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MG TD TF 1500 To ALL TD/TF Custodians......... BBS discussion at MG-Cars.net
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MG TD TF 1500 - To ALL TD/TF Custodians.........
| Hi All, A few years ago on a brilliant summers night I was driving the TF down the northern Freeway in Perth on my way to our Club's fortnightly meeting. To my surprise, a traffic patrolman riding a new issue BMW motorcycle came up behind me and 'sat' close to the right rear guard area for about 3 kilometres.He finally cruised up to the Driver's door and said to me, "want to swap?!" What really impressed me was his age-about 30 to 35 years.So I guess my question to everyone is "How can each of us contribute to securing the future survival of our cars?" I know Dave Sheward already has some very good ideas on this subject. Also,I am enquiring,(albeit with your grace!)about current owners ages to help gauge the current interest level of the 'younger generation'in TD's and TF's in particular and of course MG's in general.Yeah!I know!I am 54 years young. MG's are evident in so many countries.It would be good to have comment on this issue from a broad spectrum of owners. Cheers Rob. Grantham. |
| Rob Grantham |
| Well, I am about your age but I can tell you the first day I drove the TD home about 2 months ago, I stopped at a traffic signal in front of a local church where hundreds of kids were involved in some outdoor event and, what did I hear? Some kid yelled out, "WOW, look at that car!!!" At that time all the kids started in and they were lovin it! Since then, many, many folks, mostly younger have commented on the car and just love it! Some call it, lovingly, "old school". Not too many older folks (say over 70), seem to say much though. So, it seems to me that the appeal of the T-series will be around a looooooong time. BTW, I love your reference to us as "custodians". It really is a responsibility to take care of these contraptions that are 50 and 60 years old!!! Thanks for the post.. Cheers, |
| dave lackey |
| I keep getting the same effect on kids with my Y saloon. The reason might be that prewar-styled cars are often featured in cartoons and comics, and the young ones are amazed to see such a car for real. Remember "Noddy" by Enid Blyton ? These books, for instance, are still in print. What would be important, however, is that old owners take active measures to pass the cars AND knowledge to the next generation, before it is too late. Better sell your car to someone you trust while you are still in your right mind. Don't let inherit a son/daughter any objects they dislike, never mind how much you love these persons. They WILL dump them or sell them for ridiculous money. Remo (age 49) |
| Remo Peter |
| My grandson, now 18, has always loved and admired my YB. As he left a couple of weeks ago for basic training in the Georgia Army Nation Guard, where after training he will become a Cadet at North Georgia College, I gave the YB to him, so now it will have a new custodian for I hope many years to come. I think the TF will go to my daughter, but I am going to wait a few years on that. Larry |
| Larry Brown |
| Rob - I did a similiar survey in 2003 and saved the results. If you would like to look over the responses and a tabulation of the data I collected, e-mail me at the above address. Cheers - Dave |
| David DuBois |
| I have always had a fondness for 'vintage' articles... my desk is a 1907 secretary's roll top, my phone is a 1905 stromberg carlson... I restored a 1903 Fairbanks 5 string banjo and sent it off to a new owner who would use it more (and better) then I. With all of these things, i have always had the feeling that i'm just 'takin care' of them for the next person who will help them make it further through time! I'm 59 and am not sure what will happen to the TD... don't know if my daughter appreciates old stuff as much as I...and not sure how she would do with the 'shifting"? I try to take as many kids for a ride as i can so they might have that 'memory' stuck in there early and be a future caretaker! |
| gordon lawson |
| An interesting topic to ponder. I suspect that things might take a turn for the worse in the future, given how parts are starting to get scarce and increase in price, and the cars aren't going up in value as quickly. I'm 46 (inherited the TD a little over a year ago). I've owned a '68 midget since I was 15 so I wasn't afraid of the work (not very much, actually) that was needed to get it running & looking much better. But, with manual transmissions going away over time, parts getting more expensive, and fewer mechanics able/willing to work on these cars, and the penchant of the current generation for "instant gratification", I'm not quite so optimistic. I have a nephew who had a very nice BMW 3-series, and essentially trashed it with all of his "mods" (no, it's not just the "looks", but the ride, the interior is stripped, cosmetic roll cage & "racing seats", etc.). Scott |
| Scott |
| At 62 I'm on the "shady" side of my "summer days" so to speak. I have always looked at owning my TF 1500 as a responsibility to preserve this little segment of automotive history. I am only a "caretaker" and not an owner in the true sense of the term... I have actually lost sleep over trying to decide who will be the next "caretaker" of my wee car. I have two sons-in-law but neither one of them has the mechanical ability or the passion to take care of her. I do have some grand children but they are still much to young for me to determine if any of them would "qualify." So, I enjoy every sunny day on every country road, and will continue to do so until whenever... Cheers, Rod Macleod - TF 1500 HDB46/6798 (My wee "Molly") |
| Rod Macleod |
| I seem to usually get the same reactions described above. However, I received a new one last night from a guy in his 30's in a pickup alongside me... "Hey, you have a leak! It's clear fluid coming out!" I pulled over at the next intersection to find a stuck float on the front carb gushing fuel out the overflow pipe. I immediately shut it down, took out the best tool (cell phone), called the wife to bring a fire extinguisher, got the car home and then placed another Moss order. Embarrassing to stand by the side of the road, car powered down, people driving by who cannot understand the look on my face. But I am grateful that he spotted the problem before it became serious. Part of the romance and custodial duty, eh, what? |
| Tom Balutis |
| I think the trends are obvious. The hot classic car commodity right now is the late 50' and 60's era. People who are now empty nesters have the resourses to buy the car of their teenage dreams. 15 years ago it was the 30's 40's and early 50's. Back another 10 or so and it was all about the Model T's and cars from the 20' and 30's. I think we are all probably over the high hump on escalating T prices as the masses willcontinue to advance the years of the highly desireable autos. I think if you were to graph this out you would see a spike in price at about 30 to 35 years after the cars were built and the a gradual decline until it bottoms out with only the true collectors having any real intrest. I'm 52, same age as my TF. I don't want to burden anyone in the family with taking control of it after I'm gone. They will have to find a niche person with an interest in auto history and willing to shift,choke, tune, fiddle, hunt parts and be willing to go slow and enjoy the senery whether its rain or shine. Not desireable transportation in todays world.If I stumble across someone thats shows a true intrerest in the car, then I may promise a future sale or even gift upon my demise. LaVerne |
| LaVerne |
| Well I'm 69 and on 24hr oxygen (never smoked a day in my life) but I can't work/drive my beloved MGTD 11547 anymore. However, when my son got accepted to Michigan State I bought Him a 1971 MGBGT to use for school. I told Him it would be up to Him to determine if I was rewarding Him or punishing Him. However, He managed to keep it running and make it thru to get His Degree. However since He got this glorious degree He has been out of the country lots and whilst teaching at Northwestern in Evanston, IL He said He doesn't need a car, and nopw that He is with the State Department and out of the country more than ever He can't handle taking possesion of MGTD11547. That's why I am seeking somebody to adopt Her. I only have the one son and no grand children. I can live with that. Maybe I can help some of the younger chaps on this forum. Greg & Grimm |
| G.J. Cenzer |
| Gentlemen, At a young 57, and TF custodian of 3 years, I, too, have been giving thought to where the little car should go when I no longer am capable of enjoying her properly. It would seem that one of my nephews (age 31) has his sights set on it. He is somewhat mechanically inclined, has a young family, good paying job, and if I should last long enough, he'll have his career and family to a point where his taking over the keys should be timely. My other nephew (about the same age, aptitude, and resources) has his sights on one of my other cars. Hopefully both men will have all of the cards fall into place in the future in order to do so. Now all I have to do is find a good future home for the other car, for I would hate to see her sold to someone who just has money and wants a toy. Gene |
| Gene Burgess |
| I am 71. My father( after some strong arming) bought me a YT in 1956. I drove it for my last four years at univeristy and then my yougest brother used it for five years at university. When he was finished the car was worn out.Stored it for five years then decided to restore it. Restored it again about seven years ago and today it looks and runs better than when it left the factory. The bottom line is that my children grew up with the car (it has a back seat). My grandchidren pester me to take them for rides in the car and I do. I can't say for certain what they will do with it when I go toes up but I am reasonably sure that they will keep it as a family heirloom that provides some entertainment. Terry |
| Terry O'Brien |
| Great subject! My father bought my TD in 1970, I was nine years old then. I drove the car quite a bit in the late 70's as a teenager (coolest car in town by far!). He gave it to me five years ago to restore, which I'm nearing completion. Some day I'm sure I will pass it on to a young family member (I have ten nieces and nephews, but it will probably go to one of their children, as I plan to enjoy it for quite a few more years before I give it up). |
| robert |
| I try to take my cars (32 MG J2 & 54 MG TF) to as many public shows as possible and never refuse to let kids get in the driver's seat and be photographed. Most pre-school kids are fascinated by these "squareish" non-plastic relics. I also attend many weekly 'muscle car' events and always get the onceover. I drive my TF year'round on clement days and always have the top down. I think these cars will be around and appreciated for many years to come. Each year, parts become more available as more manufacturers are meeting the demands of restorers. LONG LIVE THE MARQUE !!!! Seamus |
| F. HEALY |
| I'm "can't drive 55" years young. Drove a '64 B and a '56 A back in '70's while in college and always wanted a TD. Finally convinced the wife last year and got one. I agree, the young kids give me thumbs up and yell "Cool car!" all the time when I'm driving. Part of the appeal is you just don't see them anymore. |
| K.O. Martin |
| I purchased our 1952 TD Mark II in 1992. My son has been drooling over it ever since. He will get posession of the keys when I decide to hang up my hat. I am now 58 and still enjoy taking the old cars out for a spin. I really get the looks when I drive past in my 1902 Oldsmobile. My son will probably get it too when the time comes. |
| John Masters |
| I'm 50 in a few months; wanted a TC ever since I read "The Red Car" in 1967 and had a good friend, Ben, who had a pre-EXU TC during my teenage years - wrenching on that car kept me out of the pool halls, I think. Settled for various combinations of German, Swedish, Italian, and Japanese in the last 30-odd years, most with fat tires, forced inductions, autoslalom-prepped and generally waaay too much power for my own good. Finally decided it was time for a TC, but didn't want the front beam axle, liked the idea that various MGA and MGB parts could be wrestled into a TD. Hence the basket-case TD that I bought 20 months ago, now with various combinations of XPAG/Judson, Sierra 5-speed, MGA diff, MGB sway bar, cycle fenders, and 16" wire wheels from an Allard - all spread out in various stages of construction and terrifying boxes of stuff. All to come out in British Racing Green with a black bonnet and black wings [everything else in the garage has a hood and fenders, but when in Rome...] I like the idea of Franken-T's; I'm even looking for that elusive fibreglass hardtop that echoes the lines of the soft-top, and I'm hoping that the final touch will be to have someone make me a set of metal side-curtains with sliding windows so I can have an Almost-Airline Coupe. You see, I'm one of the dumb guys who bought a basket case that really should have been parted out, but I'm into it now. And I know that it'll be a car that either T-guys will either absolutely love or want to throw rocks at - but that's all okay, too. Timeline for finishing? Soon - as the Greeks reckon time in kalends... How about this for the next horrifying project? How about a TF with the smaller Ford 60 Flathead V8 and a 3-carb Edelbrock manifold? Best to all, Dave J. |
| Dave Jorgensen |
| Got a call from my daughter today. One of the questions I asked her was that I am writing a new will and wanted to know if she wanted either the MGTD or the 67 B GT. She said while she likes the B and would love to have it, she really wants the TD. (bright girl). So I will leave them both to her but with some funds set aside so she can keep them both up. |
| Bruce Cunha |
| I just turned 50, but a brush with death caused me to take a hard look at the TD I've owned for 20 years and decide if I was up to the restoration. That was April 2005. The first thing I did was write both sons (a 23 and 21 year old) and ask if it was OK to take the TD out of service... for perhaps a year (boy was I underestimating the project!) Both guys gave a hearty "it's your car, go for it!" answer. I taught the boys to drive it when they were 16, despite their propensity of going through some expensive boat parts, and the slow and methodical way they had of destroying mechanical equipment. Maybe I was secretly hoping they would break it hard enough to require a tear-apart but no matter, I think it was easier for me to allow them the keys for daytime trips with their high school firends because the car was not a show car, but a driver, and a tired one at that. When my oldest was six he once asked "Dad, when you die can I have the MG?" and I assured him that I had a long way to go, but that when he was older I would help him find his own (I wish I could get him to look at Greg's TD). Moving away, a high pressure job, grad school, marriage on the horizon and a possible transfer to China has kept him more than occupied. My youngest, the better of the two 'wrenches' is busy starting a career as a CFP (just passed his insurance tests today, although he allowed that you would have to be a bit dense to fail) and bought a 2006 Mercury Milan, with THE FIVE SPEED!!! At some point I'll probably get them back in the fold, in the meantime, I've come to realize that the MGB is as worthy a car to aspire to as the TD, that I will never comfortably fit in a MGA, and that when the time comes, the right person will come forward to take temporary possession of my TD. The best advice? Drive it. Two summers under the wrench is two too many. I'll never take driving it for granted again. And if I drive it, someone will want it. warmly, dave |
| Dave Braun |
| A complete restoration scares the hell out of me...for a couple of reasons. The amount of work involved is soooo scary...having it apart for any length of time would also be a bit of a bother....can't imagine not driving it. The big thing however is losing the 'patina' that little thing has...although i'm doing a bit of 'blending' bodywork, and other little things...would hate to lose those little scratches, scrapes and dents...and besides, I would have to then be so careful about taking it out...somehow i think it would spoil the fun for me! |
| gordon lawson |
| Gordon, A complete restoration scares the hell out of me too, the cost, the time, the need to keep things going on in an orderly fashion... I agree with the 'having it apart for any length of time' part. As for the 'little scratches, scrapes and dents', some of those I'll miss, and some I won't. But I had rotten wood throughout, all of it is being replaced, fatigue cracks in some of the wing areas, a very tired number one cylinder, electrical gremlins, 'gone' tires, and numerous PO modifications which I wanted to rectify, mainly the black interior and top, but a bunch of minor ones. I was way past patina. It was time. I'll probably drive the heck out of it once I'm done, now that I know how darn easy it is to take apart... warmly, dave |
| Dave Braun |
| I understand the dilemma when the wood is gone and other items are making it not practicle to drive.... For my level of mechanical expertise (small), I was very lucky to have found the one I did! 26 years of dry storage gave me a car as good as it was in '78, which was pretty good to start with. (other then the two inches of pigion/chicken poo covering the inside and out! |
| gordon lawson - TD 27667 |
| Well guys I reached the forescore point in life this last April. I still enjoy working on our 'T's and driving them. I have two restored, a TD and a TF. I know where there is a TB but at this point in life I am not sure I would make it to finish the restoration. I have a son in Denver who would love to get his hands on the TF but thats my wifes favorite. She loves to drive the TF which is nearly stock. The TD is no longer stock, 5 speed etc. What I forsee is that the TF will be loved and driven by my wife for many years after I have had that little conversation with St. Peter. The fate of the TD is not so certain, the son in Denver may take it. If he does it will be chereshed and maintained and driven.If he doesn't then who knows, the wife will probably have to sell it and the new owner will think that the PO(me)was absolutely crazy, didn't know how TD's were supposed to be etc. Then there is the lathe and the milling machine etc etc. I guess that I will just have to go on for another 10 years or so, sigh. Cheers, Bob |
| R. K. (Bob) Jeffers |
| I started out with a 1960 TR3A when I was 16 and bought another (1962 TR3B) in boxes and pieces to finish the restoration about 5 years ago. It is on the road and I start to get the itch for the car that started my interest in LBC's almost 50 years ago. I read a book, The Red Car, I think that was the title, and I was hooked. In 2005 I bought a 1952 MGTD, red of course. The TR3 is BRG. It has good wood and no rust, a good engine--a nice 10 to 20 footer. I bought it to enjoy right away, not work on for 3 years like the TR3. Young kids (8 to 18) boomers (who either had an LBC or knew someone who did back in the day) and Harley guys (who seem to appreciate a classic ride) all comment or give me thumbs up. Makes the ride just a little more fun!! BTW, I'm 57 and I'm pretty sure that "The Red Car" that started it for me was a MGTC, but the TD does it for me. Anyone else remember that book? Gary |
| GG Krafft |
| Since the Red Car book has been mentioned twice, I have to put in my 2 cents. The process that book described has been acted out by me a few times, now. I ended up with a fun, usable car each time. And met a whole lot of those guys that love cars and craftsmanship enough to help someone that doesn't quite know enough yet. Most of them are sadly gone, now. But the principle is the same, hang out with guys that are experienced, and you will learn a lot. You might even like the work enough to do it for the rest of your life. Things will always need to be repaired. |
| Tom |
| Went to a pre-'55 MG rally yesterday in the Y with my wife and daughter (son was staying at the grandparents) and was amazed by the high avarage age of the drivers (I'm 40). Most people were pleasantly surprised by "a young family turning up" in an old MG so we had a grand time. The reason why young people don't drive old MG's is because they are too expensive to buy in good condition (my Y isn't), take a lot of not available spare time to run properly and most of all: you old people keep driving them for years and years!! Apparently we youngster have to wait for the "A-Ford-effect": long-time owners finally dying, so nice cars flooding the market at reasonable prices..... Please don't take this seriously and keep driving your car as long as you can, our time will come when we have enough spare time and money. |
| Willem van der Veer |
| I bought my TD 3 years ago when I was 34 and have had hours of fun driving and rebuilding her. I bought a 67 midget for my wife (just to keep her quiet!). I feel like I'm only caretaking her (the car that is)for the next generation and as we all know we'll never recover the cost or the time spent in keeping our cars roadworthy. I am an engineer by background but the best source of information and experience is all you 'older guys' (joke !!!!!!) who have been there and done it before. The times when you're at the end of your tether wondering why your car's not working this bulletin board is invaluable and preserves sanity! (well some anyway). As we get older the barrier between ages which seemed so massive when we were young are eliminated. One of my best friends is in his mid fifties and guess what, he had a TD in the 1960's and is a great help when things go wrong. I have three kids who all love the TD, I'm not quite sure if they will want to take on the MG's when they're older, but we'll see. |
| J Clack |
| Some of you have heard this before! My love for the TF started when I was 3. My father had purchased a new Black TF1500 w/bisquit interior. One of the few new cars dad actually owned as he ran a car lot that sold mostly sports cars and normally just drove something from the lot. At age 3 I was left in the car in front of a store while dad went in to get some "brews" to go out on our boat.(it was 1956, so not a big deal!) I somehow managed to get the parking brake off and rolled out of the parking lot, across a busy street, down a hill through the trees and again somehow managed to stop just short of going off the dock and into the river. I did this standing on the seat going backwards! Not a scratch on the car. I am told I said to dad "that was fun, I'm gonna own one of these someday". (I don't remember that...but I DO remember playing in the TF all the time.) So I guess you could say this was the first car I "drove"! I never forgot that little car even though over the years dad drove lots of cars I would like to have now! Over the years I owned bunches of sports cars, (mostly $100 junkers!) Around age 40 I started seriously looking for a TF1500..(mainly every "Black" one I could find in hopes of actually finding the one my father had owned!) About age 45 I found "Izzy" ... not "black" but she was a 1500 and that was what I had wanted all those years! So this is why when I go to a car show and see youngsters being lead from car to car being told "don't touch" I open my door and invite the young ones to take a "test-drive". IMHO : "Sticky" from little ones hands WILL wipe off with a wet cloth...but you would be hard pressed to find anything that will wipe the smile off a little one's face whilst standing on the seat "driving" a "T"! I have been asked at more than one show to "not do that" but It's my car and as long as I am her "Custodian" these folks are going to have to learn to deal with it. (FTITCTAJ!) (I do always tell the kids, "don't do this with other cars here unless the owner invites you get inside....some of these guys don't like it when you touch their cars.") I have no idea how many "miles to gallon" I get on a tank of gas ....I measure my time in the TF more in "smiles to the mile". MG built these lil' cars for "FUN" anybody not having fun is missing the boat! Anybody not sharring the fun ...well ...shame on ya'! That's my nickels worth and I'm sticking with it till the day my ashes are spread under the TF as "oil-dry"! I think my youngest daughter will lay claim to the TF ...she loves it and has told me she feels sorry for all those people carting their "trophy's and "cars" back to the "hidden trailers" behind Walmart near the car show...the fun is in getting there! Cheers, David 55 TF1500 #7427 |
| David Sheward |
| Here, here... well said. Just added to my will... my little box of ashes will sit in the passenger seat and the route to the old cemetary will be on 40 miles of my favourite roads...! |
| gordon lawson - TD 27667 |
| I am 54. Drove a TF once as a teenager and loved it. My wife also loves TFs and has always wanted one. Never owned one till recently. Have had a Healey 100/6 and lots of other interesting vehicles though. My philosophy with the cars is to have them in good condition as an every day driver would have been back then, but not restored. At the moment am working through the car from one end to the other to achieve this, and there has been a lot to do. I do all my own work. Hope to have it on the road in a couple of months. Regards, Richard. |
| R Payne |
| I bought my TD as a project car in 1998 when I was 53 and it took 4 years to restore it. Did it little by litte but the car was only really down for the body work and paint job for about 11 months. The rest of the time I would overhaul something in the winter and then drive it in the spring/summer and fall. Motors and such can be done in a few months and if you watch what your doing and find the right people to work on them with the stuff you cant do by yourself it is not all that expensive. I enjoyed every minute of building my car and bringing a car back to life that was in fair condition but had not been on the road in 17 years. I am going to leave mine to a nephew who does like it but would never buy one on his own as family stuff precludes that. |
| Tom |
| Gary: For the benefit of others, we must tell the story of "The Red Car," mustn't we. Stanford, Donald K. "The Red Car." Buccaneer Books, Cutchogue, NY. ISBN 1-56849-731-8. Copyright 1954, my edition 2003. Available through Amazon, Chapters, or <www.BuccaneerBooks.com> First lines: "A rangy boy of sixteen, with the sleeves of his blue chambray work shirt rolled up over his hard bare forearms, jounced uncomfortably along the muddy village street in the cab of his father's pickup truck... ...They were gleaming silvery wire wheels, standing high and narrow with the rakish scarlet body of the car slung low between them, looking even now as though it were crouched close to the ground ready to spring forward. The car looked almost alive" Story: Once upon a time, young Hap lived in a farming/skiing/not-yet-tourist- town in Colorado. He found a wrecked TC, and with the help of Frenchy Lascalle, a curmudgeonly but kind mechanic with a Horrible Secret About An Out-Of Control-Bugatti, they resurrect the TC, almost win a race, and live to go to the victory dance with pretty girls. In the process we find out about small but gallant one-and-a-quarter litre engines ["she work ver' hard, an' she is a brave little engine,"] and how Norman Rockwell's towns could work together. I've always thought that at a T-Concours, the book should be as much a part of a toolkit as a set of Whitworth wrenches. I kept waiting for a movie, but it never came - it would be a "World's Fastest Indian" kind of movie. The book is a 90-minute read, can be had for under 20 bucks, and for those of you who have never read it, it'll help you understand the gleam in our teenage admirers. Happy reading, Dave J. |
| Dave Jorgensen |
| OK, Here we go again.... My First Car, was a '53 TD (RHD) I 'test drove' at about 11:45PM one night, with my date, now and still after 2 years of dating, 2 years of engagement and 35 years of marriage, waiting as I took off with the used car salesman who was selling for his 'squeeze'. We did not have a bride and groom on our wedding using wedding cars tonbridge cake, we had a TD, and afterwards left on our honeymoon in her BGT. Shortly thereafter came Cecil B. Kimber 'my dog' and eventually 'Abingdon Acres' our home since '74. Through my one-bedroom-garage, have passed innumerable TDs, a couple of TCs a VA and sundry other LBCs. My mother in law, a saint to have put up with me, gave her '68 280SL to my son. It needs some attention, however, Patrick, my navigator-Son for the Cicuit of Britain in '90 which we did in the RHD TD-MKII I currently cherish, have owned since '72 and which was my former VSCCA mount, has suggested I trade him the MKII for the 280 SL. There IS hope for the next generation. As per the former survey, I am currently 55, soon to be 56. My daughter has NO interest, so my son is the last bastion for this family. Unfortunately, I have somewhat shifted to Austin 7s, which at 6'4", are fully out of my son's consideration. Given the above, I have aside from the MKII and my YB which are not open for discussion, 2 TD project cars, (both LHD), a TF (RHD) 1250 and a lot of years of T-series bits to move out. Talk to me. Safety Fast Paul |
| Paul |
| Well, I’ve held off as long as I could. It appears from the entries here, that most of us are retired and using the TD/TF or whatever as an excuse to enjoy our precious remaining years of the good life. Unlike youngsters on BBs and Blogs, who seem to discuss only very technical stuff (like women), we and I think I speak for a majority, tend to philosophize and wax about the enjoyment of actually driving our cars. Unlike the woman who was buried in her 330 GT Ferrari a few years ago, I will drive mine (with windscreen down, of course) only to the edge. Someone can roll me into my grave and my daughter can take over (she’s been after it for years!). You name it. I’ve had it. 2 Ferraris, 3 Alfas (still have a Conrero Spider - in restoration), many MGs, 2 Abarth Zagatos, and on and on. I’ve enjoyed them all because I drove them - no trailer queens for me! As many of you already know, I bought my TF off the showroom floor. My dad lent me $400 for a down payment when I was in my 3rd year of Engineering at McGill, and I never looked back. However, there is a ominous cloud on the horizon. I’m very much inclined to think that our governments are going to legislate our MGs right out of existence. In fact, I think that Her Majesty’s’s Governments sooner than later (the Yanks will fight this to the bitter end) anything that produces unnecessary CO2, CO, H2S etc, will be VERBOTEN!! One car per family - 3 or 4 cylinder burning bio-fuel. I won’t be around to see this, but I have a strong suspicion that my youngest daughter, now 40, who’s going to inherit my TF, may well be an early victim, that is of course, if we can afford to buy fuel. Its already too late to save the planet Earth. Greed is doing it. But my guess is that governments will do their best to invoke draconian measures to limit greenhouse gasses, and anything that is not absolutely necessary in life, will be regulated out of existence. But by then, it will already be too late. Hic Finis Est! Gord Clark Rockburn, Qué. |
| Gordon A. Clark |
| <it would be a "World's Fastest Indian" kind of movie.> I grew up in the late 50's and early 60's two houses away from the actual shed WHERE and WHEN the "World's Fastest Indian" was being built. My older brother and I watched as Bert Munroe explained how he cast his own pistons and turned up gears on his Myford lathe. I remember first seeing the red streamlined cowl around about '59-'60 the design of which was influenced after Munroe meeting with and seeing the George Eyston's MG record breaker at Bonneville in '56. (The inteior of the shed would have been correct as portrayed in the movie but when we visited, he did not have the shelves displaying all the blown pistons, rods, cogs etc). That exposure probably gave me an insite to giving a rebuild a go. Our family moved on, then in '68, in my last year of high school I saw an add in the paper "For Tender 1954 mgtf - in damaged condition - as is where is". I was the sucessful tenderer (of about 25) and then spent 10 months doing a frame off rebuild. At the time, trying to study for university entrance exams, the rebuilding job was very slow and frustrating. Mechanical rebuilts came later. The car provided the only means of transport for 7 years of varsity/engagement and 1st 7 years of marriage. The car is now fitted with a genuine fatory replacement XPAG block, with standard bores and pistons and new carburators with less than a 1000 miles of use since the rebuild. (re matching numbers - original block and crank in storage). I have one son of 20 who is primarily obsessed with the german marque, a number of which have been the family daily runners since he was a year old and he is now into his 2nd. He is not into major mechanical work but can do his own repairs and does appreciate the uniqueness of "TF's". At 56, I am still intending to enjoy the car for years to come, but the car will likely have a future owner. |
| Peter Falconer |
| I too first developed a hankering for an MG by reading The Red Car when I was in elementary school. This came around full circle for me when talking with a fellow Scout leader while leading a group of Scouts on a trip to England, who I found out had read the same book and had attended the same school only 8 years ahead of me. Unbelievably, he was getting his wife's '64B read to sell and asked if I was interested. The rest is history - I couldn't help myself and commenced a complete nut and bolt restoration, which took just over two years. Completing that, I was ready for another challenge, and acquired a '52 TD, in pieces and boxes. It seems the previous owner of 30 years had started a full restoration but died before completing it. I now feel obligated to finish it and get it back on the road. Given the interest the B always generates, I can hardly wait to drive the TD. Also, my wife found a copy of The Red Car on Amazon last year and gave it to me for Christmas. I wonder if the author had any idea of what he started? |
| Don |
| My first real addiction to cars that were out of the ordinary was a ride at about 10 years old in a '58 Chevy with tripower and a real lumpy cam. It really is a shame that that sort of thrill is so addictive, but gas was only about a quarter back then. In high school, I had to get that horsepower thrill from my friends' cars, because I'd by then had a ride in a TC (before I read The Red Car). And my parents sold me their Simca 1000, a gas miser if there ever was one. I had a racing stripe on the side with GT in the center, how ridiculously cool and ahead of my time I was. It's no wonder these sporty cars all seem like they're so fast to me. There's always been a fast gas miser in the stable since I got over the VW van kick. I made a will a few years ago that leaves my sports cars to my nephews, I hope they appreciate them. But maybe I won't have them when I go. I'd like to be able to know the new owner is right for the car, like G J Cenzer is doing right now. |
| Tom |
| Hi to All, A big thankyou to all of you who responded to this post.I found the comments about the future of our cars to be generally positive. Having bought our first TF in 1976 at age 24,I really had no idea that this initial foray into the MG Marque would as has been said before become a 'magnificent obsession'!The first TF was a 'runner'(just) so I would take it off the road for 4 months,do some restoration back to original form,then put the car back on the road to enjoy.This process went on for 4 years and I finally ended up with a nice car.I found the challenge of researching original detail interesting,with the current TF being an absolute pleasure to drive-mind you it was a full resto taking 5 years. I found the comments by Greg Cenzer inspiring-'maybe I can help some of the younger chaps on the forum'.Greg is obviously not feeling 100% at the moment but still is willing to assist others to benefit from the T Types we all admire and drive. For me,this is what the future of MG is all about. Cheers Rob.Grantham. |
| Rob Grantham |
This thread was discussed between 04/08/2006 and 09/08/2006
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