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MG MG Y Type - PURCHASE YT?

Good day to all,
I am going to ask a very broad question about Y-Types. I am considering buying a YT. I am in the middle of a TD restoration, so I am certainly familiar with the drivetrain. So my questions are:

Where are the pitfalls in restoring or refurbishing a YT that a fairly knowledgeable TD owner might not be aware of?

What are the parts on a YT that are rare or virtually unobtainable if they are missing?

What other advice can you give to a prospective buyer?

Thanks for any help you can give,

Jim Smith
TD 17744
JV Smith TD17744

Jim,
As no one has yet responded to your post, I will try. I am certain readers more knowledgeable than I will correct my errors/opinions and comment more thoroughly on "rare/unobtainable" YT parts.
I have owned my TC for 46 years and my YB for 37. I have done TOTAL restorations on both::body/mechanical/chrome/trim. Nut and bolt by nut and bolt. Several times, in some cases!
I have worked on NUMEROUS TD/F's owned by others.
The YT engine, brakes, dash/instruments and rear axle are VERY similar to a TC. The Y rear brake cylinder is the same as the TC front; the Y front brake cylinder is larger, very rare and $$$.
The YT tranny and suspension are similar to your TD. But NOT the YT front hubs! They are unique to YA/T's.
NTG is really the only viable option for parts unique to Y Types. I generally find their quality good and knowledge/service/shipping excellent. With the pound at near parity to the USD their prices are currently "reasonable."
In very broad terms, I find that nearly every repair operation on a Y is a factor of ten more involved than on a T; with the possible exception of TF engine accessibility!
I have no hands-on experience with the tourer. I suspect its body is similar to the TC, but much different than the saloon. No roll-up windows, sunroof, headliner, etc. I believe its ash framing, most of its metal skin and weather protection trim are unique.
If you enjoy preserving a rare vehicle without any expectation of ever recovering the cost of parts, much less your labor, go for it! For what it is worth, a local MG enthusiast, a far more capable engineer/welder/body man/painter than I, purchased a YT basket case, researched the restoration, and quickly sold/shipped the pieces/parts to GB!
Beyond any monetary value, I have made innumerable friendships/journeys/memories world-wide through my MG addiction over the last 53 years. Catherine and I have traveled tens of thousands of miles without a "Failure to Proceed" on back roads free of traffic enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of our beautiful country.

Rocky
Williamsburg, Virginia
Rodney C "Rocky" von Dullen

Thanks Rocky,
I appreciate your assessment and advice. I am looking forward to revisiting the backroad adventures and camaraderie with the TD.
Jim
JV Smith TD17744

Jim
I suggest you check out the IMGYTR website https://www.mg-cars.org.uk/imgytr/ for information. The webmaster is a US citizen with a number of Y Types. He also sells a CD "Let there be Ys" which gives a stack of information on Y Type originality.

Also check out the MG Car Club UK, Y Type Register website https://www.mgccyregister.co.uk/ and check out the "So you want to buy a Y type"

As Rodney mentioned NTG is a great source of parts for Ys, as is the Octagon Club.

The YT engine is an XPAG with dual carbies, same as T Types. Engine ID is prefixed TR, whereas the YA was SC (Single carb).

Rodney, the Y Tourer has very limited timber - dash, floor boards, a single horizontal piece in each door, rear seat back and boot floor. YT Instruments are the same as the TC, but YA and YB instruments are unique.

I also purchase from Doug at "From the Frame Up", as he specialises in hard to get TC parts.

cheers
Stuart
Stuart Duncan

Stuart forgot to mention our own Buyer's Guide area JV - https://www.mg-cars.org.uk/imgytr/buyersguide.shtml - a wealth of information there.

Feel free to contact me if you wish - we may well know the YT you are looking at. I am displaying my email address in the header to this post.

Paul
Paul Barrow

Hi Jim. I am rebuilding a YT that sat in my mother,inlaws garage for 48 years. The car was complete but had a single carby and no speedo. parts found locally and overseas. The main problem was RUST..Check the sills both inside and outside, around the rear wheel arch where the mudguard bolts on and the timber in the doors where the hinges mount. Timber can be purchased from NTG. You will not make a profit on any old car but will meet some great like minded people. BOB YT4319
Bob Wood

Jim, I've owned a YT for 17 years. Many years before that it was restored by Tony Slattery but mechanically I've been over the car 100% (more than once in some areas). I've done a fair bit of coachwork too. Bit have been replaced and remade all over the car.

My overall comment is that there's virtually nothing about the car that can't be sourced or fabricated. The commonality with T-types is very helpful. What isn't common can be bought from NTG or Octagon (but be wary of some reproduction parts like half-shafts not being the quality supposed). The car is low tech so many parts can be made from scratch or repaired in a simple workshop. Other Morris stable parts might be adapted. All problems can be solved.

YT's are rare but easy to keep running (and improving) if you're not striving for a perfect Concours car. If you can tolerate a small amount of non-originality under the skin then it's a great classic to work on.

As others say, you'll never recoup all you spend but you'll have fun doing it. The upside is that cars like the YT don't depreciate like modern cars. They're not investments but they hold their value or even rise modestly in value over time. But once you're hooked on a YT you won't sell it; they're too hard to replace.

Regards,
Robert
R Ades

Thanks for all of the great tips.
I am certainly aware that this is not a "for profit" venture. The Y-type is a reasonably priced "tourer" and since I have experience with the TD, it intrigues me. I just have to decide whether to bring one home before I finish the TD project. Plus, will my marriage survive two car projects in the garage at the same time.
Jim
JV Smith TD17744

This thread was discussed between 05/10/2022 and 09/10/2022

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