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MG TD TF 1500 - Tonneau Covers

We have been having a discussion on TD Tonneau covers.

It appears that all MGTDs that had a factory Tonneau Cover, had a cover that had only 4 LTD. Two on the back towards the corners, and one on each of the front edges.

The area between the fuel tank was cut higher, and did not have any LTD.

It appears this does cause a bit of flapping, and more LTD were added for the design of the aftermarket Tonneau Cover with cut outs just at the spare tire rack tube attachment.

Some used one addition LTD in the Center, and most used two additional LTD in between the spare tire rack tubes.

In addition, according to an MG upholstery expert, the TD tonneau had three tie down straps that attached to the back of the seat. The Center strap had a T on the bottom. The TF had 4 straps.


Bruce Cunha

Bruce,

I believe that is referred-to as a half tonneau, and yes, it did come with the car. I bought my car new, and still have it (somewhere). But I am on my third full, tonneau, a black Robbins.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gord Clark

Gord: If you do find it the one outstanding item is how many straps there were holding it down in front. Even if the straps are rotted away you should be able to see the place they were sewn into the cover.

Some think there were three with the center one branching out at the bottom to the two inboard snaps.

The other school of thought is that there were actually 4 separate straps like the TF has.

I have scoured all my photos and just cannot find one that shows the underside of an original half tonneau cover.
Christopher Couper

Don't know if it helps, but my TD was restored by Naylor's in the mid 70's and this is the half tonneau they fitted. I have no idea who made it, Aldridge Trimming did the interior but I don't know if they did tonneau's and hoods.

B W Wood

BW: That is not an original cover but it does help support the theory of the single middle strap.

Thank you for sharing it.

BTW it also shows the movement to a full back just with cutouts for the spare tire carrier, which would have allowed for additional LTD snaps in the middle, which your installer decided not to use.
Christopher Couper

I got my TD in October of 1966.The top had been replaced. It had tonneau.
during restoration in the mid 2010's I made a now seat-back. I made this drawing which was corrected and enhanced in 2019. The seat back was original to the car.
It hd 4 snaps for the tonneau .

Jim B.

JA Benjamin

JA. Thank you for the drawing.

The debate is not how many snaps there are on the seat back (4 it is) but how many straps there are on the cover. Note the above cover has three straps on the cover where the center strap divides just above the drive shaft tunnel into two straps to snap into the two middle studs on the seat back.

We are still looking for an original cover with the straps in tack (or at least a ghost of the locations) to show if there were two or four straps coming from the cover. So far all the cover images I have are from the top or outside. Nothing yet from the underside.
Christopher Couper

To Christopher Couper, California, USA,

I bought my MG TD 1950 in November 1965, at that time it came with a raggedy half tonneau, saved it and I am sure it is the original part.
I took some photos of it yesterday, hoping they will help.
On the part you can clearly see that 4 suspenders were sewn on, you can still see the needle stitches very well in the severed places.
I have more pictures
With kind regards
Anton Meyer Switzerland TD/C2211





AM Meyer

Anton Meyer: Thank you for the feedback. That is another cover that I have not seen before.

Can you email your pictures to:

mgtd@mg-cars.org.uk

This site reduces the quality of images posted. Your other view may also provide some insight.
Christopher Couper

This thread was discussed between 16/05/2023 and 21/05/2023

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