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Hey, folks. As some of you already know, I am unfortunately not a TD replica owner. I didn’t even know they existed until a few days ago when I saw one for sale in a local used car rag. I checked it out, test drove it, and fell in love. Alas, it was not meant to be; many users on this board steered me down the right path and essentially said that for the price it would be a very bad investment.
So here I am, biding the time until I, too, become an owner of such a beautiful car.
A little about myself- I am a 27 year old military vet. I was in the USAF for four years as a fire fighter. I served in the Azores and Travis AFB. I now get paid to go to college via my 9/11 GI Bill. I currently have a 3.86 GPA which I hope to bring up this semester (school started yesterday).
I enjoy shooting, customizing, and collecting firearms. I realize there may be some people here who hate guns; that is fine as long as you don’t hammer me over the head with your views. Let’s not forget we’re all here because we love the TD!
I am also either a major bibiliophile or a minor bibliomaniac. I read voraciously and honestly believe I have an addiction to learning new things. Someone once told me you know you have a problem with books when you buy a copy of a book you already have because it’s easier to do that than find the old copy. Well, I’m guilty of that on several occasions! Despite this I can assure you my house looks nothing like an episode of Hoarders.
I have always been attracted to things people consider rare, exotic, or extreme. I own many strange things such as preserved bats, swords, occult books, old sideshow posters, and even two real human skulls! I guess if anything my house looks like an episode of Oddities.
I also study self-defense and survivalism.
I am glad to be here amongst comrades; a website like this is truly a blessing to a guy like me with little knowledge of TD replicas. I am glad the giants have allowed me to stand on their shoulders!
That’s all for now, folks. I’ll see you all later- same bat time, same bat channel!
london 40778.6489351852 Welcome to you, london.
Yeah, we get all kinds here. You’ll fit right in.
There’s another group also called speedsterowners.com. They’re replica Porsche 356 people and one of them, Cory Drake, is a military (and now strictly civilian, I think) firefighter who really went wild on his car. Hope you two can get introduced some time.
We lean on that board a little ’cause there’s more of them and their cars are very much like ours–the VW variants, anyway.
Good luck in your search. I think you will find that a nice rear-engined car can be had for a bit less than the dealer wanted (some dealers demand $8, 9k for them) if you go with a private seller. The front engined ones are usually a bit more expensive–$5 or $6k, say.
All of them are OLD CARS though–no one is making new TD kits and no one has since you were in knee pants. So expect to be tinkering. Gun smithing should stand you in pretty good stead, since it’s precision work and the stakes are pretty high.
Keep us abreast of your search and don’t forget to check our sale board, as people post cars there too.
edsnova40778.6907175926
Welcome aboard London.
Got a name?
I don’t own any myself. But I hope there is at least one Mossberg in the gun collection. I have to do my part to keep that part of the family in business!
You will learn tons from the people on this site.
And as you already experienced, we are VERY willing to share our knowledge and opinions of these wonderful little cars.
Use the search tool and wander around the forum.
I suggest you start with the manufacturer comparison here:
https://tdreplica.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1554& PN=1
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
Hey, Tyler! I’m just up the road apiece in Houston. Nothing available here at the moment, but there are usually a couple on the market at any given time. I looked on the San Antonio craigslist and found a FiberFab TD replica in New Braunfels. It’s VW-powered, red, and supposedly has current inspection, Texas tags, assembly books and records. Asking $5,300:
http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/2514572855.html
TexAg7140779.5669560185
1981 Lafer TI
1600 cc Type 1 engineFound another listing in Conroe, north of Houston on I-45. Be a long haul for you, but the asking price is only $3,200:
http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/2507392754.html
One concern is that the seller says “what you see is what you get,” and I see no side curtains, top or even a frame for a top.
TexAg7140780.5785532407
1981 Lafer TI
1600 cc Type 1 engineFunny how “what you see is what you get” usually means
“pay attention to what you will NOT get…”
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
So true. To be fair, the seller does offer to send more photos and answer questions. Still, Conroe is a long way from San Antonio — especially in the triple-digit heat we’re having down here.
1981 Lafer TI
1600 cc Type 1 engineThe car in Conroe looks like a British Coach Works to me. These are among the better quality kits . Fold down windshield,thicker fiberglass than other brands. Just may be worth looking into even in the heat.
MG Magic charges about $600 for a to.
Most of their parts are MIGI/Fiberfab parts.
That top would not fit a Classic Roadsters Duchess.
I do not know about fitting a BCW
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
Mine came with a nice-fitting, pretty new top. I could track down the PO & ask where he had it done. Might even be able to get a pattern for it if you need, though not sure how that’s done without giving up the top to the top shop.
I’ve heard it said that boat top makers can do the job.
I took my Lafer to a local trim shop and had a new Stayfast top made to order. It was cheaper than buying one in Brazil and having it shipped here. They were highly recommended and did a beautiful job, installed nickel-plated brass marine fasteners, and reconditioned and repainted the three-bow frame. Not cheap (about $800), but truly excellent work. They also covered the front brace — the part that clamps onto the top of the windscreen — and three-part curved ash frame across the back of the tub in the same high-grade biscuit tan vinyl that my wife chose for the doors, the seats, the headrests, and the boots for the shifter and parking brake. All that, plus new padding and carpeting, ran just under $1,600 — and pretty much tapped out my TD kitty. Everything I do from here on out will have to wait until I can scrape the cash together. (And yes, I know I need to get some photos posted. Waiting for this heat to break so I can finish staining and sealing the dash.)
1981 Lafer TI
1600 cc Type 1 engine
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