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MG TD TF 1500 - TF Pricing

There is a '54 TF listed on EBay at $35,400. It is pushed as a collectors "dream".
From the phictures it looks to be in top condition but I guess I could do without the flags on the wings.
Many of you know more about the TF than I ever will. I would value your thoughts on the price of this car and any other observations you might have.
Thanks and Happy New Year!
Dick Thomas
Dick Thomas

If it's the gray one in Florida, it has a lot wrong with it for 35000.00
LED DOWNEY

Hi Dick,

Can't seem to find this TF on eBay ?

Cheers
Rob Grantham
Rob Grantham

They seem to be very shy in showing much of the engine/engine compartment. It is from Florida. So, is it the engine that you are referring to LaVerne, when you write, "a lot wrong with it..."? The top doesn't seem to fit quite right either. Sorry, but for me the white walls really distract, not add, to the looks of this TF. The sides have the "TF 1500" badge, but the specs say 1250cc.

By the way, the rebuilt engine for my '54 mgtf arrived back from R&L Engines of Dover NH a couple of weeks ago and I am very pleased with the results. I could post some pics, but am afraid I'll be "voted off the Island" because of the color I selected to have it painted (obviously not the traditional red maroon color)

Cheers, and the best to all in the coming year -- John

John Brickell

After my last post, I realized that I should have indicated the color I selected to have the engine painted. I had the engine painted a dark "British Racing Green", which will be the color of the body of the MG. Decided I want those to match. I will post a couple of pics tomorrow.



John Brickell

When you go on E Bay type in mg-tf and you will find this car. Was redone in 2000 and supposedly had a 6000 dollar repair bill in 2007. What is the deal on that I wonder? It is a nice looking car but price seems awful high, even if it was sold at auction for 38500.00 in 06.
TRM Maine

The things I didn't like John were

1. The 1500 badges on a 1250 car
2. Color is not my cup of tea ( to each their own) originaly red.. same with the interior (honey tan?)
3. vinyl on the dash shouldn't be there but if it is it sould be glued down properly and not coming undone all over the place
4. same thing for the curtain box.
5. top (hood) doesn't match the material color of the side curtains and the fit is awfull
6. steering wheel once again amatter of taste but the leather (if thats what it is) is filthy
7. engine compartment rust on wiper motor box, rust on control box, two different colors of red and what appears to be water stains on the block
8. no mention of the condition of the drive train, wood etc. ...so your buying a pig in a poke
9. no shots of the underside of the car

bottom line it looks like a half ass resto to me

for 35000.00 I'd expect either unrestored original or a damn fine restoration of which it is neither
LED DOWNEY

To each his own as they say,however it does make me a little sad to see a 'TF' in this
restored form.I guess we have to be thankful that the word 'Concours' has not been used on this occasion !!

Cheers
Rob Grantham
Rob Grantham

Wiper arms and blades are aftermarket. Rust stains all over the engine in the places that we can see. I wonder what's the rest like.
Sandy
SANDY SANDERS

The leather wrap on the s/wheel is probably covering untold sins, see the glue at the base of the spokes.
The interiour colour is pretty close to original biscuit but throw the carpets and the tacky dash vinyl.
Back in the 50's it was not unusual to see 1500 badges on a 1250, but why restore one that way?
A nice driver, but overpriced.

Cheers,
Matthew.
Matthew Magilton

LaVerne that's a good list of things to object to with respect to this TF that's for sale on ebay, and it has me reflecting on the TF I purchased on ebay last August, now a year and four months later and much work taking it apart down to the frame.

For what it's worth since we're talking the price of a TF. I paid $20,000 for mine, sight unseen except for the pics that were part of the ebay post. Admittedly I was very naive regarding the price, conditions to look for, etc., when I made this purchase.

Knowing what I have learned since my purchase and being a frequent visitor, and sometime participant, on this BB, I would have had someone in the Georgia area look this car over before bidding. It would have revealed that there were things not visible, not pictured in the photos on ebay. Lesson: what isn't shown should raise a concern. However, there were two things that convinced me to make the purchase for the price I paid: one, it was a one owner, and two it was not a "mid-west car", read "no rust" (lived in the mid-west for 15 years). However, rust can occur due to factors other than the good ol' road salt of the mid-west.

I can now say with all humility, that I paid too much for this car given the condition I found it in when it arrived. So, for those who are in the initial process of making such a purchase, my experience would lead me to suggest that you need to get all of the information possible before making such an investment. The experienced on this list know all of this all to well.

I'm glad I have a TF to restore, but I should have taken more time to be informed as to what to look for and what should be a "reasonable" price to pay, before making that final purchase.

Just thought I would add my 2-cents to this topic -- John
John Brickell

Genneraly speaking John, prices paid for our cars isn't touched upon much here. Whether it's because someones afraid they got took or because they got a steal I don't hear much discussion in that area. I've mentioned what I've got in my TF a few times and I'm sure some people are thinking what a fool or thats just insane.
Your 20000 TF may be a better bargin at the end of the day than the 6000 TF basket case I bought. I kept meticulous records of every penny I spent on the TF including degreasers and such. The ledger now shows I have spent 40444.00 including the cost of the car. There were some big ticket items I didn't have to buy such as the 3000 supercharger, 3000 wire wheel set up, 2500 5 speed and the 2000 crankshaft. But the rest is still over the top in terms of value for the car. I did all the work myself with the exception of some powder coating, chrome work and the engine machine work so most of this is just the cost of replacing parts that either wern't there or were in bad shape.
The TD I bought this summer for 4000 is a much better buy but at the end of the day I expect to have about another 10 to 12 thousand in it before I'm done.
A couple of other things about the Ebay TF I don't like are the snaps on the dash instead of studs and the srews through the door panels and seat backs. If somebody really paid 60000 at Barret Jackson for it a few years ago I'd say they got bent over the table.

By the way I think this is the perfect time for you to take a picture of the green motor with you and send it to Gordon and join his gallery.
LED DOWNEY

Well, $35000 for a TF is ridiculous. Spending that sight unseen is very risky so get a pane ticket and inspect it! Maybe the world's most perfect trailer queen or one with 1000 miles original might qualify. It's easy to spend lots of money on them and you should generally not expect to get your investment out of them unless you do your own labor at $.50 per hour. :) Mike D.
MW Davis

Thanks for your comments LaVerne, much appreciated. I plan to take some pics of the engine today and will post. For those of you who aren't aware, or have forgotten, I previously posted the address to web site where pics and commentary of my dismantling/restoration of the TF can be seen: www.mgtf54.jeepaw.com

In the spirit of openness and candor that has begun on this post, I will list out my major expenses so far. But first, my morning cup of hot coffee is awaitin'. So back a bit later today.

Cheers -- John
John Brickell

Good day all
I sent this to the seller when it first appeared on eBay, I never got a responce back. Is this miss leading or what? John

Dear americarsusa,

The TF you are selling is listed with a 1250 cc XPAG engine, but on the hood are two "1500" emblems. Is the car a MGTF 1500 or a MGTF 1250. The TF 1500 usually sell for one third more than a TF 1250 are you aware of this ? Thanks John

John Hambleton

Not $35K car by a long shot. Chevy Orange cylinder head, no threshold plates, and the JC Whitney leather steering wheel cover! It notes that Glenn's MG did the work on it a couple years ago- if anyone is interested, he would tell you what the car is really like! It does look really straight, with most of the original things there however. LaVerne, you were brave to keep up with all of your expenses! I never had the nerve to do that. George
George Butz

I am like LaVerne, kept records of my 51TD. Started at 5000.00 for the car and quit keeping records when I went over the 25000.00 mark. Part of that is a blown engine due to a superchargine problem but even os I am well over 30 grand total. It was over a period of about 10 years and to me the investment is worth it. I love my little car and would not give it up for anything.


TRM Maine

By the way, here is a photo of my other ride. Daily in the spring, summer, fall.


TRM Maine

Long coffee break, eh? Anyway, here's a list of my major expenses for the '54MGTF I referred to earlier:

Price paid for car (ebay) $20,000
shipping from Georgia 2,475
Transmission conversion
Datsun 210 tranny 500
Skyhook conversion 1,075
engine rebuild 10,000
R&L Engines Dover, NH
Instruments repair(estimate) 600-700 British Lbs
Vintage Restorations, England
5 wire wheels and conversion kit 3,200
British Wire Wheels, Fresno, CA
Convertible top 595
Side curtains 535
Little British Car Co.
Wood and metal parts replacements
Moss Motors (approximate, so far) 1,500
Abingdon Spares (approximate) 2,000

Okay, that's the major stuff and should give anyone who has not already gotten into this kind of restoration what may lie (lay?) ahead for them. I share this, not to be condemned for the prices I have paid, but to give a realistic idea of what cost my be incurred especially if you are not a mechanic and have not had much experience in doing this sort of complete restoration. Which defines me. That said, this is a project I have always wanted to do, and I am having fun in the process. Many frustrating times, of course, but "fun" anyway.

LaVerne as me to post some pics of the refurbished engine and I will do so now.

Cheers -- John


John Brickell

2nd photo


John Brickell

3rd photo


John Brickell

4th and last photo


John Brickell

On the purchase-price aspect of the thread, I bought my 54 TF1500 (original engine,numbers match and so forth) for $13,000. The car was a running/drivable car when purchased. The older "restoration" was primarily cosmetic and I knew this going in. Overall, the car has presented me with no real "oh my gosh" moments. I have put about $1,200.00 additional into it so far - and have driven it from GA up into West Virginia, TN, and NC, and back on one of our T Club events.

I think I did well on the purchase and plan to bring the car up to snuff from a mechanical stand point while also working on the various cosmetic issues. When the car is actually restored - one day - I will put in a new interior and all of the other items. It is a solid car that looks fine to most people - but I know what it should be and hope to get it there over time.

I love driving it - and am amazed at the difference between the TF 1500 and our TD that I have driven and been in since I was 15 (now 47).

My master plan is to one day trade the TF for a very nice TC - my long-time dream car - but, who knows the TF may change my mind. From the looks standpoint the TC has always been the car for me - this TF purchase was unexpected and unintended - I just couldn't walk away from it.

Jeff

J. W. Delk

Hey John,

What did the rebuild of the engine consist of. I will be ready to rebuild mine in a year or so.

Regards,

Rich
Richard Taylor

OK, Folks,
You sent to the adding machine: I purchased a TF in boxes in 2001 for $6,200. From the time of purchase until putting it on the road in 2005 I spent an additional $16,445.07 on parts and machine shop labor. There are an additional number of invoices that I know I paid that were not included: buying paint, straightening 4 wheals, etc. It took five years to complete as I did all but the machine shop work. Thus, it’s safe to say that I have well over $23,000 in my car, with my $0.00 per hour
labor rate.


David Werblow

Rich, and anyone else who may be interested, I can make a copy of the CD they sent documenting the rebuild. The CD consists of 208 photos, starting with the uncrating of the TF's engine as it arrived at their shop to the finished product you see in the pics above. Write to me at my e-mail address so I can have your address, etc.

I got the recommendation to have R&L Engines do the rebuild from Steve Neal, of Skyhook Engineering. He mentioned to me that he was having his engine rebuilt by them. Figured that was a pretty good recommendation.

Cheers -- John
John Brickell

If you were unknown to this group and selling the car on ebay John, we would probably beat you up about the color. That said I think the color looks very good. Where did you come up with the split cast manifold?
It's good to see what others have paid for parts and services for comparison purposes.

Example:

You paid $500 for the 5 speed

I paid $ 350 for mine from a fellow in Buffalo NY

You paid $1075 for the conversion

I paid $ 1950 for the conversion... I'd say I got screwed compaired to you on that on eh?

Another reason why I appreciate my machine shop
$450 for boiling the head and the block, new valve seats, installed the new guides,valves, honed the block, surfaced the deck of both, static and dynamic balance of all reciprocating parts,milled recess for the new crank on the fly wheel and surfaced.

Dave you did well and it's looks like we get the same labor rate.

Sounds like Jeff did real well.


Wow Tom.... I'd have like to taken that around Road America.
LED DOWNEY

LaVerne, while going around Road America in the T was really a blast, I think the Vette would be the real ticket. Seriously though I would probably wind up in a coffin with the Vette. It is a great car and a pleasure to drive but you do have to watch the throttle, unlike the T car. That RA trip was the highlight of GOF Midwest and I plan on going back to RA to try it again. I hear for price of a ticket and an extra 50 bucks you can go out on the track at certain times and run how you want to. I for one am going to try it in the TD.
TRM Maine

If I was close Tom I think I'd be on the track every day. Your right it was a blast and certainly worth the drive I made out there. If I was ten years younger this TD I'm building would definatly be a racer.
LED DOWNEY

Okay LaVerne, I figured I'd be sent to the wood shed for the color of the TF's engine, but I must admit that I do like the color and I decided that I really did want to have it match the color of the car itself.

As said previously, I plan to drive this car, not show it. I also figured that the price of the engine rebuild would raise a few eyebrows. In all honesty it was more $$ than I had expected to pay. But, when all was said and done, I honestly believe that I got an honest return on my dollar.

Oh, and thanks for considering me a part of the "family".

Cheers -- John
John Brickell

Sorry LaVerne forgot to respond to your question regarding the split exhaust manifold. Can take no credit for that little gem, but certainly one of the unexpected positives of this TF. I can only guess that the PO made the conversion. His widow was the person selling the car and didn't have a very good recollection of the history of this TF.

John
John Brickell

This thread was discussed between 28/12/2009 and 30/12/2009

MG TD TF 1500 index

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