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 Saga of the TF-1500 & the TD Hard Top

The Saga of the TF-1500 and the TD Hard Top

Not all sagas end up in tragedy, at least not this one. These stories are about 4 regulars to this MG TD/TF Bulletin Board. Myself, Gord Clark of Rockburn, Paul Gaynor of Seymour CT, Dave Jorgensen of Leduc Alberta; Hugh Pite of Victoria BC, and a fifth party - Bill Pettigrew of Whitehorse, Yukon. Four individuals separated from each other in 4 diverse corners of North America, about as far from each other as one can get ...

Story 1
For those of you unaware, for years I have been doing T-Series evaluations, no longer for the DOT or DVA, but now for insurance companies, many of which don’t require government certification. About 3 months ago I was contacted by a chap in the Yukon to do an evaluation on a TF-1500 which he had driven from Nova Scotia to Montreal where it was stored. Would I please do an insurance evaluation and if possible, get a few other things done, that couldn’t be done in the Yukon (4.3 cwp, Pertronics, brake job, heater, etc). This work involved a few people including Hugh Pite, a regular to this board, and a friend in NH who sourced the 4.3 cwp, and bringing the TF to Rockburn where the work was done. Then parts from Abingdon Spares and the LBCC, and a new steering wheel off eBay.

Story 2
Again, for those of you who may recall, last fall another frequent contributor to this BB, Dave Jorgensen, put out a call for a hard top for his mighty TD. This was sourced from yet another frequent BB contributor, Paul Gaynor (Mk II TD) of Seymour CT. He and Dave Jorgensen were put together and the sale was made, and last September for the British Invasion week-end, Paul kindly trucked it to Stowe where yet another friend was supposed to truck it to Montreal, but he was always too busy to do it, so on May 19th, I drove to Stowe and picked it up and brought it back to Rockburn on the top of my van in pouring rain.

Story 3
Now, I have this hard top that I am supposed to crate and ship to Leduc Alberta (just south of Edmonton). And I have a TF-1500 that I am supposed to get to CP Rail Freight for shipment to Edmonton. Hmmm .... could it work? I called the TF owner to see how he would feel if I bolted the TD hard top on his TF. No problem he said . Great!! Now I e-mailed Dave Jorgensen to see how he would feel about this ... Great !! So I contacted the TF owner and put the wheels in motion and these two in turn, contacted each other. It turns out the TF owner is coming from the Yukon to Edmonton (abt. 1,200 miles - 2 days) in his own flat-deck to fetch the TF-1500 and while he’s at it, he planned to visit a friend in Leduc. Can you believe this coincidence??

Story 4 - All’s well, that ends well!
On the 21st I drove this absolutely sweet TF-1500 to Montreal with the hard top taped in place (see pic) and off they went to Edmonton, arriving there on June 4th. I got an e-mail from Dave Jorgenson yesterday advising that he has the hardtop and he’s happy; and I can only assume that as I write, Bill Pettigrew is on the return leg of the 1,200 mile trip (one way), taking his lovely TF-1500 to Whitehorse, where there’s only 1 other MG (MGB). I’m anxious to hear from Bill, but I just had to share this story with you TD/TF BB folk.

Who says this BB isn’t effective?

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.


Gordon A. Clark

Well done 'all involved'... this is truly an amazing group of owners and I applaud all the great things some have done for others!!!!!
gblawson(gordon)

That's the MG family for you. They do stick togather and help each other in many ways.
I have long said that MG's are not cars but a way of life.
Good show Gordon.
Sandy
Sandy Sanders

Gents:

As we speak, the hard top is nestled in my garage, draped over a pair of fiberglass TD front fenders [anybody want to buy the pair before I hack them into some Johnny von Neumann Old Number 11 replica fenders?]

Thanks to Gord, Bill, Hugh [who bought my old TC grill - it's all a circle,] and Paul, my TD will have a hardtop in order to complete the Airline idea that I've had all along.

Also, I just finished reading Peter Egan's article in this month's Road & Track on "The Red Car," and Peter's comment is "I think I've spent most of my life living in scenes from this book." Indeed - one of the chapters in the book describes how all the other 16-year-olds in the town pitched in to help bring the TC back to life - and in some way, that's what this b/board does.

My TD will be on the road soon, having been resurrected from a pile of rust and old rubber. It'll be a good car - even a great one, maybe - and it'll be because of the wisdom I've gained from all of you.

Thank you
Dave Jorgensen
Dave Jorgensen

Great story and a great MG family. I know that very well and I got excellent help last year from Huge Pite when my gear box was broken and I need some spare parts and Tools. He was my helping hand, thank you again Huge.
Now my 1953 TD is on the way to Germany and should be in a container on the ocean going vessel.
I was lucky enough to find as well a Hardtop and fixed it to the car temporarily using tape, rope and some sort of rubber to protect the car. Hope it works and everything will arrive in good condition.
Now my question to you. The Hardtop needs restoration and for this task I need a rubber profile. Please see the image for profile dimensions. May be somebody can help to find a profile with similar cross section.
Next posting will show my TD with hardtop installed ready for shipping.
Cheers,
Ganter


GK Guenter

My TD with hardtop installed ready for shipping.
Cheers,
Ganter



GK Guenter

This thread was discussed on 07/06/2008

MG TD TF 1500 index

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