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MG TD TF 1500 - TD body tub needed I think

Looks like I'm not going to be able to put this off any longer. Anyone have a suggestion or option? CCV
CCV Curt

Why do you need a new tub? Are you speaking of the wood, sheet metal or both? Photos? PJ
Paul S Jennings

Yea Paul both! The body has been sagging for two years and almost can't get the doors open anymore. Too many rust worms also. Curt
CCV Curt

Hutson makes bodies, complete with doors, that are made the same as the originals. With shipping, they are still a better buy than trying to find a good body, then making the repairs.

... CR
C.R. Tyrell

Got to the YouTube MG TD Body rebuild. You will be captivated. Last time I was at Hutsons they had a TC body crated up for delivery to South Africa so must ship world wide.


Jan T
J Targosz

I recently watched the Hutson video & I was mightily impressed. With that video, a pile of their pre cut timber pieces (if they sell a kit that way) & your chassis as the jig, I don't think you could go too far wrong. You'd be hard pressed to do any better. The quality of both their materials & their workmanship is outstanding! Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEqpqZj8FPw
MAndrus

I brought in from Hutson 2 bodies for a TC and TD. The shoehorned them in one crate along with many other small parts that I purchased from other suppliers.
They were very decent about stuffing them in the crate. I used air freight to Tampa. Air freight cost were calcu;ated by cubic volume at that time.
I do not know the costs today as that was 10 years ago.
Sandy
SANDY

I believe Fenton Bagley (I think that name is right) is still rebuilding tubs with new wood and sheet metal where needed. If I had it to do over again thats the route I would take. Someone highly recommended a different person which ended up charging me twice the original verbal quote.
Rich (TD 3983) Taylor

I bought a Hutson complete body for my other TF we are rebuilding..

I was astounded about the quality! All new Wood and sheet metal

The doors fit perfectly, same gap all thew ay around,, Never saw a T-Car in 60 years whose doors fit so well.

This is the best choice, even with shipping to US it was much less than most charge for rebuilding even with your mostly perfect tin.
(Wright Bagby is the exception, but his waiting list is very long)

90 days from order to delivery by sea and truck!

Anything from a TA to a TF

The Hutson Motor Company. Ltd
Pawson Street, Bradford
West Yorkshire, BD4 BDF
England

Email for Catalog: hutsonmc@talk21.com

See the YouTube above:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEqpqZj8FPw



Don Harmer

I have no personal experience with Hutsom (I know they supply Moss), but I have had at least two people be VERY unhappy with the quality of the TC tubs they have purchased. I have also heard that the TB tubs (and therefore late TA tubs) are not quite right, and difficult to put right.

The TD and TF tubs are very impressive!

Tom
t lange

Nobody's mentioned the price yet.

...
MAndrus

I would like to know the cost also, not cause I a building one , just curious
TRM Maine

A few years ago a Hutson/Moss tub was $9800, and a bit less from the UK direct.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

$9,800.00. Holy cow. At that price, it's almost worth buying a car with a decent body and parting the rest out.
MAndrus

I bought a TC tub from Hutson, My advice is do not buy one from them under any circumstances. It is not usable. Their TD and TF tubs may be ok.
Max Irvine

Not cheap! Perhaps you'd be better off getting the individual timbers you require & the sheet metal from someone like Kilmartin Automotive Sheet Metal here Carl. They have a pretty good reputation. Spending that sort of money on a tub that doesn't fit must have been painful Max. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

I you factor in your labour, lost time to drive your car and frustration to obtain a professional result, $9800 is cheap.
G Evans

It all depends on how you look at it. $9800 is no small bit of change. To me the process of building a "T" car is a great joy whereas driving or showing it is a bit "ho hum". If you build the body yourself, including making the wood, you will have a great feeling of accomplishing something and most likely learn a great deal. It actually is not all that difficult! Writing a check really does nothing except getting the car on the road quickly and if that is the case you would be better off buying one that is already done.
JMHO Hugh Pite
H.D. Pite

Today I would be torn about spending that money.

When I started the restoration I was about 32 years old. I an 81 now and Its still not finished, but close.

The body was difficult and if I were to do it over It would be a lot better. I did make several mistakes.

However it is (almost) the same car I started with. I think there is something of an attachment and an attempt to keep most of what I started with.

I did replace the wooden lower rails, the right side front door post and the gas tank backer board, in the wood area.

The (metal) rear quarter panels are 1/2 original, the lower 1/3 was cut out and replaced. The front quarter panels are reproduction.

The rear fenders had large holes for non original directional signals that were removed and the holes welded in.

I dont think that at 81 I could do this any more, or that I might survive long enough to finish. Perhaps a commercial tub has the merit of saving time, but to me the rebuild was the journey, and its the journey, that I wanted.

First picture is from 07/11. The engine and running gear were rebuilt in about 1985.

Jim B.

JA Benjamin

I gotta hand it to you Jim! You have a lot of patience and a good wife(or none at all).
Beautiful Car!!!
Chuck
cj schmit

I agree with Hugh the rebuild/fabrication process is very therapeutic and driving what you have created with your own hands is a real benefit. Showing the car is not that much fun ;) my TD should probably have been parted out it was so bad but it now looks and runs great. My current project is a low mileage TF but even it requires metal fabrication and most of the wood.

If purchasing all new stuff is your thing, go for it, but personally I enjoy the rebuild process.

My two cents.

Brian
Brian Smith (1950 TD3376)

This thread was discussed between 20/05/2015 and 23/05/2015

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