MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - The Red Car Lending Library

So many of us have started our T-enthusiasm by reading The Red Car by Don Stanford. But for many more, it is a pleasure to be anticipated.

I have an extra copy of the first UK edition of the book (changes are only subsituting words like "petrol" for "gas" and that annoying extra "u" that pops up from time to time), and am willing to lend it to anyone who wants to read it. In the used book market perbacks start at about $15 and hardcovers more like $25, and this UK cost me $50.

Please send me your name and address and I will add it to my list of future readers.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

I'm sending The Red Car out to the third borrower, and wanted to renew my offer to lend my copy of the book to anyone who wants to read it. Please let me know your mailing address and I will add it to the list.

Mort - it is on its way; Chuck - when Mort finishes he will send it on to you.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Anybody else want to read this? It's ready for the next borrower.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Tom, my snailmail address is on its way via email. Thanks, Bud
Bud Krueger

Bud - one guy ahead of you; I'll have him forward it on to you when he is done.

This seems to be working well; I'm pleased to say.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

I don't remember to whom I last sent this (not Bud), but if the person who has it is done, could he please send it on?

Thanks.

Tom Lange
t lange

Tom, FYI The Red Car arrived in Plymouth MA this morning.
Bud
Bud Krueger

Thanks to all. If anyone else would like to be added to the reading list, please let me know.

Tom
t lange

I'd like to be added to the list. I'll send a snail mail address via email.

Thanks.

Jud
J K Chapin

Hi Tom
I finished reading and sent the book on to Bud Krueger!
Thanks
Ps I put the address of the next guy in with the book for Bud to send it on...
Chuck
cj schmit

After reading all the reports about this book on this site I borrowed a copy from a fellow lbc enthusiast. I read it the same afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed it. I felt like I had returned to my early teenage years. Light reading but quite enjoyable.

Kirk
Kirk Trigg TD24953

Last seen the Red Car was on its way down I95 heading to New Bern NC. Shoulcd be there on Saturday. Bud
Bud Krueger

Thanks Bud,
Even if it's via media mail, it oughta get here before Sat. I'll get thru it as quickly as I can, and get it moving on.
Al
A W Parker

Tom, Al tells me that needs an address for the next stop of the Red Car. You've got mail. Bud
Bud Krueger

There are two people on the list to read this book - anybody else interested?

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Tom,
I have the finished reading book, what a blast of the past for me. My first car was a project, with no engine, headlights, etc.
I have the next 2 names, from you, and will have it on the way hopefully on Mon. Will send all 3 of you an email when it's on the way, and will incl. names & addresses on a paper in the book.
thanks for making this available.
Al
54 TF "Emma"
A W Parker

This book has gone through another few readers, and I offer it again to anyone who wishes to read it.

Please contact me off-line with address.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

I'd be interested to take a look. I've heard a lot about it and would like to read.

How many pages is it? I assume it's in color (colour):)
L Rutt

It's about 250 pages, and no colour - except on the dust-jacket (which this lending copy does not have).

Tom
t lange

The Red Car has been in print for so long that there are many types of books, both soft and hard cover, and many variations on the artwork, some of which are shown on this page: http://www.mgnuts.com/artwork/coverart/

The current modern printing is a hardcover in pain red. No graphics or dust jacket, just lettering.
Steve Simmons

Anyone else want this book before it goes back on my shelf? It's been enjoyed by 12 new readers so far. Last call.

Tom Lange
t lange



Tom,

I would be pleased to take you up on your generous offer regarding "The Red Car."

My address:
Jerry Chandler
231 Windover Grove Drive
Memphis, Tennessee 38111

Regards,

Jerry

Jerry Chandler 1951 TD

After following this post, I gave my copy of "The Red Car" to my 14 year old son and asked him to read it. He spends hours every day playing video games, and has showed very little interest in cars.
Today I was returning in the '49 TC just as it started to rain. My son came outside and asked me if he could drive the TC. I let him drive it down the street and around the house a bit. He did quite well, for never driving a standRd. only stalled it once. I pulled it in to the garage just as it started to downpour. He came inside and started reading the book again. That was two hours ago, and he is now almost done with the book. He has asked me more MG questions in the past two hours than I've gotten in the last year.
I hope his enthusiasm sticks... Thank you "Red Car"
-David
D. Sander

Thanks Tom -
An opportunity not to be missed! Please put me on the mailing list!

Sending address info off-line ...
Ron
Ron Linden [53TD 24972]

Done - glad to add you to the list.

Tom
t lange

Jerry - Please get in touch with me so I can give you the name of the person to whom you can send the book, when you have received it, rear it, and are ready to pass it along.

Thanks. Tom Lange
t lange

The Red Car is headed toward the next reader, and there is only one more person on the list. Can I interest anyone else in the book before it is retired? Last chance!

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

It is always better to have book in hand but to anyone that is interested shoot me your email and I will send you the complete book in Microsoft word format. Send your request to rrking13@comcast.net and it will be on it's way.

Rich :)
Rich King TD 8732

Tom, add me to the list. I read it 50 years ago and I can still recall some details. The name Lenny Elander comes to mind!

Corey Pedersen
117 Cannon Drive
Amston, CT 06231
Corey Pedersen 1951 TD #7169

Done, Corey. If memory serves me, Lenny was the chum and owned a Ford.

Tom
t lange

I recall that he was more of a nemesis. They had a race - the Ford kept pulling ahead on the straights and the MG had an advantage on the curves.
Corey Pedersen 1951 TD #7169

Great memory, Corey!

BobbyG
Bobby Galvez

You know, when I think about it this little book has cost me a great deal of money over the past 40 years...
Jack Long

Anyone else wish to be added to the list? Still available!

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

I'm in. Email coming.

I have to say this is a really cool experience to be part of!
D Engel

I wish now that I had asked each reader to write a bit about their experience with the book, and how it affected them.



Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

I paid 50 cents for my first copy of The Red Car back in the early 60's from the "Scholastic Book Club" - I was in Jr. high school at the time. 'Bout a year ago, I paid about 30 times that for a copy for my "reading room'. Just as much fun this time as the first!

When I was about 15 there was a red MG at a local dealer. I'd ride my bike down just to look at it, even touched it a few times.

My '52 MG is Silver over Black, I've even lived and worked for awhile in Colorado (I was born there 62 years ago).
Memories!
Bob;
RwB Brown

Only one more person on the list - final call for any takers.

Tom Lange333333
t lange

Tom, please add me to the list, would love to read it.
My love for MG's started in the late 40's after seeing a red TC parked on the street in front of my house when I was a kid.

thanks,

Bill Brown
9250 West State Rt 55
Ludlow Falls, Ohio
45339
Bill Brown

I'm not on the lending list, but I remember checking this book out from the elementary school library in 4th or 5th grade, some 50+ years ago. It was totally absorbing and I must have checked it out another 4 or 5 times.

A neighbor down the street got a white TF right around then and he would pass by the house frequently with a distinctive wave - hand held up, fingers skyward and rotating as if installing a light bulb. Got to ride in it one day and the sounds and smell were intoxicating. I wanted one all the more.

In college my first car was a 1967 MGB, purchased in 1971. Sold in 1976 when I went home.

The bug stayed dormant and revived 3 years ago when I found another B, a '79. Less than a year later I got another MG - a 1952 TD.

I am now the gray haired neighbor who drives by top down and waving at the kids.

The bucket list still has a red TC with red interior. Hopefully someday soon.

And, I've also picked up a couple of copies of "The Red Car," one paperback, one hardbound. They get visited often!

BobbyG
Bobby Galvez

Last chance - any more takers?

Tom Lange
t lange

So tell me, were Bugattis really whitworth?
kylemorley

I suspect that Bugatti had made both metric and Whit wrenches for his mechanics; I have never actually seen one.

I have recently seen a Bugatti vise, made because he felt commercially-available vises were not of sufficient quality! It was, indeed, beautiful, and fully-machined. A Bugatti employee once told me that EB would walk through the workshop at night after everyone had gone, inspecting vises and looking for file marks to show that an employee was not doing a careful-enough job.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

The last reader is just finishing up The Red Car, and I wonder if there is anyone out there who still wishes to read it? If not, it will be retired.

Tom Lange
t lange

Tom, I'd love to read it! What a great idea, lending it out...
Geoff Baker
3150 E Pima St
Tucson AZ 85716
Geoffrey M Baker

Geoff - it's on to you when the present reader is done. I'll send you info on the next person when someone asks to read it!

Best, Tom
t lange

Tom, put me on the list after Geoff.

Thanks Frank
Frank Cronin

Please send addresses with your requests, so that I can keep everything in one file.

Tom
t lange

The book is on the move! Anyone else?

Tom
t lange

As there are no copies in any library here in Oz, do you fancy sending it across the Pacific Tom? Maybe it can do the rounds here. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

The Red Car is now on its way to Frank. Thanks again, Tom, it was an enjoyable read!
Geoffrey M Baker

The Red Car will shortly be heading to Oz. Anybody else here interested?
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Reactivating. It was 5 years ago. Sorry that it didn't come back to you Tom. Bud
Bud Krueger

Saw this thread appear again and decided to see if my local library had a copy. Unfortunately, not. But, they do interlibrary loan and there are seven libraries in the US that have a copy of this book. I already have my request in. Should see the book in 4 - 6 weeks.
Charles Duffy

Not sure why but it never did get to Oz.. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Just finished reading my copy that arrived in the mail yesterday from FTFU. When I read the following on page 74 I immediately thought of Rob G:

"And finally there was just one TF, a trim little car that looked disappointingly modern and lacked all of the eye-appeal of the classic M.G.'s, but which carried a Mk 11 engine in its unhappily designed body."

Bit harsh don't you think Rob? Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Hi Peter,

Thank heavens for the TFs 'modern look' versus the pre war look !!
Sleek and beautifully proportioned.

As Syd Beer(USA) the great car collector once said, "TFs are the prettiest MG ever made".

I rest my case.

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

As you know Rob, I'm a fan of the TF - which is really a TD, but with a pretty face. Have you read The Red Car? If not I'll send you my copy and it can do the rounds over there. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Disappointed that my loaner hard-cover copy disappeared somewhere along the line, but glad it could help new readers of the book understand something of the magic of MGs. It was worth it.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Tom, going back through this thread it seems like your copy got lost in the post somewhere between Geoff and Frank. In the book the driving tips from Frenchy brought back great memories of the last time I drove my car nearly 48 years ago. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Absolutely no fingers pointed; there were others who moved the book around off-line.

Tom
t lange

Hi Peter, if the Red Car ever comes back over to the Eastern States I would be very interested to spend some time between its covers.
Chris
C I Twidle

Chris, a paperback version is available from FTFU. Cost is quite reasonable in my opinion. It’s a short read. But it’s quite entertaining. I’ve read it several times now and continue to enjoy it.

Bill Chasser
TD-4834
W A Chasser

I have a good frien who has a grandson who (1) needs to read more and (2) is crazy about cars. I think "The Red Car" would be perfect for him. I can get a copy from Amazon for $250+ (not going to happen) and I found a digitized copy at https://archive.org/details/redcar00stan

This is a free lending library of digitized books that you can read on your computer, iPad or other gizmo.

If the paper copy of "The Red Car" ever shows up, I'd like to borrow it. Until then photons and pixels will have to do.

Jud
J K Chapin

I have a good friend who has a grandson who (1) needs to read more and (2) is crazy about cars. I think "The Red Car" would be perfect for him. I can get a copy from Amazon for $250+ (not going to happen) and I found a digitized copy at https://archive.org/details/redcar00stan

This is a free lending library of digitized books that you can read on your computer, iPad or other gizmo.

If the paper copy of "The Red Car" ever shows up, I'd like to borrow it. Until then photons and pixels will have to do.

Jud
J K Chapin

FTFU was selling the book 3 years ago. I think that’s where I got my copy.
W A Chasser

I'm sorry to say that my hard-cover lending copy disappeared some years ago, so I'm out of that loop. Doug Pelton may still have some copies, and that is certainly the cheapest anyone can get one - plus it supports an excellent MG guy!

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Bill's right. From the Frame Up still shows the book on their front page in a paperback version for $18.50.

If you can't find it there, I've got an older paper back version I can loan you.

Cheers,
Roy
Roy Challberg

No good deed goes unpunished, Tom. You were brave sending out an original hardcover copy to strangers.

Originals are available here and there although prices skyrocketed a few years ago. The Roadster Factory had the book reprinted, and supplies them to other sellers like FTFU. Available for $12.95. Unfortunately the book is missing nearly all of the illustrations. The printing is also not great quality, but it's better than nothing. If you can find one of the Buccaneer hard-bound copies from about 15 years ago, they have the illustrations as original.
Steve Simmons

Moss US currently is selling the book for $.9.99
W A Chasser

This thread was discussed between 07/09/2012 and 07/08/2021

MG TD TF 1500 index

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