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My car was purchased in 1983 from Fiberfab, the steering wheel said “FF” and “FF” is molded into the firewall. However, there are a number of differences from what is listed in the description above that I don’t think are completely accounted for just by the original builder’s whims:
Windshield: Description says no covers, but I have molded and polished aluminum covers for the ends of the frame (appear to be like you show in the pictures of the Duchess). Maybe the original builder procured these from somewhere else?Grille: Description says, “Chrome plated Aluminum similar to original MG.” My grille is reproduction MG and made out of chromed steel with the crank hole at the bottom. The builder put a real MG badge on it which attaches to another piece of chromed steel and then both fit over the grille shell so it looks just like a Duchess.
Door latches: Description says, “Similar to MG type.” I do not know exactly what the MG type was, but my car has what MG Magic calls “Door Slam Set, Complete.”
Door hinges: Description says, “Stainless and similar to MG type.” My car has the gold-colored hinges like MG Magic sells.
Tail lights: Description says, “Similar to MG type with fenders molded to match shape of light.” My car has what appear to be VW taillights.
Spare tire: Description says, “Mounting bracket attached to spare tire fiberglass mount on engine cover. Requires cooling holes drilled to match VW wheel slots.” I haven’t seen any other TDR like mine. The engine cover on my car tilts backwards from the bottom. The fiberglass is completely “open” under the spare tire, which is mounted on a heavy black-painted steel bracket that matches the bumper supports and tilts up along with the engine cover. This is fortuitous because it allows my Weber Progressive carburetor to fit up inside the spare wheel. The engine breathes easily without the need for cooling holes by drawing air from under the spare tire and through the openings in the spare wheel.
johnsimion 2015-03-01 22:58:13 Thanks MG wanna B and gbdick
I amended the London Roadster description post to note that some custom chassis cars had front discs/rear drums.PMOSSBERG 2015-03-02 09:11:46 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)
John,
Do you have a few pics of your car? I’m really curious. I’ve never seen a FF with a rear hinged engine cover. The only one with that config that I’ve seen is Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess.I love that you wrote the previous owner set up the grill to “…look just like a Duchess….” instead of writing to “…look just like an original TD.” Two
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)
The engine cover on my FF also tilts backwards from the bottom. Also have weber progressive that extends into the space under the spare tire.
News to me! Thanks guys!
I hope there’s something other than the wire loom serving as a support!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)
Could one of you guys show a pic of that rear hinge mechanism? My early FF uses 4 of the spring loaded latches and lifts off. I like the wide-open access that can be handy at times, but it is a PITA just to check the oil. I’d like to consider that the hinge since there’s no need to use a support.
Early FF TDr on 69 VW pan
Slowly coming back from the ashes...Here is Classic Roadsters approach.
There is a steel under the engne cover. It protrudes through the hole to serve as spare tire mount. Shaped like the FF pic above, but about eight inches wide.It bolts to the two “z-bars” that you see running under the apare tire.The z-bars are bolted to fittings on the rear valance.
That said…I’d really like any further discussion to take place in a new thread. As noted in several other soosts in thsi thread, I routinely clean this thread of all psots exccept the actual manufacturer descriptions.PMOSSBERG 2015-03-02 18:26:46 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)
My kit has an eagle hood mascot on the gas cap and a Duchess badge where the MG logo would go. I often think of changing it.
Hey Folks,
Not sure if this is the sub-category for this but iIn looking over the paperwork (Title and Insurance) for my BCW, I noticed a reference to “ASC” (which stands for American Sunroof Corporation).In addition to providing sunroofs and t-tops to automakers in Detroit and overseas, as well as some short run customizations (1980’s Buick Riveria Convertibles), they also had a line called “Custom Craft”, which specialized in fiberglass add-on items like oversized “Superfly” headlights, laundau roof add-ons, Rolls-Royce type grills and other things to “pimp” your ride.So I’m wondering if ASC was doing work for the BCW people of Arnold PA…. or for that matter the other way around back in the 1980’s when these were being built.Anyone else ever come across a reference like this in their title paperwork?TomTom Vilardi
BCW Model 52
South Orange NJNone in mine. But here’s my theory–which you can check by chasing some corporate records in PA: Like BCW, American Sunroof WAS the Fussenegger’s company & the factories were tied together.
edsnova 2016-02-05 20:52:15 Ed, Fussenneggers did not own ASC but I’m wondering if they had them make the body panels to their specifications or even provide the stripped down Chevette’s because of their connections with Detroit.
ASC had it’s start as a distributorship of an earlier German company that made those old sliding/folding canvas sunroofs for VW’s in the late 1950’s/early ’60’s.Interesting read about them here:http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/a/asc/asc.htmTomTom Vilardi
BCW Model 52
South Orange NJWell. My info is BCW made their own body panels & stuff. I don’t know where they got their Chevettes, but a west-coast accessory company would not be the obvious source. We could call Jack Fussenegger and ask.
ASC consolidated all it’s resources to Southgate Michigan (next to Detriot) in 1970. My Title includes a reference to “ASC” but the body plates on the car show it as BCW build number 365.
Somewhere there must have been some sort of “ASC” reference – I wondered if some of the Chevette’s were perhaps obtained through ASC.Didn’t someone post that they tried to reach out to the Fusseneger family but received no response?TomTom Vilardi
BCW Model 52
South Orange NJThat was me, several years ago. In July I ran into Jack at the Pittsburgh Vintage GP.
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.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}Prototype Research 52 MG TD Roadster
Windshield ??? Fixed windshield, with reproduction mounting
brackets.Front grill – Reproduction MG TD grill and slats.
Hood (Bonnet) – Opens from passenger side, external hinges and
clasps.Roof/Curtains – Two hoop roof, single layer
top and zip-on side curtains. Curtains have an additional zipper to allow
access to toll booths and to attach the curtains after you are in the car.Dash ??? Solid wood.
Not “original style”.Dimensions ??? Length 146 inches Width 59
inches Height 52 inchesSeat – One piece seat back and separate seats. Seats, door
panels and side panels are vinyl. Pretty standard low pile carpet on
floor, center tunnel and storage behind seat.Door Latches – Interior and Exterior – Reproduction
originalsDoor Hinges – Reproduction originals
Head Light Supports -Reproduction originals (tubular)
Fender lights – Reproduction originals, amber lenses.
Tail Lights – Reproduction originals
Bumpers – Reproduction originals. Front bumper is missing
the center hole for the crank start.Steering Column – Fully enclosed within the body
Engine Cover – Hinged at the bottom, engine cover tilts back from the
top, providing great access to the VW engine.License Plate Mount – Flat aluminum, not original style.
Fuel Tank – Standard
VW 10 gallon tank mounted in fuel tank box located at rear of front hood.
Filler located on shortened fill pipe inside hood.Wheel Covers – Wire wheel covers.
Weight – 1350 pounds.
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PMOSSBERG2016-02-20 00:08:52Thanks for the pic.:-)
Looks like a very nice car.
I especially like the two tone color scheme .
I’m sure you’ll have fun once the weather turns nicer.Amor Conquista Todo
Just read we’ll be migrating to a new forum, but here are some of my add-ons to Edsnova’s BCW “VW-Based-home-built” features list from a Front-Engined GM/Chevette Factory Built perspective.
99.9% of Ed’s information is the same but there are some slight differences.Seats on the front engined cars (FE) are adjustable on the bottoms – probably with original mechanicals. Seat backs are also slightly adustable with original (or reproduction) hardware.BCW hoods are just under 3 inches longer than original TD’s (RicX confirmed this and I have an original TD hood top I used in comparison) – reason why appears to be because those cars built on the VW frame had to make provisions for VW suspension and it would not be cost effective to have two different variations of body parts – so they were all built to the slightly stretched VW frame.Front Engine frame is a custom built job, which allows the wheels to center better in the fenders.Front engine version uses the small bottom mounted GM (Chevy/Pontiac) fuel tank. The filler is where the original TD filler is located but the entire “mock” tank is an empty space with no “out of the factory” access. There is a central plastic panel behind the spare tire which actually slides up and out of the factory could be useable but the wiring for the third brake light is fed directly through is, which limits access unless the wiring is reconfigured (which could be easily done). The area behind the seat appears to be smaller than the VW version and has a panel on the top which snaps down to create a shallow hindged package tray.A GM heating/ventilation system panel sits in front of the passenger seat set right into the dash. A Radio panel was often placed directly above it. These two items sit exactly where the original TD’s glove box was located and appear to have been configured to fit in the very same location as the original TD’s glove box door.The side hood vents are open (routed out) on the FE TD.On my TDr, the wheels are 14 inch four bolt pattern with round holes (VW versions use the 15 inch VW wheels with oval pattern holes). The tires (I think mine are original) are a BF Goodrich utility variation called Roadking Grenadier in a P185 75 r14 configuration – original TD tires would be closer to a p165 (width in MM) with a very high hight aspect ratio (like 85%) and of course 15 inches on the rims. I have had TDr flks mention that it looks like I am running MGA or MGB tires on it. I think MGB’s had 14 inch tires and there were numerous TD’s that incorporated drivetrains and wheels of newer MG’s as their T-series components wore out.Still learning things but this is my report so far.TomTom Vilardi
BCW Model 52
South Orange NJHope it is OK to reopen this forum. On looking over the info, I came across the Classic Roadsters Duchess which is based on Ford power. Then I noticed that it has Chevette suspension. Is this correct?
1986 British Coach Works Type 52 (Sammy)
Chevy 2.8 V6, 5 speedIf I recall correctly, Classic Roadsters had mods for either the Ford or Chevy drivetrains. This many years later, it would not surprise me to see “hybrids” out there.
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 Paul, Bebop here. Randy in Sun Lakes AZ. My MGTD replica used to be listed on the site but I do not see it since the format change-over. It was the only one made by Rich Industries out of Port Elizabeth South Africa. It was made on a new Ford Cortina frame straight 4 cylinder with drive-shaft rear drive. For some reason that manufacturer is no longer listed as a TD manufacturer on the site. Since then do you know of any other Rich Industries TD’s in this country? Randall Eshpeter
Randy in Chandler Arizona, great B-bopp'in teritory. I must have the only one in the country made by Rich Industries in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, on a 1986 Ford Cortina (english ford escort) It's a 1600cc straight four cylinder front engne, 4 speed, changed from right side driver to left side with several shafts and u-joints. BEBOP because I once had an MGB with license plate MG-BEPOP in Virginia.
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