The pace of the MG TF project is increasing with each day.
Today we put a final coat of enamel on the 1250 engine which should be in the chassis in short order. This engine has had a major rebuilt with a new crane cam, a Moss Motors Crank Oil Seal Conversion Kit, new plugs, gaskets, the works. The color we use is a 1979 GMC hue called Dark Carmine with a Dupont number of 45827.
The red seats arrived from Style’s Auto Upholstery who fitted the Moss Motors Complete Leather Seat Assembly ($2,259.95 USD) on some original blasted and painted seat frames.
We have also been busy sourcing many original parts for the toolkit, including many from local aficionado Hugh Pite. Once the kit is done we will make an entire post on it.
Well there isn’t explicitly a “Best of Show” listed for the Vancouver ABFM, but Colin Fitzgerald’s 1938 MG VA Tickford Drop Head Coupé won the award for best restoration over $100,000CAD which is the top category at this event.
The MG VA is a somewhat rare model being the smallest of three chassis available with Roadster, Coupe or Tickford Drop Head Coupé bodies.
Colin’s car is chassis 1520 and it was originally sold by University Motors in London. Afterward it spent a good portion of its life in Cannes before coming to Los Angeles in 1968.
Colin acquired 1520 in 2002 and spent ten years restoring it back to its original colors. The entire body was nearly rust-free requiring only a single small patch. Furthermore Colin says getting the dashboard details just right took considerable time.
The result is a stunning showpiece that is likely the best restored VA in the world.
With many of the pieces now in primer, we are test fitting the major components with the new Hutson body tub. Hutson does not supply the firewall, so we had the peice carefully blasted and subsequently painted in white epoxy primer.
So far the fit looks spot on, but we have to assemble the radiator and hood to finalize the build.
Included is a shot of the chassis which reads TF5013. The car will be returned to its original color of Birch Grey with red interior.
The British Motor Industry is quite well and alive. We have a brand new MG TF body to prove it.
Recently the Hutson Motor Company Limited sent us a nice gift in the mail and it will get our MG TF restoration up off the ground.
Huston have been making these ash-framed beauties since 1988 and I love M.A.Hutson’s philosophy: “We have never sought to compete on price with any of our products, a correctly manufactured component that fits without modification and works correctly will, from our experience in vehicle manufacture cost less by the time it is on the car than one that has been turned out to a budget.”
