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MG TD TF 1500 - Drive Away Chassis Information

I've been going through some notes from Dick Knudsen relating to the Guarantee Plate ledger sheets, and find references to abbreviations I have never seen in the ledgers. In particular I am interested in:

"EX/DA (1-7) = drive away chassis in varying states."

Can anyone tell me anything about these chassis, as I can find no reference to them? I suspect they are quite distinct from CKD cars.

Thanks very much.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

I assume that means a rolling chassis. This was a popular thing pre-war, where the complete and running chassis would be purchased and sent to a coach builder for custom body and interior work. I've never heard of TDs being sold this way but it's certainly possible.
Steve Simmons

They drove them to the ships that way to deliver to Germany for the German MGs and Italy for Bertones and Arnolts. Better historians can fill in the blank.
JIM N

Interestingly, Drive Away chassis seem be distinct from chassis-only, and equally distinct from CKD cars.

The chassis-only sales are individually noted in the Guarantee Plate ledgers, including most of the 103 Arnolt coupes and roadsters, and the various Swiss and German cars - both "mock" MG's, and the ones with custom bodywork. CKD cars are also listed, but I have never seen a Drive Away Chassis reference, other than Dick Knudsen's mention.

I hope someone can shed some authoritative light!

Tom Lange
t lange

Tom,
I would imagine these could have been produced as a drivable chassis, with a make shift wiring harness and provisions for a battery, seat, and gas tank to enable them to be driven away from the works. I have been told that the German TD chassis was driven to the point of final assembly. I will ask around. When we (you) find the answer, it would be a great presentation at a future Kimberfest.
Be well,
David
D. Sander

I wonder if Drive Away could have been used for chassis that went to auto shows? Any works cars that were not really TDs that used the same chassis but did not use the body parts?

Do you know how many of these Drive Away cars were designated?
Christopher Couper

As far as literally driving chassis, this was also something done at the factory on the early cars. They had temporary registration tags for transporting driving chassis on public roads. I've never heard of it being done on later cars like TD/TF but I suppose anything is possible.
Steve Simmons

Chris - the Guarantee Plate ledger (and now the on-line listing as well) do mention when a car was specially prepared for "SHOW",'; again, none is listed as either Chassis Only or Drive Away.

In the Guarantee Plate ledger sheets I have never seen the "EX/DA" mention; nor have I seen any of these others which Dick also lists, apparently with authority:

TF - W after chassis number denotes wires.
EX E = Eire. Speedo Miles. RHD
EX N = New Zealand Speedo Miles RHD
EX NL = Holland Speedo Kilos LHD
EX SA = South Africa Speedo Miles RHD
EX M = Mexico Speedo Kilos LHD

I wonder if these abbreviations are found in the different ledger mentioned by Clausager as "Major Export Markets: TD/TF (Nuffield Export statistics in the BMIHT archives)"? It seems to have been maintained by the Production Control Department in the Abingdon factory, and Clausager seems to be the only person to have used it!

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

This thread was discussed between 29/12/2021 and 01/01/2022

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