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MG TD TF 1500 - When did the TF grab bar change?

One of those picky little details ...

Looking for the date that the TF grab bar that is below the crash pad on the passenger side was changed. Or looking for examples of grab bars on TFs between TF681 and TF6688 so that I can estimate the date changed.

The grab bar on my wife's newly purchased TF681 (14-Oct-1953) is fairly straight and has two supports. The same grab bar is on TF554 (28-Sep-1953) that was on Bring a Trailer and at least one YouTube video. There is a small chance that it may have been an Inskip aftermarket grab bar. See top photo of TF554.

My TF7211 (23-Sep-1954) has a curved grab bar. The curved grab bar is shown on page 12 of the TF/TF-1500 Operation Manual, second edition, AKD658A. Colin Stafford's TF6688 (12-Aug-1954) also has a curved grab bar. See bottom photo of TF6688.

I couldn't find the part in the TF Service Parts List AKD804. No image in the Workshop Manual

Thanks for your help,

Lonnie
TF7211
TF681






LM Cook

My 55 TF- TF8353- Built-17 Dec,1954. PJ


PJ Jennings

Top one is my car...March 54

Next one is an early TF





L E D LaVerne

And this is TF 7813. Doesn't appear to be different from the earlier two.





L E D LaVerne

Looking for TFs between
TF681 (14-Oct-1953) “Three piece grab bar”
and
TF6688 (12-Aug-1954) “One piece grab bar”

Lonnie
TF7211
TF681
LM Cook

Let me know what you discover and I will post it in the changes section for the TF.
Christopher Couper

Ok...the first two I posted were 4315 and 3973 so I guess you can go earlier. I had another TF here that I worked on with the firewall fuel pump but I'm afraid I don't have photos of the dash. It certainly didn't jump out at me as being different. Just found a photo. Looks the same as my others to me.


L E D LaVerne

Lonnie,

TF3719 and TF9177 both had the same Grab Handle as Colin Stafford's car and as the majority of the others
already posted on this Thread.

I have a strong suspicion that all TFs had the same Grab Handle as above.

The after market Grab Handles were fitted during the
car's life as many of the originals rusted and so the
owner sometimes took the easy route and replaced with the rather 'agricultural' looking repro.

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

Thanks everyone.

TF554 had less than 18,000 miles when it was sold in 2020. The car was mostly original. Three owners, the third was the grandson of the first owner.

I don't know the history of my wife's TF681.

I'll try to contact owners of early production TFs to see if I can learn more.

Lonnie
"Searcher of Obscure, Useless Details"
TF7211
TF681
LM Cook

Help, Stop Me!

Still searching for the mystery TF grab bar.

I believe that the three-piece grab bar was shown in the March 1954 issue of Road & Track. The photo is dark. The car was tested (and photographed) in 1953. PDF attached plus closeup of the grab bar.
https://simanaitissays.com/2020/05/19/1954-mg-tf-the-last-of-the-t-series/

November 1953 Nuffield Exports News Exchange shows the one-piece grab bar
https://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtf/mgtf_period_reports.htm

I don't know the date the photos were taken nor the chassis numbers.

TF681, which had a three-piece grab bar, was built 14-Oct-1953. The Nuffield article was November 1953. Not much time to get to press if the handle was changed shortly after 14-Oct-1953. Perhaps both handles were used during the changeover.

I don't see why early owners would change the factory grap bar for an aftermarket one.

Lonnie
TF7211
TF681



LM Cook

This thread was discussed between 13/05/2022 and 14/05/2022

MG TD TF 1500 index

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