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MG TD TF 1500 - Unrestored TF0554 Photos, Video, J.S. Inskip Show

Here are some good photos to add to your collection of unrestored TFs.

This TF sold on Bring a Trailer was a show car by New York dealer J.S. Inskip. Few miles. The grandfather of the buyer owned the car 1974-1986. The grandmother has a piece of the original top in her jewelry box marked "#554".

Selling price $20,000

Over 235 photos

Link:
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1953-mg-tf-3/

Video:
https://youtu.be/1hp7UggXkss

Lonnie
TF7211
LM Cook

An interesting car for sure. Glad they got a great price for it. A representative had contacted Matthew M a few weeks before the listing to share some pictures.
Christopher Couper

Parts of it are highly original.
M Magilton

"Parts of it are highly original."

And the trick is to know which parts. :-)
Christopher Couper

Lonnie, this is a nice looking car that retains most of its original features; and its pictures are worth capturing on Christopher’s site for people to study IMO.

Being un-restored and original is a complex call/judgment and has different meanings for different people. Maybe, well maintained and minimally restored is more accurate? Those comments are not meant to detract from the car. But, I have seen many “completely” original cars that show some (and often major) restoration.

There clearly has been some restoration work done over the years. For example, the car was repainted at sometime (more than once looking at the body, tank and fenders); and both doors have been more recently reworked and repainted. You can see at least three “vintages” of re-painting. And, you see other areas that have be revised on the chassis and drive train.

The TF has Borrani wheels (a $200 dealer option back then), but the spinners are not correct for original MG TD/TF 1950s dealer optioned Borrani wheels as shown below.

It would be nice to post the pictures on your site along with comments to help people understand that this is a nicely maintained car that retains most of its original features.




WHT

I downloaded and saved all 235 photos of TF0554. I also saved all photos of TF8541 and TF9052 from Chris Couper's site. Those three cars are my go-to for originality. I understand that each of the cars probably has some non-factory changes. However, inspection of the same section of each car plus knowing the history of each gives me a good working-idea of how it looked originally. Other TF photos on the site are also useful.
https://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtf/Pictures/TF8541/Thumbnails/mgtf_tf8541.htm
https://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtf/Pictures/TF9052/Thumbnails/mgtf_tf9052.htm
https://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtf/mgtf_gallery.htm

Chris Couper's "Original MG TF midget" site, the MG CAR CLUB VICTORIA's "CONCOURS PROCEDURES MANUAL", and Rob Grantham's "ORIGINALITY DETAILS - MG TF 1250, MG TF 1500" fill in most of the missing details.
https://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtf/
https://mgcc.com.au/concours/2019-concours-manual-v12.pdf
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=bWd0Y293bmVyc2NsdWIuY29tfG1ndGMtb3duZXJzLWNsdWJ8Z3g6ZDQ4YmUzZjM3MjNhODE2

I'm a TF newbee ... bought my TF in Dec 2013, so I haven't seen as many original TFs as other members of the BBS.

WHT - I don't have a site. But I have 38,000 MG files on my computer that include photos, manuals, and videos. It's a sickness.

Lonnie
TF7211
LM Cook

Hi Lonnie,

Thank you for the work you have done.

I have looked at the pictures you post more than once; and really enjoyed seeing them and reading about your engine rebuild.

Your sickness :-) (and that of others) have been a great asset for many of us.

Regards,

Bill

WHT

How can one claim that this TF is unrestored when its been painted and re-painted?

I am driving TF 4592, a car I bought new in July of 1954. I have driven it to all 4 corners of North America (but not Alaska). I have at least 300,000 miles on it. Its on its 5th engine (+.040), but it remains unrestored including original paint, and with no resprays. Appearance is no longer important to me. Paint is desperate for new and upholstery too. I don't care what people think! But I drive it a lot each summer and mostly with the windscreen down.

Not a show car. I live in the Adirondacks - no city driving. Gorgeous place to enjoy driving an old MG.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gord Clark

This thread was discussed between 08/08/2020 and 14/08/2020

MG TD TF 1500 index

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