One of our biggest laments here at Barn Finds is that most people give no back story for their collector car in their ads. A “just the facts” approach is useful when describing a late-model economy car. When it comes to cars like this 1955 MG TF 1500, we want to hear everything we can about the car. Thankfully, the seller delivered this time. Not only was this car treated to some modifications back in the 1960s, but it has only recently come out of one of the most Rip Van Winkle storage periods we have ever seen. Can you believe that this TF has been slumbering in a dry garage since 1965?
The seller gives us a good rundown on this interesting car. First off, the distinction is made between a regular TF and a TF 1500. The TF was the last in the long T-series line of cars for MG, and it was an upgrade to the TD in both horsepower and looks. The TF started with a 1,250 cc inline-four, but the final cars were bumped up to 1,466 ccs of tire melting power. With its more aerodynamic (sort of) lines and the bump in power, you could call this car a transition vehicle of sorts as the new, more modern MGA would debut later in 1955. The seller backs up this claim of the car being a 1500 by sharing pictures of the XPEG engine plate that denoted the larger displacement.
As for the car itself, we are assured that it has a good body. There is no rust, nor is there any bad wood. If you are questioning the wood part of the last sentence, MGs of this period were still built much like a car of the early 1930s. They used body-on-frame construction, and the cockpit section of the body was framed with wood with metal attached to it. The floors were made of wood as well. Not that there is anything wrong with that, it is just that if the wood rots or termites turn the car into a British food buffet, the work required to bring it back to life is difficult.
We are also told that the car was modified in the 1960s. The dash, seats, bumpers, and grille were all changed or “enhanced.” Sadly, the dash modification makes this look like a kit car, and replacing the chrome center section of the grille with this screen door-type material borders on sacrilege. The bumpers are a mystery. While not overly upsetting, they are not a graceful addition to such a lithe automobile. If anyone knows what vehicle they originally came on, please let us know in the comments.
Looking in the cockpit, we see the added seats, seat belts, carpeting, and the modified dash. While I am certain that the sets you see may be an improvement in comfort to your posterior over the originals, they just seem like they have been pulled from a kit car. They look out of place in a car that traces its roots back to before World War II. As for the seat belts, they are nice to have to keep you attached to the wreck, but I do imagine you will figure out what the dash and steering wheel taste like if you ever find yourself in a good fender bender. The carpeting would have to go as well. While it seems to be cut for an MG TF, the whole appearance of the picture above makes us think we are looking into the cockpit of one of those godawful Gazelle replicas and not an iconic and legitimate MG.
Under the hood, the inline four-cylinder was treated to some work before its big slumber. It was bored 0.040 over, a 3/4 camshaft was installed, new valves and valve guides, and the cylinder head was shaved a bit to increase the compression ratio. The assembly was also balanced and blueprinted before being bolted back together. If you look at the written journal entry below from the owner at the time of the modifications, we also see “Heck Smith manifold and exhaust” noted. Once again, can any of our readers explain this to us? Regardless of the modifications, the car currently turns over, but will not run.
One other thing to consider is that this is a right-hand drive car. We are told by the seller that cars such as this only account for 10% of TF production. While that adds to the car’s rarity, we live in a left-hand drive country as God intended. This would be something that should be easy to change, as the instruments sit in the center of the dash and there are parts out there to switch the steering components around.
All and all, this is a very appealing MG. Many people like the looks of the TF, and they are priced accordingly in the marketplace. It shouldn’t be too hard to get this car back into stock shape and convert it to a left-hand drive. Hopefully, someone will come along to get it back on the road, reverse the changes, and drive the chrome wire wheels off of it.
If you want a British sportscar project with a few custom touches, this 1955 MG TF for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Rocky Hill, Connecticut may be the car for you. This car is fresh out of a very long-term storage situation, has a lot of potential, and has an asking price of $12,500. Thanks to The MG Guy for tipping us off on this British beauty!
I think that note might say “Check Smith…. ” I still don’t know what that means. I would try to get it running and drive it as is, no fussing with the left hand/right hand issue, the dash, or anything else. There’s not enough room in this price to do much else. If it were more like $7k, it would attract interest.
Thank you for the “as God intended” remark, engine, transmission, driveshaft, rear drive axle too, as God intended. Am I the only one that has never seen a TF, or thought it was some sort of Jag? I’m used to the spindly T types, these were rare for good reason, only about 10,000 were made. Seems odd they would go to such lengths for a new( er) looking car, when the all new MGA was afoot. I agree, I think it’s “Check” Smith, as in some sort of supplier. Not sure about converting to LHD, could be a big job, and don’t say one would get used to it. I say be like wiping with the other hand, just not right.
It was an interim model between the TD and the A. Just about the only differences were the front fenders and grille as far as I know. As for changing from right side to left side steering, would an Englishman change it from left to right after importing a Yank Tank if he were to want to drive it in UK? No, not ever, it’s American and if you want to drive it here then get used to it, it isn’t difficult.
Being a ‘righty lefty’ (born lefty do most things righty), driving on the right side is good for my brain. It’s fun and different. The most helpless feeling is being the passenger on the left side with no controls! I have a right hand drive Lotus and look forward to driving it. The one thing I won’t do is drive in a country who drive on the left. When I was in Scotland we came into a busy traffic circle (rotary, roundabout, etc. whatever you call it) and I was so confused about the rotation and exiting that I said ‘no way’ would I drive through one of these! RHD cars would be virtually impossible for us LHD drivers if the pedals were reversed also! So glad that never happened! As for this car, I would just drive it and leave the changes alone. Yes the seats are somewhat funky but they will do for a driver (for me). The older MG market is fading just like the interest in Model T’s so the investment in changing it back to original is probably not worth the time and money. I wouldn’t do it anyway. That is for the purists. ‘To each, his own!”
Wow! Something this commenter hadn’t seen before.
Can the car be retrofitted with an automatic trans?
I have never heard of the pedals being re positioned if a car was altered from RHD to LHD or the other way around. As for your Round-about story, I drove my RHD Skoda Yeti in France last year and having to traverse the R s B in an anti clockwise direction was a bit daunting at first but I soon got used to it. Here in UK, the land of R a B’s it’s a piece of cake to do.
Having driven RHD cars in a LHD world and LHD cars in a RHD world, I have never seen the pedals reversed. And neither situation is a difficult adjustment except passing on two lane roads.
Sorry, but if ugly counts someone made a mess out of this car. That grill can’t be very efficient cooling the engine and the rest of the modifications don’t do a thing for it. No reason to buy something like this I can think of.
Having owned a ’53 TD and doing minor restoration work on it I say it’s not that difficult to go from right to left on the steering and pedals, especially with the TF with the instruments in the middle where they are supposed to be.
Looks good to me, as is. Fun driver, low cost.
I have a TF. It’s a nice car to press on with; there’s a bit of chassis flex and scuttle shake, but that distracts from the fact that it handles really nicely and you can make good progress. Aye, it moves around a bit, but it’s easy to flick through combinations like roundabouts without lifting too much.
I agree about the grille blocking airflow. Looks rank rotten, too.
Fun fact: MG skipped from TD to TF because they thought TE would sound like someone giggling.