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MG TD TF 1500 - TF dash color

I am painted my TF red and it will have a biscuit interior so the dash will have to be painted Biscuit. Does anybody have the original formula for the Biscuit paint or found one that will work. It hasn't been added to the Original TF website.
R Brown

According to Clausager's "Original MG T Series" page 89, TF's with red or biscuit trim had red painted dashboards. It makes for a lot of red but if you are going for originality red it is.

Ian
TF4056
Ian Fry

I believe Clausager got it wrong there Ian. I never found an original example of a TF with contrasting dash. (Discussion in the archives on this). Here is a pic kindly sent to me by Gord Clark of his unrestored (red TF) dash which will help.

Matthew.


M Magilton

Gents

There are a mile of posts in the archives on this subject. If you search under my name you will find I that I posted some information on a pressure pak spray paint that I used on the dash and the hood bows on my TF.

From the cars and photos I have observed this is very close to the original.

Graeme
G Evans

On the subject of dash color-does anyone have a paint code that is a match for the green TF dash?
JB
J K Barter

TFs,Biscuit Trim with 'Biscuit'coloured dash
originally. Many authors on TF detail seem to be confused!

Cheers.
Rob Grantham
TF3179("Aramis"),TF9177("Athos").
Rob Grantham

OK Original TF owners.

We need you to take your car to the local Dupont paint supplier. While there get their Dupont Spectramaster paint cards and take them out to the parking lot. Find the color that's as close as you can to your dash, post it here and email it to me. Even better if you can take a picture of the card up against your dash.

I just did this yesterday for my side curtains and its a painless and fun event. It might take you an hour at the store tops. In fact you will be the star attraction at the paint store that week.
Chris Couper

Just my 2 cents but the original TF that I am stripping and rebuilding was black, had red leather interior and the dash was painted red. Unfortunately I have now got it stripped down to a point that it may be hard to see it all so I am attaching a photo taken a while back while still in one piece.
Brian


Brian Smith (1950 TD3376)

Brian: Is the dash still painted but removed? If so can you take it the paint store and have them use some rubbing compound on it to expose the true color? Then you can try to help us find a formula as stated above.
Chris Couper

Note how on Brian's car the 'underscuttle' area above the dash is also painted red. Good originality detail often missed. Attached a pic of my dash.

Matthew.


M Magilton

I added Matthews point to the new, in process, mgtf nitty details page.

http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtf/mgtf_nitty.htm
Chris Couper

When I bought my TF the dash was completely original. Car was and still is painted black with biscuit upholstery. The dash was painted black with the instrument cluster panel painted with what I will loosely describe as bronze. Under scuttle also black.

Stripping the dash for repainting and replacing the upholstery confirmed that this was the original color combination.

Graeme
G Evans

I am reaching the point of believing I can either way. Biscuit/Biscuit or Biscuit/red for interior/dash. I think I may decide based on what looks best since that is what the factory may have done given the inconsistencies of the finding on what are assumed to be original cars. Anything was possible at Abingdon...
R Brown

This is my first post.

Of the 30 TF's we have restored all that were original had the interior trim colour painted on the dash panel and gloveboxes, that included the inside section of the two scuttle humps visible from sitting inside the car. The trim colour was painted up to the centre line of the padded crash roll mounting holes.

Note, a Red car had a different shade of Red painted on the dash panel, one that matched the interior trim shade of Red.

The two tonnaeu rails were also this trim shade Red.

The TF tan (different to the TC-TD Biscuit) was a darker shade and certainly on every dash panel (or underneath other coats of paint) of TF Tan TF's we have had in our shop.

The image is the underneath of an original glove box.


ROD BRAYSHAW

Welcome aboard Rod! I have absolute respect for your TF knowledge ,experience and restoration quality to original specifications.New Zealand cars,for a variety of reasons,have been a mecca for original detail.

I was just about to add in on this Thread
that I had a Black TF1250 in the early 80s
with an untouched dash.The interior was green(much paler compared to the current repro.green)and it also had a green dash!

I also have never seen a TF in Australia
with a colour contrasting dash.

Cheers.
TF3719("Aramis"),TF9177("Athos").
Rob Grantham

The images below shows the original dash Green


ROD BRAYSHAW

and the Red, both taken from original glove boxes.


ROD BRAYSHAW

Make that,"I have never seen an original TF car in Australia with a contrasting dash colour".
Rob Grantham

Rod,

I would appreciate it if you could email me the tan dash image as a jpg so I can print it and use it to start matching a color for my dash on the Biscuit interior TF1500 I am restoring? really appreciate it

Thanks Bob B bayaero@gmail.com
R Brown

Rod,

Would you be able to email me the the tan dash image as a jpg so I can print it and use it to start matching a color for my dash on the Biscuit interior TF1500 I am restoring? really appreciate it

Thanks Bob B bayaero@gmail.com
R Brown

Here is a pic of TF5321, a black car with the original biscuit dash paint (some of the upholstery has been replaced).

Matthew.


M Magilton

Matthew,

Sadly the red looks nicer. Have you noticed whether the dash color matches the hood frame which I believe is original on your car from photos you posted in past threads?

bob
R Brown

Here is an image of a red-biscuit combination TF. Of all the TFs I have been exposed to this would have to be the most prevalent color combination. The instrument cluster and hood frames were always that color that resembles a "pinky bronze".

Graeme


G Evans

Example 2


G Evans

Is there any chance that TFs destined for Australia or NZ had different paint combinations than those sent to the US?

My original ivory car has the dash covered with some leather grain plastic. It will be interesting to see what lurks underneath when I strip it off.
J E Carroll

Bob, the dash colour was not the same as the hood frame colour. The hood frame colour had a hint of pink. Probably painted by the frame supplier whereas the instrument panel was a beige-gold metallic (as in my picture above).

J, I have not found any different paint combinations between local and non-local TF's. In the 1950's we were pleased to get any MG's and were not really in a position to be able to order special colour combinations (which would have been a headache for Abingdon anyway).



Matthew.
M Magilton

What a great thread to help preserve the accuracy to restore MG TF dashes the proper color from the factory. This is something you will not find in a book for sure...

Special thanks Rod from NZ with his first post / contribution with these dash color pictures. This will certainly help current and future restorers.

A little tip if you are computer challenged... right click your mouse over the picture and select "save image as". A pop up will appear and select the destination to your hard drive.

These color chips would be good addition to the MGTF nitty details page. A link to download a picture file so Rod doesn't get so overwhelmed with email requests. It is my hope we hear from Rod again. Perhaps Rod can share a high resolution pictures of the three dashes to Chris Couper who is developing / updating this site?

Best,

Frank

Frank Cronin

I will make a special page for the 'dash controversy' on the TF site.

This debate has been raging on for decades.

Just a point. When we show a picture of a original dash it will be important to either have the exterior paint be in the shot or have it be accompanied by another picture that shows the exterior color.
Chris Couper

I am not an expert, but my observation leads me to the belief that the dash color was supposed to match the upholstery color quite closely. With the fugitive pigments in the paint and upholstery fading at different rates they probably don't match each other as closely now as they originally did.
The upholstery material generally available is probably not quite the same color as original especially in the TF which seems to have had different colors than the TD and TC and they don't seem to be offering different colors for the TF at least in the USA.
So... if you are using new upholstery would it not be more in the spirit of the original design to find a color close to the color of your upholstery rather than using the original dash color with a non-original upholstery color?
If I use the original bluish green with the greenish green of my new upholstery I think it might clash rather than blend as harmoniously as the original color scheme.
It is important to preserve original material as much as possible but as they say it is only original once.
JB
J K Barter

In this unrestored interior the dash and upholstery go well together (not my car) but I am not so sure how that color will look with my new Moss interior.
JB


J K Barter

matching paint on tonneau bars.
JB


J K Barter

that last image also shows color of top bows.
J K Barter

Graeme,
et all ...Although the car was not "ordered" for my father, he was at the dealer when it was delivered and taken off the truck. (He purchased it months later.)

His TF 1500 was definitely Black/w Bisque interior and had a black dash (bronze gauge cluster).

It is a vision burned clearly into my brain as (being 3 years old) it was the only thing I could see without standing on the seat. (Something Dad did not let me do was stand up when the car was moving!)

I know that goes "against" what everybody says is correct...but you would a hard time convincing me other wise.
David Sheward

David,
When I first bought my TF about 35 years ago the published articles on TF originality in the sacred octagon,etc. said that the dash was always body color, almond green metallic was a mythical color that may have been a special order and the valve cover was plain silver paint rather than the greenish silver on mine- I chose to believe my own eyes and over the years most of my observations have been vindicated, I am still waiting on the valve cover. If you know your dash was body color it probably was and over the years more evidence will likely surface to prove your observation is correct.
JB
J K Barter

J K Barter: This is the cool thing about the Internet. We have as a group been able to assemble so much more knowledge and reference to what was original by a collective set of images and investigations that no book or historian could ever compete with it.

But like everything on the Internet, we have to constantly challenge the sources and have multiple versions of the same characteristic before it can become fact. And even then I run into well documented information that can conflict with another source of well documented fact. In those cases we just have to accept both. This may very well be that case.
Chris Couper

Chris, I agree, I have learned so much from lurking around this site and found out so much information that would never be available in any print source!
Sometimes you have to believe your own eyes and memory and sometimes there is so much evidence that you have to accept it or believe that yours came out of the factory different than every other car-which is possible though not likely.

I am glad that you are expanding the originality gallery on the TF site, it should be very instructive.
Best,
JB
J K Barter

Graeme E,

Are the two(2)TF images you have presented original, untouched cars interior/body paint wise?

Have you observed a TF which ex Factory which has not had its interior redone or panel paint re applied?

JB,nice TF shot of an original green interior with original green dash.

Cheers
Rob Grantham
TF3719("Aramis"),TF9177("Athos").
Rob Grantham

G/day Rob G

Cannot say definitively that these cars were in their original condition ex factory. Both cars were concourse exhibitors at Sydney MG Clubs Concourse Event a few years ago. Another original green TF was exhibited also, the dash was green, the photo I took does not depict this clearly.

Returning to the post on my own black TF, I bought this car with the dash in its original state, it was painted black.

I have been affiliated with the Hunter MG Club, at both Concourses I attended the red TFs exhibited all had red dashes. Admittedly they were not original however the owners were very strong on authenticity to gain maximum prominence in the Concourse Stakes.

If you want to drop me an Email and I will put you in touch with one of NSW prominent MG restorers he may like to share his thoughts.


G Evans

Hi Graeme,

Hmmm. The two Red TFs in your photographs are interesting.The paint on the first one certainly does'nt look approx.60 years aged.
The second bright red-orange TF I suspect also has been repainted and it certainly does not have the original TF interior!The original interior colour Tan-Biscuit was quite a lot darker compared to the very light
beige one depicted.The location of the binding on the door is also stitched differently.

It is also important to distinguish whether
a car has a particular part of it left in its ex Factory state or is the whole car 'original.'Again,the second red TF has a replacement hood with a very large window and multiple,non standard fixing points a the rear.steering wheel and so on are also later add ons.

With reference to the 'green' car,are you saying that the paint only or the whole car you feel is original? If the paint is 'original'there should generally be an HDE code on the bulkhead ID plate.The Factory
Green paint was named Metallic Almond Green.
Many TFs that were painted Almond Metallic Green were later in life repainted with a NON metallic green.I have examined one of the earliest TFs to arrive in WA,and it originally was painted Metallic Almond Green.The last owner who purchased the car about four years ago was amazed that the car had been repainted.He soon was convinced of the change when he looked under the bonnet.Quite often,the bulkhead
is not painted over.The POs'too hard department'. On close inspection,there was the original Metallic Almond Green!


Cheers.
Rob Grantham
TF3719("Aramis"),TF9177("Athos").
Rob Grantham

The "interesting" thing to me on this thread was hearing of "another" TF with a black dash.
My car has been a mystery since I got it, and I have come to the conclusion I will never know "for sure" on it. The oldest picture I have of it (came with the car) shows it black. However at some point (other picture that came with the car) shows ivory.
When I purchased it was red.
When I stripped it to bare metal, black was last color I found before primer. ???

Obviously she's been through some changes!
"Older" change to black interior & black hood with black hood frame rails is wrong. I know that.
When I re-did the car in 2000 the interior was too nice to replace and I also went with a new black hood.
Ivory car, black interior & hood looked good ...but the red dash was hideous (IMHO) with that combo! I also went with contrasting black body piping and brass polished door hinges.

It's all "wrong" ...I know it's wrong ...but at least it's not purple metal flake! LOL
David Sheward

I was told by a few that a red car had a red dash, but the dash color from the factory was a different shade than the body. ?? PJ
Paul sr

The color of the red is difficult to describe. The color is more "vivid" and "bright". Some have described it the red used on the 50's pick up trucks. I have no exposure to seeing these trucks in person so I can't comment.

I have more background in Harleys. Looking at the red the HD factory used, this Teak Red from an original 1934 looks the closest to me to that color on the dash.

Frank


Frank Cronin

Paul,
That is correct- green TF's with green interior also have a different green for the dash from the green body color.
JB
J K Barter

Here is another on a '35 with silver for contrast. I used the silver for my valve cover and will be using it for the wheels.


Frank Cronin

Frank, do you have a paint number for the silver paint on that tank? According to Al Moss, the silver was plain flat silver. PJ
Paul sr

David S,

I know you would appreciate the look of TF7908!?(USA).Of course,it may lack a little 'patina'.(lol)

Cheers.
Rob Grantham
Rob Grantham

TF7908!?...Got a picture?
David Sheward

Chris, although you probably already have this covered, It looks like you have an opportunity to document the different position of the dash layout on both LHD and RHD which has been questioned here in the past. Thanks to you and everyone involved with the site. I have it booked marked and used it often when I did the TF several years ago.
L E D LaVerne

Hi Paul,

I don't have the code but I forward to you the person who can mix and sell you a pint of it. He restores old Knuck's and Panheads and after nearly forty years in the automotive paint industry and thousands of hours of research, he has documented in excess of three hundred colors for antique American made motorcycles.


He uses Dupont and you have a choice of single or two stage.

Anyone who is interested, contact me by email -- dirtydish AT comcast DOT net

no spaces

Frank

Frank Cronin

Is the dash layout just mirrored? It is on the TD.

I will check with Matthew and if the layout is not a mirrored we can post pictures of each. I have plenty.
Chris Couper

No it is not based on the pictures above. Speedometer and tach trade places. Starter and choke trade places. The other switch knobs and warning lights appear to be in the same position.

By the way I have a period magazine advertising for both the TD and the TF. Buy in the UK to drive and ship them home. Would you like a copy?
L E D LaVerne

Guys, if you want to know what the factory dash red looks like, then see my pic on post #10. That's factory paint and looking under the edges I can see no fade. I would describe it as a bright red with a hint of orange. Yes, different to the body red (even when a red TF had a red interior, the underscuttle was still painted the brighter red on the few original cars that I have seen).

Chris, the two dash photos I posted above (as LaVerne has noted) seem to tell the story on the LHD and RHD dashes. Just some basic changes for the market. And the indicator-badge swap over.

Matthew.


M Magilton

David S.,

On the purple TF7908,I found it on a T Register Production record update a couple of days ago. I'll see if I can find it again and Post same.It is a TF1500 of course!

The MG Production Records seem to indicate that your car TF7427 was delivered new from the Factory in Red body colour.The code for it was HDC-46/7427.The'C'is a Red car designate.As you have already indicated,your car has been repainted several times.


I am sure you will be aware of the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificates
of Factory Records.The Certificate comes with fifteen(15) info pointers on individual cars.TFs are fortunate in that item (6) refers to 'Colour'.This includes a listing of the colour of the (a)exterior,(b)trim and (c)hood(top).It would be interesting to find out what the records state your interior trim was originally-Red or Tan(Biscuit)or Black!!?
(lol).
I am soon to decide on a Red body colour for the current project, a TF1500. RD14(Reno Red)is firming up at the moment.This will definately be my last MG total restoration.
The driving of both TFs will then be done on a regular,enjoyable basis.

Cheers.
Rob.Grantham
TF3719("Aramis"),TF9177("Athos").

Rob Grantham

G/day Rob

This additional photo of the bulkhead of the green TF might open this can of worms even further. I am no expert however I do take owners comments on their merits.

Judicial use of "photoshop" may facilitate the ID plate being read.

Graeme


G Evans

Matthew

Slightly of this topic. Do you have a clear image of how the trip meter and clock setting cables were secured under the dash of a RH drive TF?

Thanks

Graeme
G Evans

Hi Graeme,

Again,the photo of the bright 'green' TF you have profered seems to be far from original both in paint colour and type.Is it Metallic at least? Under the Bonnet(Hood)there are many non original items as well.

The word expert is a misnomer on this site.None of us are'experts'.However,rather than take 'owners comments on their merits',
evidenced based discussion coupled with a wealth of experience on a particular model MG(such as TD and TF)bring specific conclusions.Factory records and photos also assist outcomes.

J K Barter's photo of the UNRESTORED green interior is very relevant and accurate.Matt.
Magilton's photo of Gordon Clark's unrestored TF interior plus Matts own very original car are fantastic guides for us all.

I had a Black TF some ago with a green interior.After I peeled back the dreaded red vinyl(ugh!) that been replaced around 1970,there was the exact green coloured original Rexine !-just the same tone as the one JK Barter has photograghed!BTW,the dash was also the same as the green colour depicted.

It is these genuinely unrestored cars that one should base correct features pertaining to our cars.I also understand that some parts of their cars may have been'restored'.The difference is they will tell you!

Cheers.
Rob Grantham
TF3719("Aramis"),TF9177("Athos").
Rob Grantham

My Ivory with Red interior TF has a red dash panel, lighter and brighter as mentioned earlier, and evidenced by the overspray under the scuttle panel.
Don TF 4887
D J Walker

Rob,
"I'll see if I can find it again and Post same."
Nooooo please don't! I know the car. I posted a pic of it on here not long ago and put several of the members of this board in a coma-like state! I deleted the image from my computer and destroyed the hard drive to make sure it was gone! (It was why I mentioned "purple" in my post.)

Well aware that "7427" shows in all records as "red"...as well as BMHT cert in hand.
In 2001 I took the car down to bare metal. A very interesting journey indeed. I knew when I purchased it the car was documented as being "red". The PO insisted the Ivory was original, but I did not take his word. Traces of red were found, however, also found some ivory paint in places one would think only it would have been if re-sprayed before assembly!

The strangest one being when I removed the covering for the boot storage lid. It was my understanding that the tool box cover was placed on the boot lid (before being covered) to be painted? When I removed the cover there was an outline of the tool box lid and ivory overspray. It was that coloure we used for a paint sample....not the somewhat "brighter, more yellowish" finish that was on the car when I purchased it that I am sure was from a re-spray done in the early 70's.

Quite a few other places I found ivory paint that is hard to explain as I have pictures that came with the car showing that it had not been broken down anywhere near as far as I did in 2001 during either of the previous re-sprays.

I accept that the car was documented as "red", but still have some doubts that it wasn't changed before she left the UK for state side on Oct 13th 1954.
Don't think I will ever know "for sure" ...but it's part of the fun!

David Sheward

Hi David,

Ah shucks! I thought you might like that purple hue! (lol).

On your BMHT Certificate for TF7427 under 'Trim',what is the colour that was listed??

As per the original TF sales brochure,Red bodied TFs had either a Red or Biscuit(Tan) interior colour. Ivory bodied TFs had either a Red or Green interior.

Cheers.
Rob Grantham
TF3719("Aramis"),TF9177("Athos").
Rob Grantham

Here is a shot of the original dash color of the TF with green interior and green dash. The dash is a somewhat different tint than the interior fabric, as it has a bit of a bluish tint. Pay no attention to the black instrument cluster. It should be the bronze, but the PO made it black and I thought it was correct before I learned more about that! Oh, well. Too much hassle to take it out and repaint the bronze now. Mike


MW Davis

Rob,
"Both" of my BMHT Certificate's show "red"!
(This is the "first one" with incorrect engine info.)

I wish I would have taken more pictures in 2001 when I took the car apart. At the time it didn't seem important and only seemed to somewhat validate info from the PO about his belief that it was "changed" prior to completion & shipping. (Something I never believed until I found ivory paint in strange places.)

The PO also claimed the black interior was "factory color". I never have (and still do not) believe that.
From what I have read ....there was only 1 TF built with a black interior, and it was a white car.
I believe the black interior was changed over early in it's life just by the "patina" and materials used. It is "old leather" of a very good quality. All the old pictures that came with the car do show the black interior as far back as late 50's.

Fact is I actually ordered a Biscuit interior kit and had planned on "recreating" my dads black & biscuit TF1500. (The one I fell in love with at age 3) I was less than impressed with the quality of the "kit" I received and returned it. At that time I decided to keep the interior and matched paint to samples of ivory paint we found buried deep inside little Izzy!

I did have some conversations with a gentleman that worked at Abingdon during production of the TF's and he told me he saw "more than one" instance of these cars being pulled from the line and re-sprayed in a different coloure. His explanation was they would have done just about anything back then to fill an order for what was (at the time) a horribly unpopular automobile! Of course, at this point, this is all "hearsay" so who knows.

I somewhat accepted the "paint" possibility of what he had "told me" until just recently when I became aware of information that the bodies were actually painted before they arrived at Abingdon. IMHO it would seem highly unlikely that a body would be shipped "back to another factory" to be repainted. Having learned this I have to wonder if the info I had about the tool box cover being painted on side curtain boot lid is "fact or fiction".

Izzy is not "correct" from many aspects concerning originality ....but I still love her!
Hey ...she took an award for "Best British Car" last Sunday! (Then again ...she was "only" British car in a field of 450! LOL)



David Sheward

Yup, in my first show I came in 2nd (whoopie!!) and the other T-Type came in next to last.

Jud
J K Chapin

Graeme, my red paint picture (scroll up) will show you how the trip meter cable is secured. I have attached a pic showing the knob on the back of my clock which is accessed through the finger hole in the under tray, just visible above the gear knob. (refer page 15 of the Operation Manual).

Matthew.


M Magilton

Matthew

Many thanks mate, cant get my head around the red paint image could you explain pls.

Rob

Try this image for originality, upholstery piping could be the lemon.


Graeme


G Evans

Graeme,

Yes! It looks like a very much faded Red interior with a Red dash on a Black car!!
The crash roll seems to have lost its colour with weathering as does the piping on the seats.The poor condition of the steering wheel seems to indicate also nasty weather exposure.Even the inside of the passenger side glove locker is very faded however you can still see the red coloured remnants.If you look carefully under the passenger side protected door lock,the trim there has a Red look.The half tonneau irons on the back of the seats also have the red paint albeit very chipped.The sidescreen compartment lid is red as well.The Driver's side upper rear quarter panel trim piping is also red.

I do like the original beige-pinkish hue colour of the Hood Frame.

Thankyou for this photograph as it re affirms the point that TF interiors had matching coloured dashes on original cars.

Graeme,your TF is Black bodied in colour? Do you know the chassis number? On the paint code for your car,it would read HDA. 'A' is the designate for an originally Black bodied TF.

All good fun.
Cheers.
Rob Grantham
TF3719("Aramis"),TF9177("Athos").
Rob Grantham

Graeme, the red glove box image (not the instrument panel image) shows a view looking UP at the LHS glove box and you should be able to see the back of the dash panel for orientation. The cable secured to the glove box is the trip meter cable.

Great image of the unrestored TF there (for all the reasons Rob mentioned). Can you get more pics of, for example, the firewall? Do you know the chassis number or owners name? Email me if you prefer, I keep a list of all known Australian TF's.

Cheers,
Matthew.
M Magilton

G/day Rob

My car details are HDA26 4311. Black 1250 TF with beige upholstery. I believe I am the third owner, restoration was well advanced when I bought the car although done badly. A TC gearbox has been fitted.

When I stripped the seats the original beige upholstery was still in place.

Graeme
G Evans

G/day Matthew

Mate the unrestored car was a"barn find" that was 4 sale in the States a few years ago. I used the image to familiarize myself with the curtain box and upholstery components when I reupholstered my TF.

The link to the web site it appeared on reports the car was sold. Sorry cannot be of further assistance.

Graeme

G Evans

Graeme,

With regard to your Black TF,had the previous owner(s)already repainted parts of the car?
For example,the dash may have been resprayed at some point.

I gather you mean the TF darker Tan(Biscuit)
colour interior was/is in place rather than the beige?

From your description,the car was revamped a fair deal before you bought it?

Cheers.
Rob Grantham
TF3719("Aramis"),TF9177("Athos").

Rob Grantham

Rob

When I bought the car the whole exterior had been heavily sand blasted and a coat of primer applied. The bulkhead was untouched and remains so today. I stripped the dash which was not installed in the car when I collected it, it was black with the original factory under coat intact, there was no evidence the dash was anything but original.

My memory is not clever enough to remember the tint of the original seat upholstery, the whole car had been reclad in tan vinyl sometime in its past and showed signs that it had been submerged in a flood based upon the amount of silt in the seat bases.

Very little of the car was actually missing, I have had to replace or re chrome all the bright work.

Everyone can be wise in hindsight, however you can only take peoples word and merchandise on face value. At very least this has been a learning curve and I hope a "blue slip" to gain rego to put it on the road is in the near future.

Graeme
G Evans

My interior, restored in Ohio about 1980, probably in the shop of Fritz Adelsberger. As pr heritage certificate, same colour (MG red ) on dash and body exterior. Original? Who knows, but I like it.

regards,

Jan


Jan Kristoffersen

Graeme, Let me know (email)if you are after the Sydney import info for that car. Is there still a P&R Williams plate attached to the tool box lid topside?

Cheers,
Matthew.
M Magilton

David S.,

You could have 'saved' the Red dash and gone with Red interior for either the Red or Ivory
body colour!!(lol)

On a more serious note,your true enthusiasm
and obvious admiration of your TF is a great lesson for everyone.The association with a TD or TF I view as a privilege for current owners.In all forms they are an incredible little car.

Cheers
Rob Grantham
TF3719("Aramis"),TF9177("Athos").
Rob Grantham

Every interesting discussion. Question: how many of you have gone to a judged show and what happens when the judges can't agree on a point of originality like this?
David Werblow

I have been to a couple "judged shows" and (IMHO) when that happens you are treated to great entertainment value as they will spend the entire day mumbling about what an "a**rsehole" the other guy is! LOL

The 3 times I actually got to see the "sheets" from judging my car was a real eye opener. One that sticks out was - points for having brass door hinges & stainless steel exhaust ...but never noticed the car had 60 spoke wide chrome wire wheels!

My "criteria" for attending a car show has changed over the years.
First on my list these days: "Cause"...if it's a show that benefits kids, I'll forgo the "Concourse De' Stuffy Pricka's" and go to that one ...any day.
I have yet to see any award that comes close to seeing the smile on little faces jumping around on my seats, or sticking around after the show and giving the kids some rides.

It is, by far, better entertainment that watching "experts" argue about what coloure a bolt head "should be".

Don't get me wrong ...I read with great interest content on "points of originality". It is particularly interesting with these cars as (IMHO) I think they changed during production, (for various reasons) as they were being hand made.
David Sheward

David W. Over here the judges would usually split the difference, using a points based system. That's if another 'expert' could not be found for guidance.

Matthew.
M Magilton

I have samples of original dash and glove box steel sections of all the TF dash colors. I also have eye match paint Glasurit in tins for all the colors.

If someone can advise the best photograph method for accurate reproduction I will try and get this done?

The spectrograph method of determining paint tinter formulae was very espensive, but we did get the Almond Green done by Glasurit many years ago. it may be cost affective now though?

I am aware that computers view images in different shades.

You will all be aware the dash sits and bolts over the side rexine trimmed boards so I have assumed the trimmed body was shipped to Abingdon from Morris Bodies complete including soft top and frame, windscreen frame etc. so I doubt if many special orders would have been accepted.

I will help where I can.

Rod Brayshaw

I try different light sources for my photos to see which works best for a particular colour. Sometimes flash and sometimes daylight.
I agree with your point about the tubs being fully set up with upholstery and hood and screen before coming to Abingdon. Maybe dash panel and fire wall too.

Matthew.


M Magilton

Hi All,

Long live charity work with our cars,and real evidence based Concours assessment of the detail.Fantastic!

Cheers.
Rob Grantham
TF3719(("Aramis"),TF9177("Athos").
Rob Grantham

This thread was discussed between 06/09/2013 and 13/09/2013

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