stevek
Yorkshire and The Humber
Posts: 728
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Sept 27, 2020 0:50:36 GMT
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I’ve been absent from the site for a long while because... my existing projects have stalled, I broke up with my partner of 10yrs, the February storms brought my ceiling in, I’m having massive solicitor problems buying the equity from my ex, a pandemic struck, Leeds is in lock down for the second time... blah blah blah. So with all that going on I stupidly bought another car!!! Because, I’m... an idiot? Well I though talking about it might help... The quick back story is that my mate bought this car in January with the intention to fix it and maybe do some hillclimb lessons in it. The car found it’s way to him from a deceased neighbour of his parents. The old chap traded in a classic MG (possibly a TC) for this TF when it was a relatively young car because he needed something easier to drive. (apparently the chap used to race a TR2 back in the day!) Anyway my friends circumstances changed when he bought a 30ft boat. That meant he couldn't really spend the time needed on the TF, which is why it became available. When my mate bought it it still had some MOT left so he got it going and drove it from Essex to Leeds. Around that time I did have a 20min drive in it to see what it was like, it seemed to go OK. The mot ran out shortly afterward and it clearly wasn’t going to pass another one easily but he put it in to see ‘what’s what‘. Basically it failed on rust at both rear sills and corroded brake lines. Anyway a few weeks ago I bought it for £200 and will have a go at reviving it. Did I mention how manky and battered it is? Well it’s pretty bad... filthy dirty and moldy inside, and every panel either scraped or dented on the outside! As ‘found’ back in January...   |
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Last Edit: Sept 27, 2020 23:50:54 GMT by stevek
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stevek
Yorkshire and The Humber
Posts: 728
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Sept 27, 2020 0:58:34 GMT
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How about a quick +/- evaluation for all our benefits?
Positives...
Starts, stops and steers.
Tyres OK.
Hood is OK. (has had a small repair).
99k miles.
Stainless coolant pipes.
It’s a 160.
It was cheap.
Negatives...
No MOT.
Front bumper cracked in two places and scuffed on both corners.
Both front wings bubbly. (Drivers side very bad).
Foggy headlight.
Badges faded to nothing.
Bonnet leading edge slightly kinked.
Driver door handle loose.
Dent on body nr passenger door air scoop.
Dent under passenger rear light (where the TF badge is).
Bootlid badly filled and resprayed.
Rear bumper scuffed.
All wheels kerbed.
Front of sills rusty both sides (driver side holed).
Rear of sills rusty (holed both sides).
Filthy Tan interior.
Tan dashboard ‘painted’ black! (Not a bad job but still why?)
Engine mangement light on.
Engine hesitant and lumpy at idle.
Rusty brake lines.
Probably plenty more!
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stevek
Yorkshire and The Humber
Posts: 728
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Sept 27, 2020 1:03:08 GMT
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I’m currently ignoring all the important stuff and taking a leaf out of vulgalour ‘s book and bonding with the car through a deep valet clean first. As the saying goes you can’t polish a turd, but you can roll it in glitter!  |
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Last Edit: Sept 27, 2020 1:12:45 GMT by stevek
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2002 MGTF 160 Project FACEPLANTfr€$h&m1nt¥
@freshandminty
Club Retro Rides Member 99
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Sept 27, 2020 2:30:16 GMT
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Judging by the damage I reckon the original owner couldn’t get past his racing days and used to street race the tf.
Tan dashboard painted black to reduce reflections affecting his vision when he was maxing it out because race car.
Good luck with it, cars can be a good escapism from all else that is going wrong. Time spent finding lost wrench sockets and freeing up rusted bolts means less time spent overthinking other stuff.
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stevek
Yorkshire and The Humber
Posts: 728
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Sept 27, 2020 2:54:51 GMT
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I think the dash being painted black to reduce reflections is a good shout. Whether the 80ish yr old previous owner was maxing out his street racing credentials is anyone’s guess I suppose 🤪 (he was a racer in his day)
Odd thing is he bought it from an MG dealer when it was a youngish car so it’s quite likely it was him that painted the dash. I think a lot of the other damage is because he got old and started driving into things.
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dapser
Part of things
Posts: 222 
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Sept 27, 2020 5:56:23 GMT
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Before you do anything irreversible you might want to think again. That's a very early MG TF ex Press Car and possibly even a pre production build vehicle.  PM me the vin number if you want and I can provide more details. dapser |
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stevek
Yorkshire and The Humber
Posts: 728
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Sept 27, 2020 9:40:43 GMT
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Well that’s an unexpected turn up for the books! I had realised it was from the first year of TF production, but didn’t think anything of it. If it’s an early press car though that’s a lot more interesting! I’m going to have to find a copy of that magazine some how. dapser I’d love to find out more so I’ll PM you the VIN shortly. Mind if I ask how you made the link? |
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Sept 27, 2020 10:12:59 GMT
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Very cool. Why do we love this forum? Because guys like dapser and glenanderson live here..... they remember stuff we forget or never knew. And a good looking car altogether. |
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Last Edit: Sept 27, 2020 11:22:11 GMT by grizz
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dapser
Part of things
Posts: 222
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Sept 27, 2020 10:23:55 GMT
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Well that’s an unexpected turn up for the books! I had realised it was from the first year of TF production, but didn’t think anything of it. If it’s an early press car though that’s a lot more interesting! I’m going to have to find a copy of that magazine some how. dapser I’d love to find out more so I’ll PM you the VIN shortly. Mind if I ask how you made the link? According to my wife I'm sad as I recognise number plates from years ago. Probably also helps that I currently own two pre production MG'S and a pre production BMW Mini too. |
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Sept 27, 2020 10:44:38 GMT
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Great find...it’s got to stay standard with that history
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Fraud owners club member
2003 W211 Mercedes E class
1989 Sierra sapphire
1998 ex bt fiesta van
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Sept 27, 2020 11:19:23 GMT
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Great find...it’s got to stay standard with that history Naaaahhhh. Matt black rattle can it. Red rims White tyre walls, or magnolia for the retro look. Ohhhh and big stick, drop it low. That will be perfect, whatcha go to lose....? PS. Dan is right. I had a 77 Audi 80GLS that lives in a German museum now. Really going to watch this and hope it is an easy recommission for you mate. |
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stevek
Yorkshire and The Humber
Posts: 728
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Sept 27, 2020 11:45:50 GMT
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I have sent dapser the VIN so I’ll wait and see if that turns anything up. I have bought a copy of the Magazine on eBay, never thought I’d spend so much on an old car mag! I know I only started the post last night but I have had the car for about 2 weeks now and have been thoroughly cleaning it bit by bit. It’s been washed, clayed and I have t-cut most of the front end so far (doing a little bit each day). On the inside I have steam cleaned about 3/4 of the surfaces and I spent several hours trying to clean the passenger seat up yesterday (It was very manky). So it’s already looking MUCH better, but cleaning it can’t hide it’s battle scars. -Steve- Ps. I think I’m tending towards keeping it standard on this one. I’ll probably revert some of the aftermarket chrome bling that only a certain breed of MG owner can love too.😝 Though even the standard MG gear knob and surround is a bit garish for my liking! |
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Last Edit: Sept 27, 2020 21:22:37 GMT by stevek
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stevek
Yorkshire and The Humber
Posts: 728
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Sept 28, 2020 19:39:35 GMT
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Firstly a public thank you to dapser who sent me loads of great info via PM. The VIN number reveals it’s a pre-production TF, identified by it still having an MGF vin number! It was built on the 22nd of November 2001 and registered on the 10th of January 2002, a week before the TF was officially launched at the Brussels motorshow. Apparently 93 pre-production TF’s were built, of which 23 were 160 models, this being the 4th. Dapser also suggested I hunt around and see if it pops up anywhere else as these press cars tended to get around a bit. So far I have spotted it on the cover of two more magazines:   I know you all want to check your 2002 magazine hoard 😛 -Steve- |
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Last Edit: Sept 28, 2020 20:02:09 GMT by stevek
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hopeso
Part of things
Posts: 349
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Sept 28, 2020 22:04:27 GMT
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Go for it!
Bookmarked and watching with interest.
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Sept 28, 2020 22:41:47 GMT
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Go for it! Bookmarked and watching with interest. And another one here! |
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stevek
Yorkshire and The Humber
Posts: 728
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Sept 29, 2020 0:03:10 GMT
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To put this purchase into context, I bought it as a cheap winter fixer upper because I want to join in on a small group road trip to Italy next year (insert Covid caveat here). I think ‘Shonky’ the stripped out 924 would be too punishing and I’m not keen on taking the Corolla that far as it is. I wanted to keep this project limited to a ‘simple’ repair, tidy up and drive sort of level. Finding out the provenance of the car is very exciting but the downside is that it throws my original plans for the car up in the air. It makes me want to do a more thorough job than I had intended, which undoubtedly ends up taking longer and costing more.
My original intention was to repair the rust to a good standard, replace the brake lines and just tidy up the worst of the cosmetic bits. Now I find myself wanting to do a much more thorough job such as wanting to finish trim and paint to higher standards than I originally had in mind. I think I need to keep in mind the original goal and resist getting carried away. After all, if I do the repairs properly, tidy it up and get it running nicely then I will have helped secure its future. The cosmetics can always be done further down the line whether that’s done by myself or the next owner.
Corr I do ramble sometimes!
-Steve-
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Last Edit: Sept 29, 2020 0:58:27 GMT by stevek
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stevek
Yorkshire and The Humber
Posts: 728
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Sept 29, 2020 0:20:21 GMT
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My friend sent me some more pictures of the car when he picked it up in January and told me a bit more about the previous owner. He had owned this car for many years and was in his 90’s still driving this as his daily driver before he passed away, sadly often to the hospital for chemo treatment in the latter days. By all accounts he was a through and through car guy. I have been sent a great picture of him racing a Triumph TR2 at Brands Hatch but I’m not sure I can share that publicly. He used to have a MG TC classic car which he really cherished, unfortunately his house needed re-thatching and the TC was traded in at Browns and Gammons to raise the funds. I don’t know the date but the TF was fairly new at the time and worth in the £8-9k region, by all accounts looked like new. For many years it was well looked after and wanted for nothing servicing wise. In the latter years it was still used most days and maintained at the local garage but he was less able to clean and pamper it, also the garage housing it also started to fall into disrepair which didn’t help the TF’s condition. My friends pictures when collecting it:       -Steve- |
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Last Edit: Sept 29, 2020 0:21:39 GMT by stevek
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Sept 29, 2020 11:05:16 GMT
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Really liking this, the history behind it is really interesting too.
Did you have any car criteria for your road trip?
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Sept 29, 2020 12:55:58 GMT
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Did a similar exercise on one of these 2 years ago! I had a complete basket case which cost a little bit more than stevek paid but have got it to a nice point and am enjoying it a lot! Have spent a bit of money since improving things but all parts are reasonably priced. Wheels have been changed since for 11 spoke since AP 4 pot upgrade. (Anyone want a set of Abingdons?) Hope it all goes ok! don't have any photos when I found mine but was in a similar condition.  |
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Sept 29, 2020 14:44:37 GMT
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we had a similar thing with our Morris minor, bought it with the intent of having some fun modifying and personalising it for my son then found out it was the only remaining one of 4 vehicles used by Bristol busses and ours was actually modelled by corgi. In the end we compromised on keeping the mods to those that can be reversed and keeping the original colour scheme.
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