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Good day. A friend of mine recently bought a “1956” MG-TD kit car on a
1974 Volkswagen chassis. There is no findable medallion for the maker. She
believes she needs a new top. “Topsonline” seem to be the only makers I am
able to find. I am worried in ordering a specific top, as there were two
different TDs listed and none in 1956. Are there some critical measurements
we need to make to get the correct top. Thank you for your time and
information. Have a nice evening.
Hello Hamish,
The tops on Topsonline are reproductions of tops for original MG-TDs. I beleive they will not work on your friend’s TD replica.
You might try MG Magic in Florida, phone 954-680-2010.
She might also try to have a top sewn locally. Any place that makes boat tops could probably handle the job. Some auto convertible top installers or interior restorers might also be able to sew a top for you.
For that it’s worth, as you learned on topsonline there’s no such thing as a 56 TD. MG made the TD from 1950 to 1953.
Good luck.
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)
Thank you for another lead. Are the kit car tops that far off the originals?
She researched locally and received estimates of $800-$1000 Cdn.
Topsonline was $230 USD. That is a big difference.
I believe the seller has a drawing with measurements. I will get it and do
some more research.
I am told the kit car was from FL. Would the maker still be known, and is
there a way to contact them? They probably have disappeared.
Have a nice day.
Hamish,
It’s not just measurements that differ between kits and original TD roofs.
There are many other significant differences between original tops and most (if not all) reproductions.
For starters, original side curtains are metal framed, with sliding hard plastic windows. I’ve never seen a true reproduction on a kit. The kit side curtains are typicallly all vinly (sides and wondows) and normally zip to the roof and snap to the body .
The original roof attaches to the frame and windshield frame in a different manner than any kit I’ve ever seen.
The roof frame itself is also much different.
There were several Florida based manaufacturers over the years. I believe none of them are in business today.
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 meant to add….
Post a couple pictures of the car. I’m sure club members will be able to identify it.
Is there an id plate…either near the windshield base or on the firewall?
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. I will go and have a look at the car and compare it with what you
wrote about differences. I am told there is no plate.
I have uploaded the three pictures I have to my ISP. I left them unlocked in
case the viewing size is too small and you would like to download them. The
link is http://photoshare.shaw.ca/gallery/hamishd/
I appreciate your info and will keep you up to date.
Have a nice day.
Hello Hamish, Looks a lot like my 1952 I just picked up just a litle different engine cover but looks like a sweet ride..the folks at MG Magic as stated before would be able to tell…Good luck and enjoy.
PMOSSBERG, I have a Duches as well, Question, the rod that goes from the brake pedal to the Master Cylniod seems not to be long enough ( or fully tighten) is there a fix ???
Thanks
Hamish,open the hood and look on the passengers side firewall.There may be an emblem embossed there.If there is there will be a # molded in below it.Call MG Magic and tell them the # if you find it.If not,he can tell you what to look for to ID the car.If you do find the # he can tell you who bought the kit and on what date.His tops were $595.including the side curtains.I tried boat shops,trimmers,restoration shops,Nobody here would touch it for that.The quality is very good,Topsonline does not come anywhere near it.I have seen Topsonline products.They are for getting a used car out the door.I put one on a 95 Chrysler convert for a customer.He lost any savings he might have realized by the time we took it to a trimmer to get it to fit.
Thank you all for the help. Hopefully, this Sunday I will be able to see the
car, and take some pictures. I will look for the emblem also. Is there any
particular picture that would be of help, other than the emblem? I can post
the pictures at the above site. They will be about 2.5MB each so may load or
download slowly.
I will post a note when they are uploaded.
Thank you again for all the good information, and money saving
information.
Have a great weekend.
Hamish,I figured out how to access your pics after I posted.I am not at all familiar with your brand of body,I am sure others are though.It would be well worth your time to call Brad at MG Magic and describe the car to him.By the time you give him a couple of details he will spout the name and history of the builder.The top on that car in no way resembles an original TD top.Just how bad is it?What is the material?If it is still pliable enough they can be fixed.That IS something boat places will do.
I have put up some pictures I took today. I wanted you to have a look and
possibly give me some guesses before I call MG Magic. I have been informed
it is a 1976 engine. The seller bought it in Vancouver BC about 20 years ago.
He bought it about one year after it was completed. It has a bit of a sag in
the rear but I do not think that will be expensive to fix.
Here is the link: http://photoshare.shaw.ca/view/
2669212219-1177298714-68985/26692. If that is not good, another link
is in a past note above.
I hope you all had a nice motoring weekend.
The car was built in Vancouver according to the owner. I am in Winnipeg. I
am told a very good top man has left the city and opened a shop in
Nanaimo. If needed, I could probably get name and address.
I have exchanged e-mails with Brad at MG Magic. They say the Daytona was
not friendly with tops and would need to have it actually there to do work. I
have found a couple of boating firms locally that would work on it in the off
season. One upholstery place was found here and we will take the car there
in May to let them have a look.
Thank you all for the help. I will continue to stop by with info, plus or minus.
Well, things have changed. No money had changed hands and it was sold
from under her. It was a good thing as there was a lot of rust underneath
and needed a new rolling chassis. I was glad it went and she finally agreed it
was going to be a money pit. Thank you all for the information.
A tangent, web man please forgive. I found a 1934 Pace Racer kit car built
on a 1964 Volkswagen chassis. It is in much better shape than the Daytona
was. Has anyone come across this particular model, and prevailing prices?
Thank you for any information. Have a great day. H.
Hey Hamish,
Post a picture or two. If no one here knows about the car, one of the kit car magazines has a columnist that focuses on vintage kits. By coincdence, I think his name is Harold Pace.
I don’t have access to my magazines this week. But when I return, I’ll dig up the mag, check the name and send you an addresss.
I’d bet with a photo or two, this guy can provie some info on the Pace Racer.
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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