Grill Identification Help

[robj]

I've got 3 grill shells. Numbers 1 and 2 I'm pretty sure are TC.

#3 I believe is an Early TD, is that correct?

Thanks,
robj

[Steve Simmons]

TC shells tend to crack in that location, so sometimes people put a strap like that on them for support. TD shells have a full circle instead of an open 'U'. They are interchangeable with TC and are stronger.

[robj]

Thanks Steve,
That's what I thought but "West-Midlands Engineering" had the same shell on eBay and was saying it was an early TD. The bracket looked exactly like the one on mine. [which is what caught my eye]
Think there's any chance they used up left over TC shells with the mod.

Obviously I can't tell if the one I have has been re-plated but it's riveted on, not soldered and not pop-rivets, more like a factory punched rivet.

First photo is mine. The one below was the eBay ad from West-Midland. Just seemed curious that both brackets are pretty much identical.

robj

[Steve Simmons]

That could be. I've seen a couple others with a very similar bracket. They could have done a little modification on the remaining TC grill shells. I'm not really a TD minutia expert but maybe someone else here is.. All I can say for sure is that TC grills always had the open bottom.

[robj]

I'm sure stranger things have happened. If so it would be a great talking point for someone with a low production number TD.

It just struck me how identical the brackets were.

thanks,
rob

[robj]

I re-read West-Midlands post about the grill shell they have listed, [for $900 or B.O. I may add].

This was in the description;
This is a early MG TD grille shell. When the first TD’s came out in 1949 they used TC grille shells which are completely open at the bottom where the starter crank is inserted. Later they moved to this design similar to the TC however there is a small riveted panel at the bottom between the hole. This is ultra rare considering very few cars had this design grille. It is in good condition but missing 3 studs and has a small hole in front. I have polished up some parts of the grille and it does look useable. Please see pictures and message me with any questions.

[Rob Reilly]

This is interesting to me because my TA grille shell has an old repair at the top, not the bottom. Somebody brazed in a brass rod. It was so well done I decided to leave it and had it chromed over.

[Ray White]

With respect, why do you think 'West Midlands Engineering' are any better informed than you are?

Unless they have documentary evidence that there was ever such a modification to a TC shell to try and make it look like a TD one at the beginning of TD production then I would take what they say in an advert with a pinch of salt.

For what it's worth I would say that is a shell from a TC with a later modification.

[robj]

Hi Ray,
As far as West-Midland" is concerned, I only know they have been around a while and seem to have quite a volume of TACB parts for sale, for whatever that's worth. I can't speak for others but I'm pretty sure they know more than I do but that's not a high bar to clear....

What really caught my eye was that both brackets are identical and attached in an identical manner. What are the chances of that?

I could also envision the factory not tossing a bunch of TC grill shells.

But, all just conjecture. I emailed Doug at "From The Frame Up" and sent some photos and a link to the eBay ad. I'm curious as to what he has to say.

robj

[Ray White]

Hi Ray,
As far as West-Midland" is concerned, I only know they have been around a while and seem to have quite a volume of TACB parts for sale, for whatever that's worth. I can't speak for others but I'm pretty sure they know more than I do but that's not a high bar to clear....

What really caught my eye was that both brackets are identical and attached in an identical manner. What are the chances of that?

I could also envision the factory not tossing a bunch of TC grill shells.

But, all just conjecture. I emailed Doug at "From The Frame Up" and sent some photos and a link to the eBay ad. I'm curious as to what he has to say.

robj

I agree Abingdon would not scrap any surplus TC shells. What they would probably do is keep them in stock as spare parts.

[robj]

I heard from West-Midland. I sent a question to him from his listing for the grill he had.
This was his response;New message from: westmidlandsengineering (1,491RED_STAR Star)

Hello

A friend in Ohio did the reseach on grille shells when restoring one of the lowest production number TD’s in existence. His used a TC grille but he figured out that after the TC grille was used they used these riveted grilles before going on to using standard TD grilles. My buisness partner has also been into T-Series for over 40 years also confirmed this information. I currently don’t have textual evidence to prove this currently only information provided by experts. I would think however the book “Original T-Series” would have something on this.

I've not heard back from Doug Peyton.
Any early TD owners out there?

robj

[Duncan M]

And, of course there was an overlapping period of some months when the last TC's and the first TD's were both being produced at the same time. Not that the fact backs up the story either way on the possibility of the retrofitted grills...