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MG TD TF 1500 - Unusual central dash layout

My TD8986 has three separate matching gauges oil, amps, and water in the central panel. I have not seen this on TDs before. The horn button is located to the left of the speedo. Was this a dealer modification back when the car was new? I believe it was sold new on Long Island New York.

John Quilter

Maybe done when the dash was restored for owner preference?

Matthew.
M Magilton

That would be my guess. Pretty clever, really, as it puts the gauges where the driver can see them at the expense of symmetry.

A common swap on MGAs (I did it on mine) is to swap the fuel gauge for the oil pressure/coolant temperature gauge. The factory put the fuel gauge on the left of the dash and the pressure/coolant gauge on the right. This made sense for the RHD cars because the more important gauge would be next to the driver. However, they left the gauges in the same position for the LHD cars, which made the driver crane his neck to see the coolant/pressure gauge, rather than have it in line of sight.

Considering the majority of MGAs were LHD exports, it is amusing that the factory designed the cars as RHD then basically jury-rigged them for LHD. An example is that the throttle is designed to be on the right with a Rube Goldberg mechanism on the LHD cars to take the throttle action from the left over to the right. This involves a long bar affixed to the interior of the toeboard. Sometimes a long-legged passenger can rest his foot on this mechanism and accelerate the car, much to the surprise of the driver!
David Littlefield

John, the common installation of the water temperature gauge was done by drilling a hole in the dash to install the gauge. Yours was probably done after the car was delivered. Bud
Bud Krueger

The horn button and dip switch normally went there.Where are yours?
Sandy
Sandy

Moved to the left of the speedo.
John Quilter

The dial face of the water temp gauge looks less faded.
D mckellar

I've seen this before, when someone wanted water temperature and didn't want to go to the expense of the combination gauge. Note that the ammeter is the 20 amp early variety. Your relocation of the horn and dip switch I've seen also. These cars were perfect for customizing and modifying. That's why I find tasteful modifications acceptable, and even desired, or all of our cars would be identical!

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

My car, which is still under restoration and came to me in a jumbled mess has the same three gauges as yours (mine's a 51 TD). As such, I'm been researching this topic on line and at car shows and I've seen a number of examples of both set-ups--either the extra gauge is placed outboard or the horn is moved outboard and the extra gauge is placed centrally. I'm planning to move the horn since I think having all the gauges together looks better and makes more sense.
J Cosin

This thread was discussed between 10/12/2015 and 14/12/2015

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