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MG TD TF 1500 - Mark II TD with reported 14,000 miles

looks right as well

http://www.bonhams.com/usa/auction/19363/lot/9/#

IanB
Ian Bowers

I'm not sure of the advertisment,,,, "the original top" ?? with a crystal clear window after all of these years??????? The seller talks about the dual front shocks, by nothing about the rears?? I need more pictures to make better judgment,,

It is a nice restoration though,,,,
STEVE WINCZE

...wait a minute....documented $25,000 and it is still the original paint, top and upholstery??? How do you spend $25,000 on a 14,000 mile car without everything being restored....
Somebody, saw somebody coming or 'on their way'....!!!!
gblawson(gordon- TD27667)

There is NO Way that paint is the original paint. It was never that glossy, and would surely show some cracking by now.
D. Sander

"fewer than 13,000 miles recorded"
It would take some serious documentation for me to believe this.
At $25K those were some expensive gaskets for the engine. (With only 13k should be all the engine needed was dried gaskets replaced).
I'm not buying the paint either.
David Sheward

"Displaying fewer than 13,000 miles on its odometer" is different to saying it's only done 13,000 miles from new and I'm surpised Bonhams haven't qualified their later statement ("believed to be one of the lowest-mileage TDs in existence") more carefully.

My 53 TD has less than 2,500 on the clock. It could be on its second time around but I know from the MOT records that it's most likely done these since its last major refurb in 1978 when the odometer - and who knows what else - was probably replaced. What it did before then is anyone's guess and, to be honest, the clock might have been off for any part of its life.

I agree, the paint job seems suspicious, pity about the rusty air cleaner and I can't see what on earth the $25k has gone on.

Mind you, the white shoes on the passenger seat do look a tad expensive although I really can't see them going with the "tweed cap" (!)

Oh, and I really do want to know, would you regularly redline a TD/C at 6000rpm? That's not a quip, BTW: I genuinely don't know.

Tom Bennett - 53TD 24232

Tom B,
I quite agree with all of your observations.
My TD/C had about 70,000 miles on the odometer when I acquired it ten years ago.
I paid little attention over the years, but about two years ago, it changed to around 34,000 miles.
It continues to show approximately correct additional miles, but I have no idea why so many were "erased".
And, I don't know about other TD/C owners, but I am unwilling to go beyond about 3,500 rpm on that 59-year-old engine.
Best regards, Steve
Steve Swarts

OK guys; heres the skinney/trivia on that car as I know it.
It was in hemphills last fall for 25000 asking by a guy in Phoenix. Claimed to be a car given to and driven by the country singer Mandrell as a birthday present in 1953. The car was purchased from a restaurant/auction out of business sale, in Montana where it had been on display as the singers special car for about 15 yrs. Went to see the car and it looked just like what you see in the listing. the paint was not 5o years old for sure.I passed on the deal because it wasn't just the car I wanted and the history was just weird. Having said all that,and not being a TD expert, it probably has the low mileage claimed and when I saw it appeared to be in nice condition given the age. I had an uncomforable feeling about the car and didn't even make an offer havinf flown over to Phoenix to see it.
I bought a Tf 1500 instead and am getting just about done to drive.
mike michel
l michel

I run mine around 4-4200 and I know one car in the club that has a stock rear end and he ran the car at 5000 all the time. They were meant to run fast. Lugging them down is hard on the motor.
I will say mine is completley rebuilt with new crank, pistons and rods but lots of them in our club have the original parts and run fine at around 4-4200. With the better gear ratios in the rear ends that can give modern highway speeds without stressing the engine.
Tom Maine (TD8105)

"Estimate: US$35,000 - 45,000"
If it brings that, look for a TF with a whole boot full of new left shoes.
David Sheward

Louise Mandrell was born in 1954, so dat's fishy.

FRM
FR Millmore

Good point "born in 1954" ...guess that explains the low "miles recorded".
Couldn't reach the pedals and/or could not write at that age! LOL
Amazes me what some people will do to inflate the price of an auto!
David Sheward

My 51 TD has most likely on 22,000 miles on it (or so my father says, and I wouldn't disagree.). But age does more damage than miles; a car that hasn't been maintained or left out in the sun or rain for the past 60 years is going to be in poor shape. Certainly I don't think any original paintwork would last well unless it was kept in a humidity controlled and temperature controlled museum (and better yet in an oxygen free environment!) Nor would the canvas or plastic. But its nice to know that the engine doesn't have too many miles on it... although given the low number of miles we mostly put on these cars, perhaps they should be installed with hour meters like tractors, instead!
Geoff Baker

It would be interesting to know what tail lights are on the rear fenders. The windshield wiper location is certainly not "53". I'm not sure but I thought that the early TDC had a painted rad grill and the later rad grill was chrome plated. Can anyone confirm this impression?

George
George Raham [TD4224]

I'm so depressed. I didn't know that my TD is a mer slovenly pedestrian.
Mike Hart (52 TD 16378)

George - you are correct.

Tom
t lange

Fletch:-

Howie Mandell perhaps?

Phonetic slip?.

Gord Clark
Rockburnb, Qué.
Gordon A Clark

Howie Mandell was born November 29, 1955
Barbara Mandrell born December 25, 1948...so even she would have been only 5 years old.

I didn't get a "T" car for my 5th birthday ...even though I wanted one since I was 3!

I think Mike made a wise choice walking away from this one!
David Sheward

This thread was discussed between 27/07/2011 and 31/07/2011

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