MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

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 - Poor Ol' Girl For Auction

Something about the main photo makes me melancholy


https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/es20/online-only--the-european-sale-featuring-the-petitjean-collection/lots/r1049-1952-mg-tdc/856746
N Ross

One of only 13 built to LHD configuration? Really? And why does the engine tag not match the stamped number on the block?
M Magilton

This car belongs to a well known racing driver of the 60/70s Marcel Petitjean, here in France. He is selling off 100 cars of his 150 car collection. I also noticed the engine number mismatch.

John

J Scragg

Wrong carburetor set up, odd bumpers and overriders, stainless grill slats, not correct engine, extra chrome work and incorrect upholstery trimming. It appears that only a single fuel pipe and pump are present. Front Andrex dampers and hardware are missing. Rear Andrex are an unknown Auction estimate seems to be a bit high for what it is IMHO.
W A Chasser

I know that this is nitpicking, but another detail which I noticed is for an April 52 car, it should have a 5 post regulator. It has a 9 post.
These were changed in June 51.

John
J Scragg

If the engine number on the plinth is indeed 12632, then this engine was originally installed in TD/12269 EXLNA in December 1951 and the factory record is not exactly clear whether this car was a TD/C although the likelihood is that it was.

TD/C15500 was the first of a batch of 10 EXLNA TD/Cs, the first 5 of which were recorded out of sequence in the records, actually appearing straight after TD/15474 EXLNA, although the production date is the same.

Well, we're allowed to nitpick during lockdown ... 😊

David
David Wardell

John. I missed that one. And I should have caught it since my dads car was 8151 was just less than 10 cars after the change was made just prior to dads TD/c-8151. The change was at TD-8142
W A Chasser

DW: I don't see any evidence in the Production Records that TD12269 is a TD/C car; the ledger sheets have very clear "ditto" marks for the preceding TD/C car, but I see none for TD12269. And while TD/C cars were most often made in batches of 5, there are many examples of 2 or 3 being made at a time (see my last paragraph for more on this). The fact that the car has 1-1/4" carbs also suggests it is not a TD/C engine (of course, they could have been replaced, by in my experience people go UP in carb size, not DOWN!).

I find it puzzling that the numbers on the engine do not match. I very seldom see engines where the brass octagon number plate does not match the stamped number on the upper plinth. At the time when this engine would have been replaced these cars were not collectible, and there was little desire to have a matching engine number. And since the sump has to come off to replace the tag, it's even more surprising.

I have a confident theory to explain your "out of sequence" point. The Production Records prove that TF cars came down the line in color batches, rather than sequentially or in any other order. That TD cars also came down the production line in color batches is the best and most logical explanation for the various "out-of-sequence" numbers one finds throughout the TD records, as well.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

I thought it worth double checking the records kept at Kimber House for TD/12269 and made a note as such to do so when the present situation allows. I thought it unusual enough for only the two preceding cars to be TD/Cs.
Same goes for the out-of sequence chassis numbers. I was surprised enough to make a note of it so it wasn’t that common and actually put it down to a recording error by the clerk - or the order in which records were handed over to him.

David
David Wardell

DW - Relying on my memory, there were batches of as many as 10 made sequentially, and as few as one (such as TD/C7859).

There are actually MANY instances of out-of-sequence dates, all explained by my paint theory.

Have you ever seen a single build sheet, what I assume was handed to the clerk for recording in the Production Records? Do you have any information on the exact timing of when in the process these records were penned? And finally, should I be calling them Guarantee Plate records, as being more precise?
Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

C’mon guys...if you’re going to “nit-pick” at least mention the flat tires! 😀
Gene Gillam

I like the fact that the "spare" still shows the 5:00 flat from where it was on the car before they hauled it out for the sale.

It all depends on what one wants from a car. As a fun driver, it certainly could be,once it is made to run. As an original car, it isn't. But as it is, it has a certain charm, with those odd bumpers and white interior. Shame about the engine, mostly.

My last car with a white vinyl interior was a TD I bought in Los Angeles in 1971 from a guy nicknamed "The Animal" by Bud Hand's mechanics, who disliked him because he would not spend a dime to properly fix the car. I left a note on the car when I saw it parked on the street, and he quickly called to accept my $400 offer. After I paid him and he had signed over the title he grinned and told me he had to get his Morris Minor to push start it, since he forgot to mention it had a bad starter. While he was gone I popped in the crank and spun it over, and it was running when he got back. He was furious that he never knew there was a crank, and demanded to cancel the deal. I just waved and drove off!

I soon found out that the clutch was oil-soaked and slipped badly, and there was a pound of sugar in the gas tank that made it run on for at least 30 seconds when switched off! I ran a hose from the bottom of the hot water heater and dissolved the sugar, but there was a thick layer of carbon filling each combustion chamber. I scraped off the carbon with tongue depressors and popsicle sticks, installed a new clutch, cleaned all filters and the car ran perfectly for the next few years. All this with a white vinyl interior...

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

This thread was discussed between 03/05/2020 and 04/05/2020

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG TD TF 1500 BBS now