MG T-ABC

Probably opening up a can of worms on this one. Is the foot board on a '49 TC number TC7801 body color or is it black? Seems to me it should be black. I'm clearly not ready for paint but I'm trying to get answers for thoughts that come into my mind as I go along. Probably at least a year from paint.

Mine is Black

No idea, but firewall color looks best to me.

Jury is out?

Lets see who is fastest to their copy of TCs Forever.

Body colour, or is it grey, at least when this photo was taken (unlike TD and TF which were black).

From photos I have seen as Mathew posted it would seem that the firewall was painted separately. From this I painted my early car in gray and would make the assumption that later cars would have been painted body color as the firewall was.

Matthew, that photo of Cecil Wheeler assembling the dash (the term MG used for the bulkhead) was taken in spring 1946, when the bulkhead was made at MG. They were painted a varying shade of gray-green to green-Gray, along with the foot ramp.

When production of bulkhead and footramp part shifted to Bodies Branch (about TC5000), the bulkhead and footramp became body color. The simple defining detail on change point is the shape of flutes on the bulkhead- deep is early, shallow late.

So generally, with a shallow flute bulkhead the footramp should be body color. I have seen and credibly heard of black footramps on TCs even late into production, bit think these were anamolies.

Good info Tom

My TC is a very late 49 model and is body colour both sides

Hi Ian, did you see my replies on your Past owners thread? Cheers Matthew.

Sorry Mathew,never noticed reply.
I would of thought if car had been imported from the States would be set up with lighting etc for that area.
I do know that in 80s that instruments were refurbished and seem to remember someone in the Vic MG register as having a record of my car with current motor from 1980s.
At some stage has had a full body restoration although not well done but perhaps body timbers were not as easy to obtain as they are now.
It s wiring while cloth overhraided is of the more modern PVC wiring and as mentioned has a diff of later type joined to TC ends.and of course Datsun steering and 7 inch light conversion.
At least is a survivor.
Thanks again Ian Theobald

Ian, I guess the right dipping lights would have been swapped out for Australian specification lights as a registration requirement. Or did you mean other lights?

As far as I know ,Us cars had twin stop lights and bumper bars.
Any modifications if any must of been some time ago.
My headlights are Lucas 7 inch and reflectors all crazed.
The green vinyl had Chrysler logo on reverse side.
Some one has made an attempt at retimbering but sadly doors were way out and took a lot of work to get correct and same goes for pillars on tub.
Dash is not original and was a good half inch difference on passenger side as door was similar distance out but now correct.
The only part that seems to be still original is engine bay hence comment about foot well colour but cream is slightly darker than what is now painted on body .
The instruments were repaired in Sydney in mid 80s and have sticker with date to effect but have yet to try clock out but probably does not work as common for them.

Maybe your car has EX-U stamped on the ID plate (if original)?
Or maybe our American friends can point out where the bumpers were mounted in case traces remain?

Matthew.