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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 - absolutely flabbergasted

When I started to do a FULL restoration on my second TD I had no idea about the cost involved. When I saw the on Ebay for sale a TD and priced over 42 k I thought that guy is joking. Well probably he is not.
Today I bought a electronic calculator with a print out and started to punch the numbers for all the receipts I have. FLABBERGASTED I was about the outcome and couldn't believe eyes ,Checked over and over again . NO mistake was made. Body work done by other party's I have to admit but for parts only I spend 44k altogether ( including the car ) To spend this It took me only 18 months. Oh well I have a beauty and ready for the summer.

Gerard

Gerard Hengeveld

So the lesson here is to burn the receipts?

Matthew.
M Magilton

Shhhhh! Don't tell your wife!
-David
D. Sander

I have not dared to do that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jim B.
JA Benjamin

I did that one time and mine came to over 35 Grand total not including my labor on putting it all together. My Wife has no idea, but I love that little car. I will enjoy it while I am here and my Nephew will enjoy it when I am gone.
Fred Driver

Gerard, you're in good company; and if I ever get up the nerve to go through all of my receipts (there in a box hidden in the garage) my total will be right around what you've reported, and most likely it will be more. But, the thrill of the completed rebuild and sitting behind the wheel driving my TF out on the back roads makes it worth every penny.

John

John Brickell

You ought to see the stack I have on the three I own. I did the TF and TD on Quicken. Kept track of every penny spent. I coulda bought a real real nice XKE with what I spent on em...


I'm gonna get serious about selling the TD soon.

I'm gonna be looking for around 30 grand plus.

MG LaVerne

I like this thread! I'm getting close to done with my ground up restoration. Have done almost everything myself and so far only spent a little over $20k. Still need to spend about $2k to finish. Did an Excel spread sheet first just to try and keep track then did a new spread sheet using the Moss Cat. to isolate any missing items. This thread makes me feel better because I thought the market was only $20 to $25k for these cars.
RER Rosa

Well so far...I bought the car (51- TD 98% complete) which was in about 200 pieces,for $2,500. I have about another 2,500 in it. But I do all my own work including mechanical, body, and paint work.
I figure I'll have another $1,500 in it before it's done, but I already have the interior (Moss Kit).. Just saying! So, let's say I'll have $ 8,000 in it when done.....not bad I'd say!

Brian W.
ZBMan

It is usually far more expensive to buy a car and restore it than to buy a restored one. The problem is, a nice paint job can cover a lot!
I do EVERYTHING my self, from engine and mechanical work, to body work and paint. I can't chrome, and I can't machine engine parts, so I still have to have that done.
I have found that it is often cheaper and better to rebuild parts than to replace.
When I restored the TD, my FIRST Abingdon Spares bill was almost $4,000. I am fortunate, in that I could probably sell the MGs and at least break even.
If you restore a car, you will know it is done right, and to your taste. This is worth a lot.
-David
D. Sander

Maybe some explanation is in place on the subject here.
I bought the car from a gentleman in Florida who jobbed the start for the restauration out to a "drunk " according to him. The engine and gearbox were overhauled by a reputable company known by a friend of mine and the bills for the job done came with the car.Also a complete new upholstery set was there also as a lot of new parts. The so called drunk started the body work and a closer look revealed the P/O was right in his remarks about the "drunk "I dismanteled the steel body work from the frame and could almost shake the wood out, everytthing was hold together with sillicone . I had to build a complete new tub, that's to say : first I had to buy tub parts from a known source here on the bbs had that blasted and repaired and started the work. ALL new wood was ordered from Moss and had the pleasure to put it where it shoould be. I had a lot of help from now friends here on the bbs to call a few , Hiram, Jim , and others who posted their findings / questions I found in the archives. Many thanks guy's without you the job would have been a big puzzle.

Gerard
Gerard Hengeveld

With what I've bought and what's left on the list, I'm going to stay clear of this conversation! Grin. I am fortunate though, my wife keeps on me to get back to work on the car and get it finished! Weather has to warm up a bit first so I can get my tractors out of the shop and out of the way. PJ
Paul S Jennings

I'm with Paul - (1) this is a hobby, not a business/investment so I keep the receipts in a box for the next DPO but never look at them and (2) I'm fortunate enough to have a wife of 45 years who says things like "Get off your duff - Work on your car or something - Just get out from under my feet" (that's true love!)

Jud
J K Chapin

I have had my TD since 1974. It went through a full body off restoration at that time (done all by myself and my brother. Since then, two new engines, a rebuld transmission, change of rear end to higher gears, repaint of firewall and front fender. Front suspension rebuilt, clutch when the transmission was rebuild, etc, etc, etc,

What have I spent? I have no clue but $40,000 would not be all that far off.
Bruce Cunha

It is best to never know what was spent. Likely much less than if you had a boat, airplane, or resulting therapy if we had no hobby.
George Butz

Hi Gerard, if it is not too much trouble could you give an estimate of the cost for major items? For instance - chroming, paint, interior, engine, gearbox ect. The total cost of 44k seems to me to be a lot more than I would expect. How much was spent on upgrades?
Cheers, Hugh
H.D. Pite

I have more into my car than what the market would bear..... so I am taking the balance in trade. The trade is the pure enjoyment I get driving that LBC around and the smile it keeps on my face!
C.R. Tyrell

Hugh give me a call , you have my phone number

Cheers Gerard
Gerard Hengeveld

I know, without being able or willing to do personally, the work involved...everything from transmission, to engine, to tub wood to sheetmetal , things could get quite expensive. I could see $40,000 if everything was farmed out. There are well known restoration shops that sublet most of their work and only serve as final assemblers. The customer gets billed for all the contracted out work plus the labor for assembly. So, $40,000 is certainly possible. I have to pay for engine machine work but fortunately, have access to a friend with an extensive machine shop for many tasks needing done. So, in my case $8,000 for a totally restored TD is within my realm, if the carcass is bought for the right price and 90%+ of the original parts are there. I find engine, trans, and rear end (w/conversion to 4.2) to be the most expensive parts. But of the three, I do my own differentials and trans work so that takes those out of the equation except for obtaining the MGA donor parts. I suppose it's all relative. If you can do most of the work..Great. If not, and you want a nice, reliable car( maybe even to "show" standards) then you pay the price. When I'm done I know exactly what I have because I have personally taken apart and reassembled every nut and bolt. If it doesn't work or breaks, then it's on me not on the restorer/ assembler. $40,000+ TD restorations? Not for me.

Cheers,
Brian W.
ZBMan

Well said C.R. I have a 2013 A6 . Great car and all, don't get me wrong,but smiles per mile the TD's got it beat hands down. Its so bad that i find myself daydreaming about topdown TD driving during winter drives in the Audi.
Cheers, Keith
K. McKenzie

Oh. I forgot to mention....I don't charge myself for labor. It's free to me, so if you have to pay, then Bob's your uncle!

Brian W.
ZBMan

Look at it this way, you could go to Disney World, spend 2 grand, have a lot of fun, but when it's over, all you have to show for it is memories. With our cars , if we spend a couple grand, we have something tangible to show for it, plus can enjoy it as long as we want! I say spend it on the car, the rewards are much greater! But then again, you still have to take the grand kids to Disney! Grin. PJ
Paul S Jennings

I always justify spending money on old cars by thinking what the resale on a brand new car is after 5 years, I know which holds its price better.

I just bought a 50 year old car for a tow vehicle. It was either buy a 10 year old car for 10 grand and see it worth nothing in another couple of years or buy the old EH Holden to do the same job and have it at least maintain its value. Plus I am having a ball playing with it.
Max Irvine

This thread was discussed between 08/02/2014 and 10/02/2014

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