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MG TD TF 1500 - Car strippers

I am feeling a curmudgeonly moment, and need to vent. I am disturbed by the number of T-series cars bering stripped and parted out, for the almighty dollar. Almost all of my cars have been orphans - not nice enough to drive as is, but too much work to restore. So I have gotten them running, tidied them up a bit, and passed them on to new owners who enjoy them for what they are - survivors.

I understand that some cars are just too far gone to be economically saved, and are better parted out for the benefit of all - I even support that. I also understand that if there were not a fairly constant stream of used parts available, many more cars would not be on the road. Finally, I understand the legal concept that each owner has an undisputed right to do what he wants with anything he owns.

But that being said, I HATE to see a decent car, easily restorable, largely complete and unmolested, be parted out piece by piece. It used to be that TD's were the victims - I even parted out a few myself. But that was in the 70's, when people would routinely pour their used motor oil down the sewer drains - we've progressed since then, we've learned, we've put things into perspective. Or so I thought.

So now I am seeing TF's and even TC's being parted out, decent cars, easily restorable, and largely complete. I know some of these guiys and they are nice, helpful people (for a price). I know that every generation of MG owner has to decry the unsavory motives of a certain branch of MG people, but times have changed. I hate to see the integrity and the substance of cars being destroyed.

I have a Mark II car in the yard right now that was sold as a parts car, but I am gathering all the missing Mark II pieces, and someone will have a chance to do it right. It's emotionally satisfying for me to do this.

In Britain they used to call those who lured cargo ships onto the rocks Breakers. I hate to see the new generation of T-series breakers at work.

Sorry. Tom
t lange

I saved 'the53' from such a DPO. My goal is to turn it into a driveable machine for someone to paint and pretty up without losing too much in the process. Bud
Bud Krueger (TD10855)

Tom

Breaker's Yards they still are here!

And I the last piece of my puzzle, re-instating missing pieces (taken out by the PO in 196?, not a breaker) is the passenge grab handle in the TDII. I have drawings, but would like to find the RHD version (which is the mirror of the LHD version). Before I get one made is anyone hoarding on one of these?

IanB
Ian Bowers

tom, i agree 100%. the only way i console myself is to consider it keeps another car on the road and mine gets more valuable with each car that is parted out.
i wonder who is buying all of these parts? there must be a market...but i hate to lose these cars. regards, tom
tom peterson

I agree 100%. I am reluctantly ok with a Basket case worn out car without original drivetrain either being parted out or mildly customized, but that would be my only exception. A car with an important history, sentimental or otherwise is a different story.
D. Sander

The illusion of making a fast buck. One person sees the absurd asking prices on ebay etc and thinks there's a gold mine here thinking the parts are worth more the the car! The La Grange guy must think he's going to make 50k off that parts car! So another jumps on the band wagon. They may actually sell a couple items to those of us that need it to get ours on the road again and we can't be find them at Moss, AS, etc. Then these guys are left with 98% of a car without an essential item and so they end up junked and we all lose. To bad Moss,AS couldn't make a go of parting out these relics with decent "used" prices.
Randy
Randy Biallas

AS Does part out cars. They have some info on their website. I've gotten some good used parts from them
D. Sander

Bud, good for you to keep the 53 on the road. You can't have a finer example than one of the later 53's. What is the VIN?
Cheers, Barry
C B Ryley

Barry, it's TD23618 (born on 12/31/52). Some of its story is at http://www.ttalk.info/The53.htm Bud
Bud Krueger (TD10855)

While I am in total agreement with the post, that is if the car can be restored it would be nice to see if the owner can wait to sell it to someone who will.

Saying that. Without parted out cars, how long would some of ours stay on the road. If the person who sold me my engine when mine had a catastrophic failure had not parted it out, my car would have probably set in the garage for another year or more while I found an engine.

Some parts are going to just get very difficult to obtain in the future.

Also, the fewer of a model there are, the more likely it will be restored.
Bruce Cunha

Yes, many of us have benefited from the breakers, but I still hate to see it happen. I have good friend who fuels his racing addiction by parting out Miatas. I have to force myself not to think about it. As Bruce says, however, your car is more valuable because of the ones destroyed, but it isn't worth it.
David "here because of a 1952 TD" Lieb
David Lieb

Unfortunately, the economics are going to keep driving this phenomenon... when you see a windshield frame going on ebay for $2400 you realize just how much more you could make by selling the MG as parts than as a whole car!
Geoff Baker

The Triple M folk have dealt with these problems differently.

Bare-bones Triple M cares, irrespective of their condition, have value, especially the chassis numbers. Ever wonder just why K3 Replicas keep popping up? A K-type chassis, even the 4-seat Tourers can be converted into a K3 and even as a replica, can fetch big quid! Especially since they can race with the originals.

C-Type Montherleys are a bit more difficult.

In the Triple M world, one can buy a BRAND NEW 6-cyl (L, M, K, etc) engine!. Ditto a 4-cyl (3 brng) like PA, PB. Many of the old, hirtherfore difficult-to-find bits, are now in remanufacture.

But are they ever expensive!

More importantly, and the root of this topic, is that these new bits are allowing Triple M cars that might never again see the light of day, once again, back of the road.

Bob Grunau bought a "hulk' of a KN Pillarless saloon which I saw when it was still on his trailer at his home. Not for the feint of heart, but he's making great progress. Pix attached.

But there's a lot to be said for canaballizing an MG. Some of the older MGs which would never again come to life unless someone had sacrificed a hulk.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.

Gordon A Clark

I know the guy in La Grange. He has been restoring MG's for many, many years. He does a fantastic job. I actually bought a piece from him recently for my rebuild.

I don't think he is buying restorable cars and breaking them up. My understanding is that he is clearing out a huge amount of stuff that he has collected over the years in his business. He is using a third party to assist him.

He lost his wife some years ago and is getting up in age himself. I think he is shrinking his business a bit, and doesn't need all that stuff. He's a nice guy-- he has offered much free advice in my restoration. But he is a businessman and has made a living in something that is a hobby for the rest of us. Can't blame him for realizing the value of what he has.
David Littlefield

This thread was discussed between 23/07/2011 and 26/07/2011

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