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MG TD TF 1500 - MGTD Top

Hello, I am new to the MGTD.
I have had porsche 356's and fell in love with a wonderfully restored mg td.
I have read that the Original Tops and Tonneaus were tan canvas and Black vinyl is a common mistake.While I understand that my restoration was done correctly the restorer did put on a black Vinyl top.
I would like to change this to a correct top and I am wondering if it is really important to buy the correct duck fabric top from moss motors or is the tan stayfast cloth the way to go. I will not be driving this car in the rain .

I would love any input or comments on what is the preferred way to replace this top.
thanks in advance.
J L MCKINNON

I completed restoration of my TD 3 years ago, and as I was restoring to show level I used the tan duck top material - from Moss. Although it looked "original" and the car won a first in National level judging with the AACA on it's first time out, the top has been a big disappointment. It is thin basic cotton canvas and looks the part. It has faded badly, from just a few days in the sun at shows. Although it has only been slightly wet once (at a show), it has continued to shrink. I can see another top in the future.

I will use the tan Stayfast the next time.

FWIW
Dallas
Dallas Congleton

Thank you , I was wondering about that issue as I had read it a few times.
Do you think you would have placed as high with the stayfast top.
Your TD sounds stunning.
Do you have a link to any pictures. I would love to see it .
my email address is
jlm@bancorpfinancial.com
J L MCKINNON

In Antique Automobile Club of America judging, it depends upon how knowledgeable and annal the particular judging team is about small details of your particular type of car. The judging is very strict and to high standards, but as they are judging all types of cars, they are not tuned to all the particulars in all makes, unless one of the judges is a T series student- so they may or may not deduct for top material.
In MG T series concours judging specific detail can be more important,especially on certain "buzz" items, although some of the cars I have seen are not to AACA National standards overall. (That statement should start a firestorm ;^))
I personally think the Stayfast top would judge well, in fact it may judge better as it is a neater, higher quality, and more finished looking top. Most of the T series cars I see have the Stayfast top.

photo shows duck top



Dallas Congleton

Dallas, despite your misgivings for the top, the three bow installation is beautiful. It is the one item I wish my TD came with rather than the earlier (and correct for my car) two bow.

Just out of curiousity, what are the 'buzz' items in your view?

Thanks in advance,
Dave
Dave Braun

I bought the last canvas top from Moss... a sale item... they said they would still sell them but at a 'custom' cost (over $500.00).... I really like the canvas and it hasn't changed its 'fit' at all after many runs in the rain, but it did fade away to a very light tan.... When new it was a pretty good match to the original side curtains....
I find the stayfast tops way too thick and 'fuzzy'....but they certainly are a quality top....

gblawson(gordon- TD27667)

Thank you for your comments.
A few questions,
Dave, my TD is a 52. Would a two or three bow installation be correct for my car .
Gordon, Your TD is stunning.when you say "canvas" are you referring to the Duck material?
Dallas, your's really is beautiful. Thanks for the picture and comments

Thanks everyone for your assistance. I am sure that these are very basic questions and really appreciate your patience with a TD newbie.


J L MCKINNON

JL

You have purchased a very nice car. Was it purchased from Wayne in Victoria? Another excellent source of information and a great group are the Pre56 MG Unclub out of Vancouver. We have done tours with them for the past 6 years and they are a really fantastic group of likeminded individuals (couples) If you need any info you can contact me at the email address shown just replace the dot and at.

Brian Smith
Campbell River
Brian Smith (1950 TD3376)

Alright Dallas,

Since it's a cloudy Saturday afternoon and I just had my last drive in the TD before next week's northern prairie snowfall rolls in, I'll bite on the firestorm.

To add fuel to the fire, it's my humble opinion that the very best top in the world for a TD is a 1953 Runyan fiberglass hardtop, buzz-cut to fit the original sidecurtains and finished in a stunning and non-original black. Concours be damned, I say.

It was +1º C when I left for a tear this morning, had both heaters going [the nice Pontiac warming my toes and the Canadian Tire 12-volter plugged into the dash as defroster] and I was able to drive comfortably in a t-shirt and light jacket.

Firestorm? Absolutely. Firestorm of heat and comfort.

- And Jim, welcome to the fold. I'm a mountain range away, but planning on bringing the TD to the Kelowna Hillclimb next May. Send pictures as you progress.

best wishes,
Dave in Leduc

ps: Dallas, do you suppose I'd finish last in an AACA event, or would the judges torch my car even before it got to the ramp? :>)

Dave Jorgensen

...Its a light duck...i'm thinking about 6 ounce or so? It was an exact match to the weight of the original on the car (which was a replacement BMC top based on the TF ... had a touch of pink to it)....
gblawson(gordon- TD27667)

Hi Brian.
Yes I did buy it from Wayne. Small world.
I sure bought from the right person. He really took care of the car and it really is sorted out properly. He was very detailed in every area.
It meant a lot to him that it went to someone who appreciated his detailed restoration. I am having alot of fun learning about the MG after many years of the 356 Porsches. I come up to Courtenay from time to time and would love to see your Car. I will email you.

Dave, thanks for the welcome. Maybe get a chance to meet you in person at an event. Your MG looks very unique and I will certainly find you if you are there. Its great the you get out and drive your car this time of year.
I hope to still get a few sunny days driving also before the winter sets in.

Thanks Gordon, That sounds what I'm looking for. Did you buy it from the Moss web site or is it a custom order.


thanks again for the comments.

Lockie
J L MCKINNON

Lockie, I do not mean to discourage anyone from the canvas top - your mileage may vary. I was just giving my experience and appraisal. The fading and shrinkage is not terrible yet and may be acceptable, or not even noticed by some people.

Attached is another closer photo of the top.

Dave in Leduc - I really like your car and it would get a lot of attention at any car show.


Dallas


Dallas Congleton

Thanks Dallas. would this be the same weight and top that Gordon described above .
I really did like the look of yours.
J L MCKINNON

Some years back, we ordered a soft top from Moss. The stitches were crooked, parallel stitches were terribly uneven and the window had one side larger than the other. We sent it back.

Dave,
I like your hardtop, too. Just painted ours recently and I brought it home to "wet sand" & buff, but this morning I would've been "dry sanding" with ice.
Jim Northrup

My Moss Stayfast top is beautiful. Too bad the directions were wrong as to the bow height, which required pretty much total re-intall, etc. I think they have corrected this now. George
George Butz

I've been following this thread with some puzzlement. Canvas? Stayfast? So, I pulled out the Moss catalogue for clarification. I saw that for the TD there IS a canvas top avilable. And, I read that the TF (my car) came with a different fabric top, more like stayfast.
I bought a full set of Stayfast weather equipment for my TF in '08 and installed it myself. While not a job for the faint of heart, I was very pleased with the result. I thought the overall quality was excellent.

To be honest, I cannot tell much difference at 10 feet away, between Dallas's top and Gordon's.

Tom
'54 TF

Tom Norby

This thread was discussed between 06/11/2010 and 07/11/2010

MG TD TF 1500 index

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