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MG TD TF 1500 - Engine number identification

My TD has a chassis number TD1523 which had a build date of May 1950. The engine number is 22357.
Would someone be able to date this engine please as I am sure this isn't a match.
Thanks.
John
John Walton

Figure the engines are about 300 ahead of the chassis numbers. That puts that engine as a late 1952.
Christopher Couper

Thanks Chris,
My car was imported into Australia in a CKD condition. I believe engines could have been sent at a different time. I will have to try and find when it was originally registered. That know doubt will test me.
John
John Walton

John - engine XPAG/TD2/22357 was originally fitted to TD 21917, made on Nov. 12, 1952 - it is an EXLNA car, so it was intended for import to America. TD21917 is not on Genre Merson's list.

I am afraid you are incorrect in reporting that your car was a CKD car. The production records show that your TD, TD1523 is an EXRU - EXport Right hand United States car.

Happy to answer any production-related questions, or match engine numbers with cars.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Hi John. As mentioned on the T Type Tech Day if you write to the Secretary of the M.G. Car Club in England he will send you a stamped & authenticated colour photocopy of the page from the Abingdon build log with all the above information. It took a couple of weeks & didn't cost anything. Tom CKD? Is that "Car Knocked Down"? I'm familiar with EXL, EXR, EXU, EXE, EXNA. Chris it's probably more correct to say the relationship was random though in general there was some sort of correlation. If a car had to be pulled of the line due to engine issues the engine may find its way back on the line & fitted to another car many weeks later. TD 5801 was fitted with XPAGTD5965 & on the factory page mentioned above & there are many much closer examples, however the difference between John's chassis & engine numbers suggests an obvious mismatch. The build date of 1950 & the engine date of 1952 sounds right. Tom what do your records show re 1523's original engine? Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter,

Sorry to piggy back on this thread, but I am interested in finding out more on the color photocopy from the Abingdon build log. Could you please email me details. Do you have to be a member of the M.G. Car Club?

Best regards,
Michael O'Brien
Michael O'Brien

TD1523 came with engine XPAG1285.

Yes, CKD is Car Knocked Down. Other possibilities are (according to a slip of paper at the beginning of the production record sheets, of unknown origin):
EXU, EXport, United STates (early version)
EXR RHD, speedo in MPH
EXRK ditto, kilometers
EXL, LHD, miles
EXLK ditto, kilometers
EXLM
EXLNA Export Left North America
EXRNA ditto, Right (most often intended for racing?)
EXE Eire, RHD, Miles (not seen in the TD or TF records)
EXN New Zealand miles (not seen in the TD or TF records)
EXNK Holland LHD Kilometer (not seen in the TD or TF records)
EXSA South Africa RHD miles (not seen in the TD or TF records)
EXM Mexico LHD kilometers (not seen in the TD or TF records)
EXDA (I-T) driver-away chassis in varying state (not seen in the TD or TF records)

EXLM/FL (Finland?) is one I HAVE seen (62 cars, 12 of them TD/C cars)
EXL/FL also
t lange

I can also scan the original page from the ledger, if anyone wants. Just send me an e-mail with your chassis number.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Sure Michael. No you don't have to be a member. I'll just have to dig it out. Always happy to communicate with a member of a neighbouring clan from County Clare. In the interim I'm sure Tom could send you a copy from the ledger. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Tom: This is a great list. I have updated the TD site with your info.
Christopher Couper

Tom,

I'm the current owner of TD 2103 (engine 2481)and about half way through it's restoration. TD 2103 is a right hand drive unit, and was surprised to hear you say that MG imported right hand drive automobiles to the U.S.

I was wondering if you might have any idea what percent of U.S. imports were right hand drives?
Tom Crause

I can't immediately figure out that number (all this searching takes time...), but I do find listed on-line that there were 81 right hand drive TD's destined for the USA, either EXRU (early) or EXRNA (later).

HOWEVER - LET THIS BE A CAUTIONARY TALE

There are countless errors in the on-line source. Your car is indeed one of the EXRU cars, even tho the on-line source reports it as an EXR. This is also true of other cars on the same Production Record page - 2087, 2103, 2104 and 2105 are all EXRU cars, listed on-line simply as EXR. This is why the HARD-COPY Production Records are so important.

There is some movement afoot in the UK to digitize the actual production record sheets and post them on line, which would go far to correct errors. Unfortunately, there it would not be 100% clear, as there are some records that are unclear or illegible.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Just emailed Tom and I had my info in less than 15 minutes.


Thank you Tom
DHN Nordstrom

Just received a copy of my production records out of the ledger from Tom Lange. for TD 0267. Made on the 23/11/1949 great to have copy of original info.
Thanks Tom for this and other valuable info available on this great site.
regards Rob.
R Browne

Tom,
Do you have access to the TF production records as well or just the TD?
I have BMHT certificate, (actually 2 of them...one with incorrect engine number) but would be keen to acquire an actual "copy" of production record if it is out there.
Some of the info on both is blank on the BMHT cert.
(Destination / Dealer is something I have always wondered about.)

I have put this one up here before:
Even BMHT does make mistakes!

David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

Yes, David, I do - I will send it to your e-mail. The handwriting is indistinct, and I can see how someone might transcribe the engine number as they did. Lots more information on the certificate than on my sheets, but it's still a bit more information.

Best, Tom
t lange

Looking at this I can definitely see how it was read as 1262 instead of 1212!
Wonder if anyone has tried to figure the car before me (7426). I can't make that one out.

David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

My guess is 1239, David.
Kevin McLemore

Guess again.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

A 3 on top of a 2 on top of an 8 :-)
Christopher Couper

1229

Tom Lange
t lange

This thread was discussed between 26/12/2014 and 31/12/2014

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