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On our club’s home page it mentions different types of MGTD kits. MG Lafers, BCW, FiberFab, CMC, and the Duchess. Is there a spot here on this forum that spells out the differences in the types? Something that help a novice like myself be able to look at a photo and say, “oh yeah. That TD is a……”. That’d be really helpful I think.
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackRight on. I was about to ask the same thing. Members look at a picture and say “nice looking BCW or Duchess” etc. I look at the picture and say “how can they tell?”. They all look alike to me. Of course I am a newbie. The only other MGTD I’ve seen is owned by a guy in the next town and his is a Dutchess, and I found that you can tell what it is, is by the radiator ornament.
This is not absolutely guaranteed accurate and foolproof ,but here are some things I look for to identify the different cars.
The Allisons and BCW’S use fold down windshields, and have the guages mounted in a panel in the center of the dash.Allison rear fenders are molded to fit the round 53 MG tail lights, while the BCW rear fenders are molded to fit the rectangular MG tail lights. BCW’s mount the spare tire on an iron pipe rack .On the VW based BCW’s ,the engine cover and tire swing sideways on the pipe support to access the engine.The BCW Chevette based cars have the hood split in half and hinged in the center.
Classic Roadster Duchesses have a molded notch [step] in the rear fender where it attaches to the running board and the engine cover hinges from the bottom.The pan between the front fenders is unique to this brand as well.
Just realized I left out CMC and Fiber Fab.These cars usually hinge the engine cover to the rear of the body below where the top attaches. The VW based often have a pan connecting the front fenders that is shaped higher on the left side to clear the steering box. I think all CMC cars have this pan molded to the fenders with a seam below the grille.Front engine CMC’s use fenders that are wider than the VW based cars.
Early Daytona MiGI’s and London Roadster’s have the rear splash pan and engine cover molded as one piece with cutouts to clear the bumper guards.The rear fenders have half notches molded in to clear the VW torsion bars. Most attach the head lights directly to the radiator shell which is about 3” shorter than the original MG.
The above information may not be entirely accurate as many mergers have taken place in the kit car world and builders may have made other changes that make positive identification difficult.
BCWs: fake original style MG hood latches down near the bottom of the side covers. The hood hinges and latch are hidden. All others kits (that I’ve seen) have external hinges and so-called “suitcase latches” to close the hood.
Allisons have real MG style side curtains that can be installed independent of whether the canvas top is deployed. Super classy!
Getting more confused. I have what I think is a Daytona MIGI 2, with a 4 piece folding hood and a fold down windshield. It also has a 3 bow original top. Could this be an Allison? It has been built with Pinto running gear which I can find no record of Daytona building. Maybe someone at the Kit Car Nationals can help me scope it out.
I don’t claim to know everything about these cars, but I don’t recall ever seeing a Migi with a true four piece folding hood. Of course a previous owner could have done the fabrication work him/herself.
dbrock, in a NEW thread, post pictures and let us have a look
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)
Thanks guys for the info. It’ll take me a lunch or two but I should be able to load all this info into a spreadsheet and ues it for reference.
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackThanks. This is a start. I’ll have to look at all the TD’s in the photo gallery and see if I can spot some of these differences.
Paul,I hope I’m not sounding like a ”know it all” because I know for sure that I still have a lot to learn ,especially about our hobby.
I found a ”Kit Cars” magazine,vol. 1 no. 2 Winter 1984. On the last page there is a full page ad for a DAYTONA’S MIGETTE a front engine MGTD Reproduction using the Chevette engine and drive train. Featuring: folding hinged hood,original MGTD appointments, fold-down windshield,steel re-inforced body which was available in 10 colors.
It was produced by Daytona Automotive Fiberglass Inc,Holly Hill ,Florida. It was a beautiful car and the ad showed a picture of the hinged hood in the open position. It was also available as a VW version.
Ithink I saw one of these cars on E-bay a while back. It was white with a blue interior and had the Chevette engine and drive train. I can not remember ever seeing one based on a Ford. Sounds like d-brock has got a really special TD replica.
It’s fun to know how to identify the different makers, but in actuality they’re all beautiful. I love them all.
Your descriptions at least gives us newbie’s a place to start. ThanksI hope to get some pics taken and with the help of a more computer literate son, get them posted. I’m still not aware of how to get them posted, can barely get them attached to an email! Right now it is snowing and the dash is out, but soon maybe!
I agree Larry. And thanks for the copy of the ad.
I’ve ever seen one, and did not recall the advertising!
dbrock, to add a photo to a post, just click the tree icon with the arrow above the text entry box and navigate to where the picture is stored on your computer. The tree icon without he arrow is to link to a photo stored on the web, like in snapfish or some other web storage service.
PMOSSBERG40556.8180324074
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)
I should have mentioned two other things:
When you upload a picture into a post, it will automatically be added to your photo gallery.
And if all you want to do is load a picture to your gallery, open a new message, upload the picture to the message, and then just close the message without posting it.
PMOSSBERG40556.8192592593Paul 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)
I managed to send Brad (?) at MG Magic some bad photos of my car. He said that he had never seen one exactly like it and felt that it might be a prototype for one that never went into production or one of the half dozen or so manufacturers that made only a few before they went out of business. I still plan on getting help from the group as soon as I can roll it out and get some decent pictures. By the way, He is still working with the new buyers for awhile and the old phone number is still in use. He said that that number will still work after he is out of the picture..We are going to lose a lot of knowlege when he’s gone!
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