My father has been to look at and test drive an original UK 1950 MG TD at an MG specialist dealer. He wants to buy a classic to tinker with when he retires in the next year or so, the main criterion being that it should look good in the car park (and the queue!) at the Goodwood Revival each year.
He's never run a classic car before, although at the start of his driving career he ran a Standard 8, a Viva HA and a Triumph Vitesse, and in my youth we had a Mk3 Zephyr and then a mid-70s Volvo 244, both cherished and kept long past the point most people would have replaced them. He has plentiful mechanical skills and knowledge and is fit and healthy.
The MG TD is the subject of an older restoration (c.2000) with photos showing the chassis being shot-blasted and other works being undertaken at the time. It will come with a fresh MoT at point of sale, but there are a few slight issues: The brakes are very poor; neither the speedo nor rev counter are working; the paintwork is in acceptable condition but nowhere near as good as on the example in their showroom for twice the price.
Are the brakes and the instruments likely to be simple to fix, or are they indicative of deeper, more costly issues? The dealer is selling the car as-is, because (as in another current thread here) once you start spending money on a car, it's difficult to stop. It's advertised at a good price for the model. Dad's taking a couple of days to think it over, which way should I steer him?
|
He needs to talk to a club
|
Spot on, MG OwnersClub is the first place to go.....www.mgownersclub.co.uk
Brakes will be simple hydraulic drum all round, speedo cable is the first thing to check...a lot easier to get out than later cars. Big Meccano set, really.
The club has specialists and access to spares...T series a very popular classic car.
I nearly bought a TF in the late 60s. I thought the two seats impractical so bought a Cooper 970 S instead. Wouldn't mund a T type now.
Ted
|
|
The MGCC(MG Car Club) or the Octagon Car Club rather than the Owners' Club for a car like that.
|
brakes will have to be reasonable enough to pass an mot
why would a dealer not bring something as basic as a speedo drive up to legal standards prior to sale as surely it is illegal to run a car knowing the speedo is broken and therefore it surely follows that you dealer is selling a car unfit for purpose?
i wouldnt buy it if they cant fix simple stuff
|
i have to agree with bellboy.
something as simple as the speedo drive should be working. if it is that cheap and simple a fix then they should have done it.
must be other td1950 about
|
Sounds as if it could be a bit dodgy. Don't buy it without a real engineer's inspection. New chassis would cost plenty.
Some dealers do have a lot of restorable cars they haven't got round to yet. But they have to have some sort of real reason for selling 'as is'. Unless you know the individual it's hard to judge whether they haven't got time to do it or whether they've realised it's a snotter and are trying to get rid at a profit.
Always liked the TD myself when young. Not a ball of fire, but honest and cute. Its successor the TF wasn't as good-looking in my opinion, although it isn't all that different.
|
MG - TD 1950 - what to look out for? - Zero
