MG T-ABC

As you will know from Sherrel's book, early frames have some unique characteristics, as do several other components, - I have still to find a scuttle that looks like mine (the tool box and battery box are spot welded into the rest of the scuttle, which I assume is a TB leftover); although you can see the same construction in the photo on page 45 Graham Robson's "The T Series MG" (if you have sharp eyes!)

regards,
John Steedman

John the tool box on mine is a WWII ammo box with a single= flat lid also welded. If you have two professional welds down each side of the firewall it is a MGTB tub that was extended by four inches to fit the new TC. Mine is number is number twenty off the line... Parts of that first batch were built with what ever they could find on the shelves from before the war. As you say the hood frame is different and very hard to find, however there is a company in the Uk that will remake the frame if the owner has about 50% of the original I.e the strange cantilever units on the sides!

I have traced about ten of the originals that are still around and its interesting to find that they were different in regard to what the factory put on them in September 1945. I was even lucky enough to find and meet the original owner of my Tc that he purchased in Wolverhamton UK in October 45 with his army demob funds, It must have been the hot rod of the county for a few months. I was lucky in having one of the original number plates issued with the car and traced the original owner via the County Vehicle Road Tax office Would you believe I managed to do the same thing with the 1933 J2 again because it had a battered but readable number plate. As I'm sure you know the reg plate stays with the car in the Uk once it is issued.

If you are interested I can send you photos of my firewall and ammo box set up whic sounds just like yours.

Regards Geoff

I thought this was all covered and corrected before!! The TA, TB and TC firewalls and scuttle tops are all the same width. The rear of the body at the rear door hinges was where the additional four inches was added to the TC over the TB, not in the firewall. Or am I missing something??.
Bob

Bob I suggest you look at the cars out of the first batch hen explain why they have this weld I would be interested to hear your views so would others who have this feature on their early 1945 cars!

Regards Geoff

No you are not...the difference between a TA, TB body tub and the TC is at the seat back.....the scuttle, windshield etc are the same...the firewall of course was different as they cutout the TA/TB toolbox and installed the battery and the TC tool box which I understand on the first few was made from old ammo boxes as Geoff sez.......and it was painted with old navy grey which varied as much as the rear windows did.....Prewar cars had none of this controversy as an owner could order anything from the factory.....including steering boxes made in the far east....

TATERRy

Our 1945 TC # 0275 has the weld...

Thank you Ed yet another with the weld!

Regards
Geoff

Right on, we have researched this subject the right way, I.e looked at as many of these early cars as we could find and they all have the double weld for the extended four inches.

Regards Geoff

Hi Terry,

Thanks for supplying my morning laugh with coffee in hand! Been rather busy of late but appreciated seeing pictures of Big Boy nearing completion.

Your view makes the most sense. I'd add they didn't prototype change ideas, every sub-assembly went to the line. Seeing how my tool and battery boxes are the spitting images of ammo boxes I kind of like to think I should have scrapped them out years ago and bought NOS, instead of taking them out, repairing bottoms, etc. When Geoff first mentioned his ammo box theory my forehead got a little flatter. And isn't that navy gray actually the left over interior paint from Abingdon's production of little tanks or armored vehicles? Probably a little checking would turn up the fact that they were equipped with two sizes of guns, a canon and machine gun, and presto we have the source for TC tool and battery boxes.

I can feel a creative day coming on.

Cheers, Peter

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