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MG TD TF 1500 - Barn find, what would you pay?

I've come across a true barn find about 3 hours from my house. I haven't seen it yet. The owner says his dad last drove the car in '67 and it has been sitting ever since.

This will be a TOTAL restoration as he says the wood is not in good shape but the doors close OK and he has no idea if the engine turns (I'm thinking it doesn't).

Cars are parked and not driven again for good reasons. Anyway, I'm going to post a few shots.

What would you pay for this one?



MAndrus

grill.

MAndrus

engine

MAndrus

The thought of doing a stop and go resto on this is tasty - make it safe and run it as is with a sign in the window explaining it's condition and story.

Oh, he can't find the title, but DMV should be able to produce a copy.

I'm thinking about $10K just to get it safely on the road WITHOUT an engine tear-down. Close?

So, what would you pay for this money pit?

.......

MAndrus

For a regular 51 TD with rotten wood, frozen engine, badly stored for almost 40 years, missing some parts, I would not pay a penny more than $5,000 - despite what the owner feels it is worth. The rotten wood alone can cost thousands to fix, and more to fix properly. An engine rebuild is in the 5-6k range now...

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

I think you'd be very lucky to get that back to safe operating condition for $10k.

Why do you think the wood is gone?

The one I did had been sitting for eons, even under a deck with the elements rotting the wood floor, but the rest of the wood was good yet. That was in Maryland.
L Rutt

I know it's sad but unless you want the car as a "retirement project" it isn't worth very much. There is a very respectable TD on ebay at the moment at a buy it now for $12500. I have recently paid £2000 for a paint job, £2500 for upholstery and hood, £800 for wheel refurbishment and tyres. That's about $6000 without any engine, transmission, brakes or chrome work. If you add everything I, and am certain many others, have spent on restoration the total will be substantially more than $12500. I believe the enjoyment you can get from owning, repairing, driving, searching for parts and of course contact with other owners is the priceless thing, but of course economic factors will set the price of a barn find as opposed to a sound, driveable car.


Jan T
J Targosz

My bid would be about $4,000. The only thing going for it is that it seems to be original.
Jim Merz

Mitchell Being nearing the completion of mine, I paid $3k as a basket case but nearly every nut and bolt was there and good wood to boot, I wouldn't want to pay $2500 for it. At least with the basket case I was able to see every aspect of the car with few hidden surprises. This car in the photos looks highly deteriorated, and has not been stored well. I already have well over $27k invested not including my labor and expect to lay out several thousand more to complete the interior, hood and tonneau There is a V8 car on the Chicago Craigslist that shows decent and reasonably priced. The lower you pay the better. Of coarse what ever the two of you agree to is what is acceptable to both parties but I wouldn't invest much more than that. Though I think it is nice enough to restore and not build a V8 hotrod out of.
W. A. Chasser Jr

Like the guys are saying, unless you can get it at a fair price in your mind, I'd run away from it! I think 10K to restore it is very conservative, I can't see restoring it for that. I won't go into what I have in the TF, but I will say it cost me $7000 just to have it painted and I prepped 90% of it. PJ
Paul S Jennings

From the looks of the sheet metal the car looks pretty solid and original. If it were up here and I needed another project (which i don't!) I would be interested at $5k or less. To me, the frozen engine is of little concern. Also how much does it matter if you get it for $3.5k or $5k when, for example, a paint job (unless you do it yourself) would have a greater variation in price from shop to shop.
Hugh Pite
H.D. Pite

2500 tops. metal looks good, but a lot of work ahead. mine was running and good wood and metal. paid 5000 20 years ago. do it all yourself, even paint and motor and still would be 10-15. but over the course of several years doable.
TRM Maine

The seller wants $2,500.00.

If it wasn't a 6 hour round trip I'd take a look. I think I'll pass. I've got my radar up for a decent A, or another TD (depending on the width of my smile after installing the new rear axle).

......
MAndrus

Where in NC is it? I'm in Wilmington.
Bob McLeod TD 5618

It's in Greensboro. A 3 hour trip for you.
MAndrus

Early TD for 2500 with everything there? I would grab it. It could make a great car to just get driving and run.

Bet it actually cleans up pretty well. Aluminum valve cover is nice, and I love the trailer hitch with the license plate below it.

I would also love to see a better picture on that lower radiator hose setup.
Bruce TD4139 Cunha

I wouldn't pay any more than $2500 for it. Two years ago I paid $5000 for my TD which was totally knocked down and a bucket of bolts. I have completely restored it doing everything myself except for any machining required or the painting.
I replaced most of the timbers repaired the body. However, if you can't restore most of it yourself I feel you may be better off to purchase a good running car. The cost of the chrome alone is very high.
All the best whatever route you may choose.
John...Sydney
John Walton

This thread was discussed on 04/05/2015

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