dash will be the proper shade of tan. PJ


P. Jennings

Not "correct" but I kind of like the black panel.
Looks very nice on Mike's black car.
What color body piping you going with?
Interior color piping (again not "correct") is something I think really looks good on the TF.
IMHO: I think it defines the lines nicely.
David Sheward

David, I was thinking a tan exterior piping would look nice with the tan interior on a Burgundy paint. I never gave interior piping a thought, but since you mentioned it, sounds nice. Thanks. Decisions, decisions. PJ
P. Jennings

Paul,
I meant the "body piping". Never thought about interior as well. I don't know ...maybe a bit "over the top" ?
Have owned a few Austins done that way, but can't recall ever seeing an MG with it.
I have seen a lot of TF's with contrasting body piping (mine for one) and I think that looks good.

After seeing the "chips" in mine when I purchased the TF, it didn't make any sence to paint it again when I did the re-spray. I felt the same way with door hinges and polished the brass on mine instead of painting them.

Yea ...I know "points-off" for concoures but I am just not a concoures guy. "Izzy" doesn't seem to mind that she a driver, not a trailer queen.
David Sheward

David, Mine, when finished, will look very close to a concourse restoration, but I'm building it as a driver! Not being the proper MG Red the plate calls for, is one reason concourse is out and a couple other minor issues, but like you, I'm not into the trailer queen thing! I want to enjoy driving it! But that's just me. The image shows two TFs, the one on the right is the proper color for mine, the one on the left is the color I'm thing about, which I think is Autumn Red. PJ


P. Jennings

I'm pretty sure the black panel is correct, as the car has been in the family since the 60's, and I don't think anyone ever repainted it. I had it out and saw no signs of repaint...
MW Davis

Paul,
Good choice ...the "deeper" red looks nice. IMHO: you will have less people asking "where did you get your kit car?" ....I hate it when people ask me that!

Mike , I guess anything is possible with these cars!
(There were hand-made.)
David Sheward

PJ - Autumn Red & biscuit interior and biscuit exterior piping.


J Ostergren

This thread was discussed between 25/02/2012 and 03/03/2012

MG TD TF 1500 index

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