MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Town & Country Imports, Compton, California

Does any one have any knowledge or information on Town & Country Imports, located in Compton, California?
When I purchased my TF a couple years ago, it had the original California Black Plates still on the car. The rear license plate frame had a surround on it that had the Town & Country Imports cast into the top and Compton cast into the bottom. When I took the surround off the plate the paint on the plate was like brand new, so I'm speculating the surround was on the new plate originally.
Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Mark Stolzenburg
Chesterfield, Missouri
Mark Stolzenburg

I just looked at my 1953 Nuffield Organization dealer directory for the USA and I do not see any dealer listed for Compton. Probably Long Beach would have been the nearest retailer: General Motor Finance located at 1111 American Avenue, Long Beach, CA
John Quilter (TD8986)

I can't help you with any specific dealer info, but CA black plates were issued from 1963 to the very early 70's, so maybe the car was bought used during that time from a dealer that may or may not have been an MG dealer.
Joe
Joe Olson

Mark: The Compton dealer was:

Compton Lee Carpenter 828 E. Compton Blvd. map coords 33.8958 -118.21418

You can find more info on the dealers here:

http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtd/mgtd_america.htm

Also keep in mind that there are two black license plates. A version from the 60's and beyond that is the format you are comfortable with today and a much larger format with rounded corners that was original to TD's and TF's when sold new. (see picture)



Christopher Couper

Chris, Thanks for the info. I'm 99.9% sure I have the original California "Black Plate" license that you mentioned as the first option. I say this because it has "63" stamped into the upper right-hand corner with a bunch of registration stickers pasted over the top.
Never knew there was a second type of "Black Plate" of different shape and size. Was the second type of plate exclusive to cars sold in California?
Thanks,
Mark Stolzenburg
Mark Stolzenburg

There is no way to prove that the car was always registered in California because early plates can be assigned to any age-appropriate vehicle through the "Year of Manufacture" license plate program. Plates from the 60's and earlier are eligible.

If the car originally had a 1950's California black plate, then that would mean it was either purchased here new, or registered here during the time period those plates were issued. It is still possible it's a California car though. Back then, new plates weer issued and you would hand the old ones back. They eventually stopped that practice. It's possible that your car came from that dealer and had a couple of plate swaps but retained the dealer frame. Or, it may have been sold there as a used car at some point, and they installed the frame. Lots of possibilities.
Steve S

This may be more CA license plate trivia than you really want, but all cars in California had plates like Chris's between 1951 and 1955 with metal tabs for each year. In 1956 they became obsolete and were all replaced with yellow plates with black letters and numbers. Those yellow plates were in turn all replaced in 1963 with the black plates with yellow letters and numbers that you have. 1963 was the last time all plates in the state were replaced, so any car that has been registered continuously here since then can have a black plate. To expand on what Chris said, your black plate with the "63" stamped into it may have been on the car for a long time, but it isn't the original plate. If someone wants to buy a set of the original plates for the Year of Manufacture program Steve mentioned, it'll cost a small fortune!
Joe

Joe Olson

This thread was discussed between 18/03/2015 and 22/03/2015

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG TD TF 1500 BBS now