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MG TD TF 1500 - TF Radio & aerial placement

Hi All:
I would like to install a 1950s radio in my TF. Can anyone tell me and/or supply a picture of original or innovative installations.
Also would like pictures of TFs with aerials in various locations just to see where they would look the best.
Godspeed in Safety Fast
Jc
John Crawley

John,

Just don't make any holes on the coachwork! I did see one mounted celeverly on a luggage rack many years ago, but have always wondered he he got ground protection.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A. Clark

John,
Have a look at the forum members photo's, #104 my car in 1964 had a radio with the aerial on the side.
RickS

Have seen them on the rear splash guard.. and on a bracket on the bumper bracket....? Always wondered if in front of the passenger door presented any 'noise' (static) problems?
gblawson - TD#27667

John

My TF had an aerial when I bought it in 1970. It was mounted on the lower part of the nearside front wing and extended above the windscreen. IIRC it was red. There was no radio though! -

http://web.mac.com/djwardell/mgtf1500/mg_bits_and_pieces.html#mg_in_1970s

Regards

David
David Wardell

I don't remember any static problems when I had the radio in, but I was young then and didn't really appreciate that listening to the exhaust note is better than listening to rock music. Now that my music tastes have matured its impossible to appreciate good music in an open top with an exhaust note.
RickS

ignoring the fact that there's NOTHING worth listing to on radio today... :-)


My car has an aerial bolted to the scuttle side on the panel between bonnet and door, driver's side.

No radio inside so its vestigial, but could come in handy for flying a little flag if ever so inclined.
Will

I have seen them actually bolted to the side between the door and the hood. This of course requires drilling into the body.

I did see one on a TD that used the two fuel tank side panel mounts. This allows the antenna to be lowered below the tank when not being used.
BEC Cunha

Hi:

Thanks for the replies. I like the idea of alongside the fuel tank . . . perhaps I will try that on the passanger side - no drilling required.
Godspeed in Safety Fast
Jc
John Crawley

Rick said to look at forum members photo's, #104 my car. For the life of me I can't find how to link to it. Can anyone tell me specifically where do I go on the site to find forum members? Thanks. By the way, my car had the two fasteners on the passengier side in fron of the doors at a rake. I believe it to be at least 60's or older. No radio. I am looking for one - Keith
Keith Murphy

I had a TD in 1959 when I was in high school and it had a tube type radio in it withthe antenna (excuse me, aerial - bugs have antenna) mounted on the passenger side between the door and the bonnet. I believe that was a very common spot in those days. Since the cars didn't come with radios and aerials from the manufacture, there are probably as many different mountings as there are people who had them installed.

A funny aside to radios in T series cars, the radio in my TD didn't work and I took it to a repair man to have it fixed. My buddy came with me to pick it up and the repairman was going to demonstrate that the radio was working before he gave it back to me. My buddy made the comment that, being a British radio, maybe it only picked up British stations - ha ha. When the radio finally warmed up (remember waiting for the tubes to warm up so you could hear the broadcast?), a local station anouncer was interviewing someone from England and the first thing we heard was a British accent - my buddy and I just looked at each other with our mouths hanging open.

One thing that I did learn with that TD was that a radio in a T series car is absolutely useless, unless you wanted to sit in your driveway, with the engine off to listen to it. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Keith... the photos are on my website:


http://gblandco.com/gb/forum/forum.html
gblawson

See Malcolm Green's T Series Restoration Guide, page 139
"Installation Instructions for His Master's Voice Automobile Radio"

On the TD, they put the radio in the glove box, didn't say where to put the antenna.
Don Harmer

Don,

On the following page of the TD restoration Guide it shows the installion of the arial. It also shows the cutouts for the radio in the glovebox and on the under dash panel for the speaker.

If anybody wants a copy, I can get if scanned and send it.


John
John Scragg

John,
Sometimes it helps to turn the page, sorry I missed that!!
Don H
Don Harmer

Thanks Gordon,

A lot of nice cars on your site. I am getting close to getting an original radio, and have to decide between having to get one restored with the original tube amp that will only get part of the AM band. Or for a price they will take the original radio head and fit with transistors and it will get am fm.
Keith Murphy

Is your car pos or neg ground?
gblawson - TD#27667

This thread was discussed between 26/01/2007 and 14/02/2007

MG TD TF 1500 index

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