1955 MG TF 1500 MGTF MG-TF Running Matching Numbers Project

1955 MG T-Series Description

1955 MG TF 1500 on which a restoration had been started many, many years ago. The car was sandblasted and then disassembled. At this point, the restoration stalled and the parts were put in a barn. I acquired it last summer and installed the engine, transmission, radiator, firewall, floorboards and seats. I serviced the engine and it promptly started up. It ran smoothly, idled nicely with 30 psi oil pressure and revved freely. Although the hydraulic brake system was entirely inoperable, I was able to drive the chassis and ran it through all four gears. Oil pressure at medium RPM was 55 psi. It drove fine, but the tires are hard (and perhaps out of round) and the transmission has the typical severe growl in first gear. The frame and all chassis components are rock solid with no rot whatsoever in the frame. The chassis picture was taken late last summer.
A few weeks ago, I decided to assemble the rest of the car and put it up for sale. The car has been loosely assembled primarily to show what is there and to facilitate shipping.
The fenders are in good, rust free condition except for the left front which has had some body work done on it, not because of rust, but probably due to a fender-bender. The fenders were undercoated years ago so the bottom sides are well preserved. As the car was sandblasted and never painted or primed, there is some surface rust as seen in the photos.
Doors are in excellent condition including the wood.
Hoods, side panels, front and rear splash aprons and running boards are also in great condition with surface rust as shown in the photos.
The rockers and wood behind them are completely gone. Rear fender wells are very solid and all of the captive nuts for retaining the fenders seem to be functional. Again, there is much surface rust, but no apparent rust through. The wood in the rear tub appears solid, but the main bottom timbers are gone. To repair the tub, new rocker panels and repair panels for the lower cowl and lower quarter panels will be needed. Most of the wood in the cowl will also need replacement.
Fuel tank seems solid with no signs of rot or rust through at the bottom.
The radiator shell and grille are in fair shape. They may look good in the photos, but there are numerous dents which will have to be repaired. The chrome center hood strip is in excellent shape. The windshield glass is cracke, but the frame is in good shape (needs polishing) and the stanchions are in very good condition.
Seats are complete with slides and tonneau bars. Upholstery is shot!
Wheels are 48 spoke and look to be in good condition. They too were sandblasted and never repainted, so some surface rust is evident, but it is not serious.
Tail lights and bumper faces are there but need to be replaced due to poor chrome.
Complete dash is in the car and all instruments look serviceable. Windshield motor and linkage are there, but the bakelite knobs are missing.
Correct TF top bows are included (I forget to photograph them).
Missing parts include, but may not be limited to: bumper over riders, license plate light, TF 1500 badges, door latches, side curtains and mounting hardware, longitudinal steel for the side curtain box, cover for the side curtain box, chrome hardware for retaining the windshield, H bracket to support the dash, running board strips, chrome trim on hood sides.
This is a numbers matching car serial number HDP46/7771 with a clear title. It has the original 1500cc XPEG engine #1637 with which it left Abingdon, England in 1955.
Car can be viewed in Burlington, Wisconsin. I can assist in shipping arrangements, but for shipping purposes, it should not be considered a running car (some transporters are very particular about that). I can probably deliver it in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and eastern New England for a reasonable fee.
Call me at 847-830-7193 or write to Edson49TC@aol.com for further details.
I also have several TDs and almost every spare part for the TD. Contact me if you need something.