Rich, I have loved MGTDs since I was a small boy but as I grew to the age to own one I somehow kept getting sidetracked partly because I could never afford one,you know , family, and other more pressing matters.I got my first replica in 1994 and spent a lot of time with it for a year or two but then let it set for a while. Two years ago we got our first computer and I found this site and realized that I was not alone in this and when I saw how many   replica owners  were out there , it sparked that flame again. I feel like I know you guys and after meeting Pink MG [Mark] for real I am encouraged by the sharing of info as well as our mutual problems ,titles registration,mechanical,etc.I can’t speak for everyone but for my part ,there is renewed interest for sure.

                                           Larry

Rich and Larry    As I look to the head light bucket of the futureI am sorry to say the future is sad   if you look on the Internet there only a few ‘TD’ kits almost all are 25+ year old kits not finished or 1/2 done someones dream undone . the only kit I have seen ,is out of New Zealand $19,000 using a Mazda Maita Donner that you still have to buy! The TD’s will always get LOOKS and questions. I see a lot of 1930 something Fords ,Cobras ,T-buckets and others, mostly V8s  the hobby is not gone just it seems MG TD’s are to  under powered . I like my 32 MPG and the unique look . Last year at the Pigeon Forge Rod Run only 2 TD’s and the other WAS one. 2 out of 1000 cars sad ,1 SSK kit car, and many glass cars V8s all   Dan

I had always wanted a TD since my grandmother gave me a toy one in 1956. After years of waiting and research, without question the replica is the better choice in all areas. I get a lot of looks and thumbs up and waves from all sorts of people. I know many of them have no idea of what they are looking at, but I think they really appreciate the style. Off and on I have had thoughts of getting one of the ebay kits or half finished replica clunkers that people don’t take care of and making molds off of them, but decide not to do it. It seems the Cobra is the choice today. Like Dan said.

I have seen a MGTD replica with a 350 V-8 on board . All the car shows that I go to, I always see a line of Cobra’s, and only once a TD. I think we are a strong bunch holding on tightly to our love of the classic MGTD . I do think there is a market for them, just slimmer than before.

For those who have not read this funny review of the real MGTD will really appreciate the replica as a vast improvement over the original rust bucket.

http://www.cartalk.com/content/testdrives/Reviews/mgtd.html

JasCochran40044.9646064815

Can you believe I have only been able to drive my TD for a little over two weeks.  But I was amazed by the response she received it that time.  I had two young men tell me how beautiful she is.  I’ve told this story before but it bears repeating “I had a young guy race up to the Mrs and I at a traffic light and yell out to us that my TD was the most beautiful car he had ever seen”.

I was shocked at the local cruise in at the number of people who had their picture take standing by my car.  They passed up the vintage Vettes and Hot Rod’s to have their picture taken with my car.  Amazing …

I have a good friend who has a “REAL 52 TD” for sale fully restored.  I asked him why and he complained about it unreliability and uncomfortable ride.  “It’s not fun to drive but looks great” is a direct quote.  My car looks great and is fun to drive.  BTW watching EBAY the cost of quality replicas has nearly double since last year.

As an owner of two replicas I can say they both have there merits.

These two don’t get together often but they seem to get along fine when they do.

My wife loves the MG do to it’s lack of comparison power.

I think the cobra has it’s role in the fast pace environment of MA but NH is a slower pace and perfect for the MG.  They both get considerable attention whereever they go and I’m proud of them both.

WOW,

What beauties . fabulous!!!

Rob:

A car for each foot………….beautiful cars and I love the photo angle.

Mel

Technically, it’s a British/British pair.

Carroll chose the British ACE to stuff his Ford V8s into.

Hey Dan, I agree. All I meant by my British/British comment is what you wrote, “…the art work and design are British.”

The picture is of two British designs,
regardless of what is underneath. Heck, I have German engineering under
my TD’s skin. But that doesn’t make the design German.

I agree with you that American Ford V8s “made” the Cobra what it was. But the AC ACE was a success story, even before Carroll came along.

We’re a TD site, but here’s some Shelby history.

Carroll Shelby first raced a flathead Ford drag car in January 1952.

He first had to race AND turn the steering wheel in May 1952 in an MG TC, in Norman, Oklahoma. Carroll beat the other MGs. He raced the TC again the same day, going up in class and beating the likes of Jaguar XK 120s! If it hadn’t been for his heart problems, Shelby might well have gone on to be one of the winningest America drives ever.

On to the car….

AC built the ACE from 1953 to 1962. Most sources place the production number at 686.

The
straight six in the AC ACE was pretty standard in the 1950s. Even
the venerable
Corvette started it’s life with a 6 cylinder. British manufacturing in
the early 1950s was still trying to recover from being  bombed into
ruins during WWII. That’s also major reason why our 1952 MG TDs look
like 1930’s cars. They built what they could!

AC lost its engine supply deal and Carroll Shelby came along with an offer to help them continue manufacturing by dropping in an American V8. AC agreed, pending an engine supplier. Carroll went first to Chevy. They refused. So he went to Ford. And history was made.

Shelby built Cobras from 1962 and to 1967, starting with a 260 inch V8, then the 289, working up to the 427. He made 630 260/289s; and about 350 427/428s.

Shelby is legally the manufacturer of record. But every Cobra made in the ’60s was
manufactured by AC Cars in England and shipped to Shelby for completion.

I love the irony there. Shelby has given grief (legal and otherwise) to a lot of Cobra replica manufacturers. But his cars were kit cars. He received rollers from the UK and installed drive-trains and improved suspensions.

While successful on the track, the Cobra was a commercial failure and production ended in
1967. AC continued with V8s (albeit not called Cobras), selling them in Europe until late 1969.

So AC built and sold the cars for 12 years (53-62 and 68-69). Shelby for six years. AC built 680 prior to Shelby, I cannot tell how many afterwards. Shelby built 980 Cobras. It’s likely the Brits and Americans come out about even on production numbers.

Ah car history. Too bad this stuff wasn’t covered in high school. I bet more kids would have paid attention.

Shelby’s gripe with the reproduction manufactures also bugs me. Most of us cannot not imagine owning a million dollar original Cobra. But at $50k to $100K, a reproduction is within the reach of more people; a stretch to be sure, but within reach. The reproductions put the Cobra out there for even more people to see, I think making Carroll’s original even more well known and perhaps more valuable.

I believe all our reproductions, TDs, Cobras, Speedsters or any other “copy”, enhance the image and value of the original.
PMOSSBERG40045.9422453704

Road trip!

There’s a huge kit car show in Stoneleigh UK, Sunday May 2 & Monday May 3 2010.

http://www.grosvenorexhibitions.co.uk/

Ignore the quilt stuff and scroll down to the kit car show.

Then we come home and all meet at Carlisle PA for the Import/Kit-replica Nationals May 21-23 2010.

I’d settle for a bunch of you driving your MGs to Carlisle to help spread the kit car gospel. Do I hear an Amen?

Paul, nice history lesson, just one correction 🙂

Cobra’s such as mine can be had or built for 25K but if you decide to build one you really need to be willing to put in the effort as these take time, money and dedication to complete.  Hope to meet you and others at Carlisle some day as retirement is not that far away.  Working on cars and building them is a great hobby which challenges us as well at times frustrates us but at the end of the day the sense of pride and accomplishment make it all worth wild.

Enjoy these cars but hold on to your daily driver 🙂