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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 - T-series parts suppliers

Gents- Last year we bought the following MG's from an estate as a package deal to add to our other MG's 1)1949 TC EXU 2)1950RHD TD MK II 3)1955RHD TF 1500 and 4)1968RHD MGC The cars are all one owner in good/average original condition and seem to have been maintained. We would like to start upgrading their conditions and keep them as original as possible. Does anyone have a source for suppliers that have original parts here in the USA. We have tried the 'traditional' parts houses and have been very disappointed in what they have sent. Is this what we should expect today from them or are there others and is there a good ebayer out there ? We have also been referred to John Twist in Michigan & Mick Conde at Keystone mmmgtcars@yahoo.com . Does anyone have any experience or relationship with either that can direct us before we make any bad mistakes. Thank you Sara
Sara Dahl

sara, i am not sure who you are refering to when you say "traditional parts houses". i have not seen much on my "T" that i would call tradtional. people do complain about moss parts quality. personally i am thrilled about the availability of parts for this car compared to my other orphan antique car. i guess if no one complained things would not improve. there are a couple of authorized moss distributors i have worked with...shadetree motors and abingdon spares to name two. skip at shadetree is having a few health issues...great guy very knowledgeable and the folks at abingdon spares are good people too. skip discounts off moss list. best of luck. sincerely, tom
tm peterson

Sara,

John Twist is perhaps one of the nation's foremost experts in all things MG. I had him raise my rear axle ratio from 5.125 to 4.3. He did it quickly and professionally. He isn't cheap, but perhaps he and his crew are the best.

Please continue to read here. You will find out many amazing things about your cars, and meet great people. I second the sentiments regarding Moss Motors, yes it can be exasperating, but it is also sure better than having no source of parts at all!

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

Sara, I am new to this site and really do not know what has been talked about before, but I will add my two cents. First of all, welcome to the wonderful (and expensive) world of T-series ownership. I have not had much luck with 'traditional' T parts suppliers with regard to quality or price. I do happen to know both John & Mick for many years and they are both great in very different fields. John (University Motors) is to be respected for his shop/tech seminars & Summer Picnics, a hugh turnout and a great event. John is also a Moss Motors dealer and uses their parts in his shop/repairs and that is OK for the average MGA/MGB customer. He is also probably one of Moss's biggest dealers for that reason. I have never heard a bad word about him except his shop rates(I met Mick for the first time 15 years ago at John's second Summer Party). Mick on the other hand is completely different, he is a a private collector and enthusiast and does it for the enjoyment. I have purchased items from him at the Carlisle Import show for lots of years for my TC's. He only deals in original parts and normally has what you need and is pretty fair on his prices for what you get( he also has a hugh private collection of T-series cars and pre-war MG's as well). A short story- for several years I had tried to get a Grand National AACA for my 1945 TC with no luck, I had the original steering wheel but it was in poor condition at best and at the time there was nobody restoring them. Mick was at Hershey AACA meet that year and saw my car and problem, needless to say I still did not get the GN. About 2 months later just before XMAS a package arrived. A NOS steering wheel (dated 1945) and a note 'on loan, to be used once only'. I got my Grand National at then next meet and return the wheel. He reconditions/restores all original parts for use on his project cars and does not allow visiters into his shop (only on rare occasions and I have never been to visit). I have also never heard a bad word about him. There you go, my two cents worth. If I can be of any help with the EXU please let me know. TFP
Tom

Gents- Thank you for you notes. My original point should have been stated clearer I am affraid. We purchased (6) 1130 bullet lights ( TC/TD/TF all use the same light on the front wings) All six were reproduction and did not have the KOR red dot and 4 were so bad we would not have put them on even if we wanted to. Is there anybody on EBAY with a good reputation for parts? Sara
Sara

I'm not sure about E Bay but have you tried Abingdon Spares? They have a web site and while I have not purchased anything from them recently they always were a very good supplier of T Series parts. The company was foremrly owned by the late Gerry Gougen who also owned the (now closed) MG Museum in Westminster VT. YOu might want to look them up.

George Herschell
George R Herschell

If you're looking for original and restored parts you might try Gregorys Autoparts Co. of Great Britain. He primarily deals in Lucas parts but has others. He has a wide assortment of obscure items such as switches, lights, gauges, mirrors, etc. His web site is www.gregorysautoparts.co.uk.

I bought some side lights (torpedo type, similar to what you described) that had been completely restored and in absolutely perfect condition.
Roy Challberg

Sara
If you have a long list of needed parts you might want to make a trip to Chicago for the all British swap meet. You will find new, reworked and original used parts. You will meet many used parts dealers. Just about anything you would need, someone will have it. We were there couple years ago, it is at the DuPage fairgrounds in two large buildings. I could not believe how many MGTD parts were there. (www.chicagolandmgclub.com)
Gary
Gary Krukoski

Hi Sara,

Lucky you! Sounds like you bought some very nice cars. As others have indicated, most spare parts are available, including original Lucas 'Torpedo' side lamps c/w red dot.

Unfortunately some unscrupulous suppliers pass-off the cast brass ones, with a plastic lens as "original", which as you have by now learned, is not always the case.

Here are the original ones but be advised, they're NOT inexpensive - http://www.gregorysautoparts.com/catalogue.php?t=0&c=424. A pair will cost you £67. FOB Gregorys Auto Parts , North Lincolnshire. Probably more economical to source one or two at at flea market or swap meet, and have them professionally refinished. Please note that plastic lenses (the word 'cheap' properly applies here!)were not original on any T-Series. Ts had glass lenses with a rubber 'O'-ring in a metal retainer, secured on the top by a single chrome screw.I believe also, that component parts for these side lamps are also available from Gregory's.

Source your parts carefully. It just doesn't pay to go 'cheap'. Inexpensive is OK, as long as its not cheep!

I strongly you consult this BB whenever you need something. I've owned my TF since new in 1954, and I along with most of the regulars on this BB, can point you in the right direction.

Good Luck.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A. Clark

Tom,

I guess I'm showing either my ignornace or my age, but what is a 'Grand National'? Is this not a late 70's Buick?

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A. Clark

What part of Georgia? Don Harmer in Atlanta is one of the most knowledgeable T-series people anywhere. Regarding suppliers in my opinion: We are very lucky to have virtually 100% of parts available for these cars-with many being very inexpensive for a hobby car. In the 70's, if you broke a cluster gear, needed a water pump, etc., it may have taken weeks to find one. By now virtually all of the readily available real, factory NOS parts are gone. All things are reproduced in very small batches. A gear or part may be perfectly made from the original engineering drawing, and then won't fit- because of a production-run change 50 years ago. These cars were sort of hand made, so and "average" part may fit very well, or very poorly. Quality is variable- again stuff made in small, hand-made batches. It helps to ask around (this board is a good source) before buying things- as to which company may have the best. Both Moss and Abingdon have wonderful return policies- I have never had a problem returning anything. E-bay- much of the stuff is the same as you get anywhere. It is a good source for used and occasional real NOS stuff, but often "NOS" on ebay is old Moss or Abingdon old repro stuff. I did buy used, original parking lamp shells and had them rechromed- much better than the repros. Lastly, it pays to research. There were a bunch of versions of the "1130" Lucas lamp- cast, thick bodied, chrome medallion, hexagonal body, no medallion, and various reasonably good repros out there. Bob Seymore (owns Abingdon Spares) is great to talk to- he has a huge stock of origional, used, etc. nice parts. Yes, a few things are costly (cranks, gears), but compared to most modern cars (price a Maxima alternator lately?) or other hobby cars (You could restore a T-car for what a major service/brakes/ etc cost on some Ferrari!), we are lucky. George
George Butz

From the Antique Automobile Club of America:

http://www.aaca.org/publications/nationalawards/nationalawards.aspx
Carl Floyd

Sara- Looks like you got some feedback from others. You asked about ebayers, there are two that stick out, Rare Brit Bits has a store and from time to time puts a few items up for auction and one to stay away from is lacclairespares in Romeo, MI. Several of my contacts have been stung (me included) so please be warned. TFP
Tom

I use the following parts suppliers, primarily:

Moss Motors, www.mossmotors.com, USA
I avoid their reproduction electrical items. I have had no problems with genuine SU parts, the stainless steel exhaust, gaskets and many nuts, bolts, screws and rubber parts.

Holden Vintage, www.holden.co.uk, UK
They seem to have a lot of Lucas electrical parts NEW that aren't available here, such as the horn/dip switch.

NTG Services, www.ntgservices.co.uk, UK

They have everything, a complete catalog like Moss. They also have rebuild kits for TC door hinges, and heat shields for the carbs. They also sell interiors

Abingdon Spares, http://www.abingdonsparesllc.com/, USA

A complete catalog like Moss. They are currently running a special of $700 for a complete interior when pre ordered. There may have been a deadline of Jan 1 on ordering. This is made in England and is Leather, where appropriate.
Larry Ayres

Sara,

Atlanta Imported Auto Parts here in Decatur,GA is the biggest Moss dealer on the east coast. They also have a stock of used parts, mostly for MGB's, A's, etc. Unfortunately all are stuck with many new parts being reproductions, some better than others! The management there is very knowledgeable and able to tell you wheather the item is passabile or not, and in many cases direct you to originals if not.

Their phone is 404-299-5775 (local GA), 800-241-0869.

Best of all is their web site; www.atlantaimported.com
has their catalog on line (Includes Moss Catalog)

Since they are local you can go to the store and see or talk to them about your needs!
Don Harmer

My apologies to Tom Penna, and many thanks to Carl Floyd. I'm now much better informed.

My TF is a driver and I have little interest in "showing" it. I'm afraid the judges would go through an entire box of gloves on the rear axle alone!

But those are sure glorious trophies. I guess they are what is meant as 'grand nationals'. But I'll still stick to the fun of driving. Gatlinburg, here I come!

Regards,

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.

Gordon A. Clark

I (and probably more than a few others here)am a horder. That is, I purchase parts (e-bay, swap meets etc) for my TD even if I don't need them right now. They may not be perfect, but I figure getting what I can now will assist with having original parts later.

As others have pointed out. As with many antique and classic cars. Finding New Old Stock parts fot the TD is rare and expensive.
Bruce Cunha

Gents - Just me again, and again thanks to all that replied. T-series people seem to be a lot nicer than MGB people, or is it just me, they seem more helpful! Anyway, I wanted to update you on a couple of things as of today. I called John @ UM and he was NOT taking calls today, maybe it was my gender because women seldom call? I have emailed all the contacts you have mentioned with only (1) reply, Mr Conde from Keystone, called me tonite after he got my email. Seems he knew the cars we bought and the family that had them and even some old pictures of them from the mid 60's, what a find and what a nice guy. He gave me several of his contacts for wood and wiring harness and I will be happy share them others if needed. I also got a bunch of NOS parts & six reconditioned 'brass' lights(we did not know they were brass) and the start of some other misc parts. He was very nice and not a bit of pressure to buy or pushy at all. He does have a big collection of cars and will be selling some of his projects off shortly and seems like he is moving up into prewar cars. Anyway, thanks again for the lead to him and the others. I hope to talk with ya'll soon. Sara
Sara

This thread was discussed between 13/01/2006 and 14/01/2006

MG TD TF 1500 index

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