MG T-ABC

I am slowly cleaning out my '46 TC (0617) with intentions of a frame-up redo. I have two questions on which I would appreciate advice.

1. I found a plate, possibly chrome-plated brass, 3.8 x 12.6 cm (1 1/2 x 4 15/16 ins) with the following inscription:
The MG Car Company Ltd.
Abington-on-Thames
Body Type B280
Body No 465A1432
What can you tell me about it?

2. My TC 0617 was built 4/4/49. I have read that most TC's of that time were black. TC0617 is now BRG , inside and out, with a vinal green dash. Is that how it was when it left the factory, or has it been changed? I find no evidence of any other color paint. For history, I have a registartion book of Jersey (Channel Islands), a faint zerox copy thereof, which begins in 1958 and ends with the 10th owner listed on the book in 1968. I bought the car from that 10th owner. I have no info for 1946 to 1958.

Thank you for any useful comments and references.

Bill Salmon, Arlington, VA

Bill, this is the body identification plate...on the TA's they were affixed to the main ash timber under the dash to the left. You should find four holes where it was ...assuming you found it under a seat or somesuch...

As to build history, I believe Roger Furneaux on this list has what is left of TC factory history and that ain't much.....

Cheers and good luck on your rebuild....

Terry
Oakland, CA

Hi Bill Your car was almost certainly black when it left the factory. Although there is no 100% firm source of knowledge now, most people believe that red and green body paint colours were introduced to the production line about September of 1946. Your car, at 4/4/46 was well before that date. You can see a summary of most of the available information on body and trim colours in my spreadsheet on the web-site under "special files". You can down-load this spreadsheet as either an Excel or a PDF file and print it off.. It sounds like you may not have a copy of the excellent reference work "TCs Forever" by Michael Sherrell. This book will answer many of the questions you will have as the restoration proceeds. I strongly recommend that you get someone to buy it for you for Christmas. Failing that buy it yourself. You will certainly need it. The dashboard on your car should be wood faced, not vinyl-covered. Maybe I should have said "would have been" rather than "should be", as the choice is yours, but I suggest that you read Sherrell before you decide to do anything "non-46" to the appearance. That body plate fits onto the TC in the same place as TA Terry has described for the TA, i.e. standing on its right hand end and inclined back at the top to follow the line of the two timbers. It would have been nickel-plated, not chrome - slightly duller finish - but many are just polished brass by now, all the nickel having long since gone. Held in place by four slotted-round-head wood-screws. Good luck with the restoration. Mike Card TC/8233

Bill,

What you are describing is correct for a 1949 car. Your instant verification is that the firewall has flat bottomed stiffening flutes as opposed to round ones on earlier cars. I think the misleading information here is the chassis number. Are you sure it's 0617? That number is more likely to be built in late 45 or early 46. My TC, 8892, was made in May 49 and your's could conceivably really be 8617. Can you read the chassis number on the front left dumb-iron just in front of the shock absorber.

You've had it since 1968? It wasn't common to do frame-up restorations back then which might have resulted in the firewall being painted inside and out with body colour. If you really do have chassis 0617, then it's most likely that a used chassis was installed after the original had been broken like they have a propensity to do in several places. Coversely you may have a 49 body after the original got destroyed by accident or fire. Cannibalization was common back then and I'm guilty of quite a few of them!

Originally in Jersey? It's quite a small island, but I've seen a number of TCs originally registered there with "J nnnn" registration numbers. There was a quite famous hill climb there in the 50's and 60's. Who knows, your's might have been used in competition and it would be neat to find some original photos.

Good luck with the rebuild - a great Millenium project.

Peter Ross
TC 8892

Bill... I have TC 0667, as yet unrestored but drivable, should you need to verify component originality, but all of the responses you've already received are right on.

Austin

Bill,
My TC must have been going out the front door of the factory just as they were starting to build yours! Mine is TC 0556 and was black with tan interior and a wood dash.

I'm just down the road, in Richmond, so if you ever need to see anything, you are welcome to come look. The car is very authentic, except for one respray in the sixties, and sealed beam lights. It's not a shiny one but it might be useful for your research purposes.

Happy Holidays,
Bruce Woodson