MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Price for an Unrestored 53 TD

I have been researching the price for an unrestored 53 mg td. The car was purchased in 1976 by my father for about 2300. Nothing has been done to the car since then and I want to give him a fair price. My research, all done on-line leads me to a price about from 5000-7000. The attached pic does not show the engine. It does not have any of the orginal interior. What are your thoughts?

P Trautmann

Are the rest of the body parts there...hood/grille/etc. Looks pretty rough (paint wise)...is the wood still ok?
Certainly by the looks $5000 would be absolute tops? $4000 would be fair!
gblawson(gordon)

If all the other parts ARE offered, I would agree but quite a bit less if not.

John Redman
John Redman

Couldn't view the image but based on your description I would think that $2500-$3,000. is fair IF all the parts are there. You will spend about $10,000. to get that car up to reasonable standards. Been there, done that. A paint job could cost you $4,000. - $5,000. alone. Consider what you would want to value the car when its all restored then go backwards from that amount with your best estimates on paint, body work, engine & other mechanicals, etc. and then you can derive a base price with some reasonable basis. Leave Labor of Love out of it for the moment. Try to be objective.
R Murray

I think you are high based on the photo, and VERY much depending on completeness. Just about any complete TD sells for more than $5,000 on eBay, and at that price it will be together and certanly won't run.
As a comparison, last year, for $5425, I bought a complete 35K TD on eBay from the second owner, put away in 1979 due to a bad axle. So far, in addition to the basics such as brakes, I have pulled apart the engine due to acid in the oil that ruined the main and rod bearings: new water pump, cam, main and rod bearings, 4 new exhaust valves and guides, complete valve job, rocker shaft, oil pump, lifters and balancing. And that's with me doing all the assembly on a 35,000-mile car! Oh, yes, 4 rebuilt shocks.

So costs add up quickly, because you can't see what shape things really in until you have taken them apart. In your case, things will certainly be missing. I'd put the value of the car in the picture at $3500-4K, no more. Tom
t lange

I brought this home last June. Engine and tranny had been rebuilt by University Motors and never installed back in ythe car. $ 4000.00 May seem like a good deal but with me doing all the work I'm going to have another $ 15000.00 in it. It's your dad so let your conscionce be your guide. If it was on the open market I'd say about $ 3000.00.

Should also add it came with about $2500.00 of new parts in boxes. Some NOS stuff.

LaVerne Downey

Also came with a large library.

LaVerne Downey

Mr. Trautmann:

I just viewed your photo of the MG TD. Yes, it's in very bad shape. All the wood will have to be replaced in the doors, cockpit, cowl and rear section. That's pretty much a given there. The wood will have to be painstakingly shaped and fitted precisely. Only one place to get the Ash wood: Abingdon Spares (New England MG T Club) was the place back in the 1980's, else you'll have to go to the old country (UK) for those.

Then you are faced with a frame-up restoration, or a frame up "refurbishment" at the very least.
Paint and body work: $5,000. - $6,000.
Engine rebuild: $2,000. - $3,500.
Chrome and other stuff: $2,000.
Elec Instrument rebuild;
Elec generator/voltage reg. rebuild etc.
New wiring;
New Upholstery: $1,000.
New Interior kit (Vinyl) $1,000. +
You are now approaching $12,000. to $14,000. not to mention about 2,000 hours of labor.
Sure you want to go there?

To properly fit the wood on the cowl, doors and door pillars, you will have to lay the entire side of the body panels on the garage floor and then fit and shape the wooden pieces inside their respective body panels and fit them accordingly else the doors will never line up and close properly. (You don't have the original factory jigs to do this task).

You have two choices to make:
1. Cheque book restoration, or
2. Major cost and labor effort on your own time.

With a wife and three kids,a dog and a house to maintain, it took me about 5 years.

It can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience but also a character builder as well. You will develop patience and wisdom in the process. Good hunting.
R Murray

I think you would be much better off buying a running but perhaps tatty car for $7,000 than this one for $3500.

Tom
t lange

Seems high to me, but I gave 2 grand for this TF1500 (all there,engine not original) about 7 years ago:



Carl Floyd

There is one around here that is in better shape than that for 3500.00. The cost to restore these is not cheap. Cheaper than a corvette of that vintage but still not cheap. I would say the 3500 would be tops for that car.
Tom Maine

Dad bought what is now my TD in 1972 for $1400. Dragged it home, gassed it up and it actually started. This was an entire whole car, that had never been restored or taken apart. Unfortunately, the one pictured isn't worth a lot, even if the motor and everything was there. For example, a seat foundation kit (with no upholstery) is about $850 from Moss, so the missing stuff adds greatly to the cost. Some of the guys estimates above could be on the low side if you need a new crank, etc. George
George Butz

George, you are right on. New crank is over 2400 as I can attest.
Tom Maine

Thanks guys for the input. It is greatly appreciated.The MGTD pictured has just about everything with the exception of orginal interior (TR3 seats, a poorly hand carved dash w/working speedo and NON-Lucas gauges, and no hubcaps). Engine last ran in 1979.

P Trautmann

The tailights indicate it is a 51 or 52 TD. This could have a bearing on the cars' value.

George Raham
George Raham

You do realize what a BIG project that car would be? You will easily sink another $10,000 into that car, and have a $12,000 car when you are done. Trust us, don't go there... Tom
t lange

Dash instruments, switches, and center panels sometimes show up on ebay. Really expensive, even for working but not restored ones. Check out Abingdon Spares prices for restored originals. Could cost huge $$ just for the dash. George
George Butz

If you want the car and give a fair price, I think the original purchase price would do nicely, but I were you I'd offer $ 1.500 "to keep it in the family".

Years ago I bought my fathers' MGB for an agreed "half of the marketvalue" which I thought was very fair; you don't want to be given the car to avoid words with my sisters and brother, but what's the point in paying the full marketvalue? Being a relative should merit some discount.
Willem vd Veer

If I had it to do over again I would probably have bought a car already restored because you can bet whatever it sells for is probably about half of what it cost to restore.

I think some of the prices are a little weak. The complete windshield assembly to chrome alone is close to $1000 bucks, at least from somewhere good like Pauls or Custom Chrome and typically cars as old as these can't get by with a simple engine rebuild; usually it is going to need all new bearing, pistons, cam, valves and guides and if it still has the original crank and you don't want rods flying out the bottom then replacing with a billet crank is a good idea and since most of these old engines have thrown rods at some time you are going to need to have some of the cylinders lined to repair those chunks missing at the bottom of the cylinders.

Oh, and then there is the rear-end that will probably need a new ring gear and pinion if you want to drive on the highway and the new upgraded axles plus all those gauges are goint to need to be rebuilt and add a radiator recore to the list and did I mention the brakes.

New Upholstery for $1000. Where? If you get a complete kit including seats from somewhere good like Vintage Upholstery your looking at more like $4,000.

LOL Did I say how much I love my car.

Regards,
Rich
Richard Taylor

This thread was discussed between 09/04/2010 and 12/04/2010

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.