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What’s interesting about this listing is that the seller has pulled together links to 23 OTHER listings of various TDr’s for sale all over the country. Certainly a shopping aid …
PMOSSBERG 2015-04-06 14:45:03 What is really interesting is the idea that someone, somewhere, would consider buying a kit car as an “investment.”
(But not understand–somehow–that asking prices aren’t necessarily selling prices).Good find, John.They’re asking the same for theirs that I paid for mine, or rather bid up to, in the ebay auction.
The price ranges confused me when I was looking to buy, but all I was going to get was something at the lowest end that was drivable as-is and still looked okay too. That and tow home myself without going more than a few hundred miles away.Found I will need wheels, bearings, steering/suspension bushings and had to fix the leaky gas tank outlet and hose. Always possible something else to do to any old car so I already factored that in, since all I knew about was a “donor car” aspect and not ever done a “kit car” myself.I wouldn’t do it again without seeing the car in person. *I had at least 2 other MGTDr’s I could have driven to see, almost same asking price, but I got sick that same week so I couldn’t drive to any at one-quarter to half day on the road. Some other time, sure, but I felt compelled to go with as much as I could offer or risk losing it and continue on to the other 2.* Note to self: Not how I would ever buy a car, any car… or motorcycle. I like in-person checking.Well, I too bought my TDr through eBay sight unseen, although I was the only bidder and didn’t pay that much. In fact, the car turned out to be quite nice for what I paid, and all it really “needed” was a set of new tires. I could have just polished it up and used it as-is, but the seat was too high and too close to the wheel for my comfort, plus I am a perfectionist. So, I got the idea of lowering the seat and fixing everything up perfect, which thus far has cost an arm and a leg, and a second leg is coming up when it goes to paint and upholstery. But that was my own fault. I can’t blame the seller, as I got exactly what I paid for. Hey, it’s a hobby car, what did I expect? And, it is still going to end up cheaper than building from scratch or buying a restored original — and I will have high confidence in it “as a car” for driving. In short, I wouldn’t rule out buying another car sight unseen off eBay. Everything depends on the circumstances. You can spend $3000 sight unseen. You can’t spend $30,000 without seeing the car first.
johnsimion wrote:can spend $3000 sight unseen. You can’t spend $30,000 without seeing the car first.A very good point there, and something I had thought about. I don’t think I could have done it if not a car.I was actually thinking of a 2nd motorcycle when the replica car idea caught my attention. TBH it’s something I thought years and years in the back of my mind, going to car shows I kept wanting a good original car but fear of upkeep/storage always stopped me. I love seeing the nice old cars people have kept in great shape, I can’t do that with my everyday cars/trucks/motorcycles/boats so “replica” just seems like less risk to me. Although finding I’m trying my best to baby it already.Of course, I’m sure opinions vary on this (sight unseen buys) and about money. If I had 10X the money that would factor in for sure! But care must be taken or as the old saying goes: a fool and his money are soon parted.😉LRH2015-04-07 04:55:31
I just think it’s cool to own something so unique. You own a “real” MG TD, people look at it and say “Wow, what is that?,” and the owner says, “Well, it’s a 1952 MG TD!” And they say “cool” and they move on, because what more can you say? But when you own an MG TDr, people look at it and say, “Wow, what is that?” and you say, “Well, it’s a 1983 fiberglass replica of a 1952 MG TD that was hand-built in 1986 on a 1971 air-cooled Volkswagen chassis and restored with a bunch of performance upgrades added in 2014.” Then you can go on and talk about all it has that the original lacks … like big power, light weight, disc brakes, 4-speaker stereo, custom seats, etc. etc. Any time it takes 15 minutes to explain what exactly that thing is that is in your garage … now THAT is real conversation fodder.
“It’s a British Coach Works Model 52 MG TD replica built in 1980 on a 1969 Beetle chassis with a 1966 Beetle engine. But now it has a Subaru engine from a 1995 Legacy station wagon, and so . . .”.
Man, most people will be sorry they asked! 😆Funny that you mention Corvette… noticed the ebay description compares thickness of fiberglass to them (Corvette thinner). Can’t be sure of that myself but late last year I was all set to plunk down $9000 on a ’74 ‘vette until I test drove it. Never drove one before, didn’t realize its sport car aspect was like driving a little car. Well, a little car with a V8 engine. They look plenty big from the outside.
It had issues beyond faded/cracking paint. Would have needed some fixing from electrical to mechanical, interior too, if it were to be a decent car again. I could do some work myself but would have needed professionals to go over it and I heard they can be expensive to work on and own.Maybe some day, never say never, but this MGTDr has already fulfilled my other wish of having an early 20th century kind of car– even if it’s really a mid-century and look-alike car. The $144/year insurance has proven to be a welcome surprise too. I don’t feel like I’m risking much to drive it around, a true vintage or classic car would be another matter for me. Going around with such a thing would fill me with near-constant dread for fear something might happen to it. So I just ask others to keep taking their cars to the shows so I can go see them.Here’s another TDr for sale in Key Largo. Looks nice but seller doesn’t state price.PMOSSBERG2015-11-19 10:25:52
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack“[A]nd is a reproduction not a kit car.” That’s an interesting way of putting it.
😉Vicenç - (bee sense)
Pembroke Pines, FL
1986 Aston - BCW Model 52 - "Montse II"(1983 FiberFab MiGi II - "Montse")
It IS a nice car, but exactly WHAT does,”Made for Hollywood”, mean?
Was it a movie prop? That would make it very interesting.
Other info is rather vague. Wish there were pics of the interior, too.
From the looks of it though, I’d say it has a rear engine, since the hold downs are in the rear, the vents in the front aren’t cut through, and the hinges are similar to others.Amor Conquista Todo
What a crock of, well, you know.
It is a kit car. And it is VW based (ad text says VW 1600 engine motor).Appears to be a short grill car also.Oh, and keep your silly mug out of the pictures when postign a classified ad.Offer? I’ll offer him a $1,000. Keep the wire wheels. Put on some stick VW wheels and sell it for $2,000. 😉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)
Oh yeah…
And it is NOT “original looking.”Neither is my Duchess, even tho it uses a true TD grill and many other true TD bits and pieces. That’s not a knock on TDr’s. It’s a simple fact. Just about anyone with some rudimentary car knowledge can distinguish an original TD vs a TDr.PMOSSBERG2015-11-19 10:35:50
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)
Paul, I think you summed that up rather nicely. 😆
Vicenç - (bee sense)
Pembroke Pines, FL
1986 Aston - BCW Model 52 - "Montse II"(1983 FiberFab MiGi II - "Montse")
Well, I’m going to disagree with Paul. This isn’t true for all, but a properly built TDR can be extremely “original looking.” And define “rudimentary car knowledge.” About 98% of the public doesn’t even know what an MG TD is, let alone the difference between an original and a replica. The DMV has my car titled as a “1952 MG TD” and I’ll bet there are a lot of other TD owners in the same boat.
And BTW it is entirely possible it has a “new” air cooled VW engine. Darryl’s sells such a product as do several others, built with new blocks from Mexico or South America.
A few months ago at a car show I parked next to a ’62 Pontiac Catalina used in the movie Selma, owner has paperwork about that. Was painted for the movie and used for scenes done inside the car, requiring a door to be removed (later put back on).
I could see paying 5 grand for that MGTDr. When getting mine I was considering a London Roadster first and the wire wheels would be great to have. I might have overpaid for my car but 5 and 1/2 thousand was a typical selling price within 150 miles of me for good running cars.Being in Key Largo and used for hauling a boat would worry me about rust under the car and in the engine. All that sea salt. No picture of that ‘new engine’? Would have to see it in person. Paint might be getting sun-toasted too even if it looks okay in the photos.My 83 y.o. dad drove over to Savanna GA last week, down to old home place at Merritt Island to visit friends, then Key Largo and didn’t want to stay more than a day and night there. Said there was nothing to do, which I find hard to believe.I agree about $4 to $5k is a likely selling price for that car. I was kidding (a little) about offering $1,000.
John, my TDr is also titled as a 1952 TD. But that has nothing to do with how “original looking” it is. Some states title kit cars as the car they replicate. Most do not, but some do. I got mine titled that way a bit differently.I guess “rudimentary car knowledge” could have a hundred levels of refinement. I agree, driving past average Joe or Jane, they may not know. But anyone who is into cars and actually looks at a TDr will be able to tell the difference.Re: the “new engine,” I agree it could be new. I didn’t see anyone questioned that part of the ad.PMOSSBERG2015-11-19 17:03:32
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)
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