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MG TD TF 1500 - Decided on paint color

I don't know this gentleman, but I've admired his car for quite some time and have decided to have mine painted in this manner. It takes me back when I was restoring 1930s American antique cars with the black fenders and colored bodies. I always liked them. This is Steve Simmons photo, I hope he doesn't mind. PJ



Paul S Jennings

With appologies to Jack Kahler...his TF is a really nice car and his other MG's are even nicer but this combo doesn't do it for me. I like your selection better Paul.

MG LaVerne

Somebody has one in Black and silver that looks very sharp to me. I forget who...sorry.
MG LaVerne

Paul, Have you decided what color you are going to do for the interior, seats, and dash?

I like the two tone look but the black interior just doesn't do it for me.
Frank Cronin

Thanks LaVerne!
Frank, As near as we can determine, the car came with a Tan or Biscuit interior and top, as it's original color was MG Red. I'm not sure about that yet. I do like the subtle look of this car, but I'm going to Photoshop the car and see what looks best to me. I do think the black top goes with the fenders and the dark color, but we'll see. PJ
Paul S Jennings

Here is an image from New Zealand.

Rod Brayshaw

On a second note, I'd like to talk to the owner of the car in the photo, as I'd like to know what the disks are behind his wheels. If anyone knows who he is, I'd like to know. PJ
Paul S Jennings

Rod, That's a nice combination. PJ
Paul S Jennings

The second picture looks like Alfin drums but the first picture I don't know what they are. I am curious too and would love to see a close up of those drums and know more about them.
Chris Couper

Sorry gents cannot get compatible with two tone paint jobs on T series cars I prefer the original plain colour finishes in Acrylic, the two pot paints are just too shiny for this vintage of motor car.

G Evans

I'm with you, Graeme. Bud
Bud Krueger

I did my TF with black fenders, and a black body...
D. Sander

I'm aligned with Messrs Evans, Krueger & Sander on this point & I'm also not a fan of the 2 pac finish. The car in the pic (though low sheen) is actually white, which as we all know is not an original colour. I don't think white suits TD's & Malcolm Green also makes the same comment in his book. I don't know the owner but I do know the restorer. However it is indeed a small world as the young man rolling up his sleeves at the back of the car is my eldest son & the person just cropped out on the edge of frame is my better half! The pic was taken (I guess by Graeme) at the Sydney M.G. Car Club's concourse about 2 or 3 years ago. How about that!

Cheers.
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

I understand that everyone will not approve of painting one of these cars any color or combination there of from what it came from the factory in, which I respect, as I was also this way up to and including our 72 MGB. I even went through the trailer queen bit, which was eternally boring. So now I drive them and enjoy them. I have one Red MG as it came from the factory and do not wish to have another. This car will be as close to factory that I can get it, aside from the color. So considering it's only paint and possibility upholstery color change, it'll be painted like the top photo. Nothing is engraved in stone, but that's where I'm at,at this point. Your thoughts and ideas are always well received. Thank you, PJ
Paul S Jennings

I'm kind of partial to the single color but I've seen some real beauties done of combinations of a lighter and darker tone of the same color. I've seen green on green and red on red and they look great. I'm striving for at least a surface appearance of "original" (my probably once red car is now green) but, as has been said many times, it's your car - enjoy it.

Jud
J K Chapin

Thankfully we all don't like the same color or combinations, that would be so boring. I loved Hank Ripert's recent article about "original" paint colors, i.e. "when the green ran low, we just dumped in some more black to extend it until the new supply came in". Yes, base/clear coat not original, but it looks so good. No way I would use anything else unless going to have judged in AACA or something. If I ever restore another T-series, it could be brown/cream and have the beautiful (gasp!) tan carpet as well. George
George Butz

A bit off topic: besides the plastic look of the two pass paints are the touch up / repair aspects. If you have retained paint, or a super great match, you can fix a flaw in a single pass paint by blending a patch into a panel. With the base/clear approach you pretty much have to paint the entire panel. If not you are going to see a distinctive ring around the patch area. Also I have noticed that the clear coats are pretty dependent on how they were applied and its real hard to blend them and still retain the same smoothness uniformly. This is one reason lacquers were so widely used. You could patch little spots and blend them in with no noticeable signs. And if you screwed up you just waited a day, sanded it smooth and tried again :-)
Chris Couper

We used lacquer on the bodies back in the day when I was into antique American cars and enamel on the fenders and running boards. Back then points were deducted if the bodies that were originally lacquer covered and another type of paint was used. They might have changed that ruling by now because of the modern paints, I don't know. Lacquer is easy to use but high moisture can cause it to blush. It just takes a lot of coats, 18 being the target amount, but it looked like glass when done. Believe it or not, body shops prior to WWII painted the fenders with a brush, putting on a very thick coat at first and then taking a wide Camel hair brush and wiping the excess off to the desired thickness, sorta like the sail boat technique. My dad was a automobile painter right after coming home from the war and told me that's the way they painted their cars. PJ
Paul S Jennings

Paul,
I like the look of the burgundy & black...classy : IMHO.
I don't think tan interior & hood would look right with it though.

My TF came to me a slightly brighter shade of yellow than the now "closer to ivory" it is now.
Actually had a chance to see it with tan hood & interior as my installer was doing another TF at the time. I didn't like it at all.

My black interior was in good shape and, even with the patina of being 20 years old, I thought the quality was better than the new kit I saw so I went with new black cloth hood.
The only downside (other than the obviously incorrectness) is how hot the black gets in the sun.
You quickly become adapt at finding shady spots to park in.
David Sheward "IZZY" TF 7427

Paul,

I think the two-tone looks great on the TF. I probably would not like it so much on the TD, the TD being a bit more upright in stance. If you have painted wires, I might suggest painting them the same black as the fenders. Last year, "Wheeler Dealers" had a BRG Morgan +4 with the wires painted the same color and it was really stunning.
Charles Duffy

Charles,
I seen that episode last night on Wheeler Dealers and that car was so beautiful, I nearly wet my pants. I also agree with you that 2tone looks better on a TF than TD.

Bill
TD24570
Bill Brown

Charles, The car has the original painted wires on it now but is possibly getting chrome wires when it's completed. What the heck, it's only money. The more I spend, the less the kids will have to fight over. Grin. PJ
Paul S Jennings



"G Evans, New South Wales, Australia
Sorry gents cannot get compatible with two tone paint jobs on T series cars I prefer the original plain colour finishes in Acrylic, the two pot paints are just too shiny for this vintage of motor car."


I agree that T Series cars should be a single colour - maybe an Aussie thing. Two tone is too "Morgan like".

Notwithstanding, the cars in the photos are beautifully done and full marks to their owners.
Peter Malkin TC9356
Peter Malkin

The FACTORY race team TC's had 2 tone paint
so there is a precedence.

My grandmother used to say " Every one to his own taste. said the lady as she kissed the pig"
I my self like two tone.
mine will be three tone

Black fenders and two tones of red.
I am far from there


Jim B








JA Benjamin

Jim: Like it or not, people will stop and stare with their mouths agape. It's gonna be a beauty by anybody's standard. Just love it.

Jud (monochrome 53 TD)
J K Chapin

This thread was discussed between 05/02/2014 and 07/02/2014

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