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MG TD TF 1500 - My Newly Restored Grill

Looks a tad better than the one that came off! Grin. PJ



Paul S Jennings

I have one with period correct bugs...if you want to trade!
David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

Dave, I can't wait until I can do something to get bugs on it! Grin. PJ
Paul S Jennings

Snap!
Don TF 4887

D J Walker

Nice Don! A pretty grill just makes the car come alive don't it! PJ
Paul S Jennings

You guys having a race?
David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

You're right Paul, makes it all worthwhile and an incentive to keep at it.
No, David, we are not racing, I'm sure I would come in second.
Don TF 4887 'Figaro'
D J Walker

"A pretty grill just makes the car come alive don't it!"
I've corrected your tytp - A pretty girl just makes the car come alive don't it!
Jud

J K Chapin

Mine sparkles more. Seems there are an number of TF's close to completion.

R Brown

Well, it would have been better if I hadn't typo'd.
Jud
J K Chapin

Interesting ...never thought of building one in zero gravity environment up-side-down!
Does that make the pedal box go any easier?
David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

And another!
Here is the front of my TF just a few weeks ago.
Yes, a beautiful grille really sets the car apart, donut?

Tom
'54 TF

T Norby

PJ the car's looking great! At the last T Type seminar run by the M.G. Car Club here in Sydney it was mentioned that TF's had the front shocks painted green but that TD's were black. Not sure that this is absolutely correct (as I have aquired little knowledge on TF's), but if you're into originality maybe it's worth checking this out. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Wouldn't mind your old one from your pic's it looks a lot better than mine.it's a shocker

regards

george
G Mills

Peter, I have not ever seen a green TF shock but you do learn something every day.

As Armstrong had a factory in Australia they could have been locally sourced but I was not aware the TF was CKD into Australia?

We often see front shocks from Australia but blue was my recollection.
Rod Brayshaw

Only the replacement shocks were green (in Australia anyway, I have seen boxed examples). Some of the factory TF shocks may have been aluminium but got a black blow-over on the production line.

Matthew.
M Magilton

I know the shocks should be black, but after they came back from the re-builder, I didn't have the heart to paint them. Since the car will not be concurs,(spelling), they'll probably stay that way. The car is supposed to be MG Red, but we have a Red MG and I don't want another Red one, so it's getting painted like a friends Auburn Speedster. Only paint and upholstery will not be correct, the rest down to the nuts, bolts and hose clamps will be correct. Grin. PJ
Paul S Jennings

Matthew M is correct. The green coloured TF shocks were the replacements colour. Factory photo of a TF chassis in the Abingdon yard,minus the body,shows black shock absorbers.

Cheers
Rob Grantham
TF3719("Aramis"),TF9177("Athos").
R GRANTHAM

You can also see in the vintage videos on the British Pathe website a TD chassis being built where the workers assembling a front end and the shocks are clearly painted black.

The photos that Rob mentions as well as the videos are precious to help restorers how these cars looked originally.

Sometimes people restoring the car mistakenly assume the shocks were natural finish yet the rest of the chassis was painted black. The problem is these shock bodies are made out of zinc. Zinc and the quality of oil based paints back then did not adhere very well to the surface due to the zinc reacting with the paint. Therefore, it didn't take long for the paint to begin to easily flake off, in addition to exposure to the elements, vibration, and road gravel to give the appearance the zinc shock bodies were always never painted to begin with.

Here is 9052 with low miles and you can see large pealing of paint on the shock body.

The car PJ is coming along nicely. I have to agree I was stoked when I first put on my restored grill on the car the first time. It's a important milestone of the restoration and it is a major centerpiece and focal point that defines the car.

Best

Frank Cronin

Paul, looks great! George
George Butz

I had bought a set of Armstrongs brand new in late 60's that were bronze or gold. Repainted them the same way during my restoration until someone pointed out that the originals were black.

Christopher Couper

Didn't the gold replacement ones come directly from Abingdon, the factory? PJ
Paul S Jennings

Paul: I think they were in a RWB stripped box but none the less they were gold.
Christopher Couper

This thread was discussed between 14/07/2014 and 16/07/2014

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