How do I know it is a good buy?

[romeo1]

I am new to antique cars but am very interested in an MG T series. How do I go about learning how to evaluate a potential purchase for authenticity? What should I look at to determine in if is a good purchase?

J. Romeo [color:black]

[Bill Kennedy]

There is a very good book entitled Original MG T Series by Anders Ditlev Clausager. To quote the BritBook website: "The restorer and owners guide to 100% originality. Contains 150 full-color photos. A minutely researched text provides all original specs and equipment. The definitive book on the T series cars. Hdbd., 9" x 12", 96 pgs., 190 ill."

It is out of print and a bit expensive, but an excellent book on that documents what an original MG T series should look like. Check out BritBooks.com--they have other, less expensive ones as well. Also check sites like Amazon and e-Bay for books that may suit your needs.

The BritBook site is run by the son of Dick Knudson who founded the New England MG T Register and has written many books about the T series as well. They often have difficult to find items--but so does e-Bay!

I own a 1952 MG TD which is fully restored to original condition (some would say overrestored) including all tools, etc. It is a lovely car, but quite frankly the MGA is more fun to drive than a TD, and an MGB more fun to drive than a MGA. (I own all of those models). I would not think twice about jumping in an MGB and driving 100 miles. I would not even consider it in a TD (although many people do). However, the MGB does not have that classic British Sportcar look the TD has.

Enjoy!

[Dave@Moon]

Three excellent resources for finding out of print books like <span style="font-style: italic">The Original MG T Series</span> are bookfinder.com, usedbooksearch.com, and campusi.com. Looking for the Clausager book on those three sites I found one on eBay currently with 4 days left and a quite reasonable $10 initial bid. The other copies available from dealers range from $50 to $200, pretty typical for this series when the book goes out of print. There are only about 10 copies available on the web currently.

[Dave@Moon]

BTW, the person selling the Clausager book on eBay (whom I don't know at all and can't vouch for) is also selling a TD and 14 MG T-Series related books, some of them quite rare. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[romeo1]

Bill:

Thanks for your help. I found a copy of the book on AMazon and bought it for $89.95-apparently a bargian. Thanks again.

Jack Romeo

[romeo1]

Dave:

Thanks for your help. I found a copy of the book on Amazon and purchased it for $89.95. The offer on e-bay was already more than that.

Thanks again.

Jack Romeo

[Bill Kennedy]

Jack:

Hope the book helps. Also remember when looking at a car you might consider purchasing that the condition of the wood is extremely important--these cars have bodies with metal over wood.

One thing I do is I carry a telescoping magnetic parts pick up (a tool available almost anywhere) with the magnet covered with a cloth so it will not scratch paint. I use this to search out bondo on a body. Cheap and effective.

Parts for a T series, especially a TD or TF, are not a problem. You can even get new fendors if you need them. There are also people who make the wood parts for them.

These can be fun cars. One of the brothers on Car Talk (National Public Radio) uses one as a daily driver (although he would be the first to admit that he is a bit strange)!!!

Enjoy!

Bill