Page 1 of 2
TA trivia
Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2001 2:39 am
by David Whittle
Hi T-Typers
I just got hold of a copy of 'MG T Series The Complete story' (at 187 pages I think this title's a bit optimistic) by Graham Robson.
I note a coupe of interesting things from the book, firstly he says 2 Airline TA were built, and he thinks both were scrapped. I have seen a recent calender type photo of a TA Airline (but I cant remember where), I think the car was described as being in the USA, is this one genuine, and Mr Robson is ignorant of it, or is it a recreation on a normal roadster?
Secondly, the TA Tickford prototype shown (reg No TH 8757) has a bustle tail with enclosed fuel tank. Did this survive? Did any others have this?
Thirdly, a period factory photo shows a new TA with it's rear light on the nearside of the car, the car in front has it on the offside where you would expect it, so I presume they did export spec TA's (possibly with different dipping as well)
The book contains some interesting period and modern photos of MPJGs, XPJMs and EXPAGs Engines and transmitions.
Robson states his first car was a TA, and he comments it had a 'Rock Hard Ride', and was far from smooth. It also let him down and he lost money on it. You get the feeling the TA was his least favourite open 2 seater MG.
Regards
David Whittle
***********************************************************************
This transmission contains information which may be confidential and
which may also be privileged. It is intended for the named addressee
only. Unless you are the named addressee, or authorised to receive it
on behalf of the addressee you may not copy or use it, or disclose it
to anyone else. If you have received this transmission in error please
contact the sender. Thank you for your cooperation.
***********************************************************************
For more information about AEA Technology please visit our website at
http://www.aeat.co.uk
AEA Technology plc registered office 329 Harwell, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QJ.
Registered in England and Wales, number 3095862.
Re: TA trivia
Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2001 8:17 am
by Ray McCrary
In regard to "export" lights, I have a period Lucas parts book that shows
different lights and lenses for "Continental usage" listed for the pre-War
MG. Perhaps some cars were sent to Europe.
Best,
Ray McCrary
"Speed is Life;
of course Luck and Altitude
are helpful, too."
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Whittle" david.whittle@aeat.co.uk>
To: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 01, 2001 4:38 AM
Subject: [mg-tabc] TA trivia
> Hi T-Typers
>
> I just got hold of a copy of 'MG T Series The Complete story' (at 187
pages I think this title's a bit optimistic) by Graham Robson.
>
> I note a coupe of interesting things from the book, firstly he says 2
Airline TA were built, and he thinks both were scrapped. I have seen a
recent calender type photo of a TA Airline (but I cant remember where), I
think the car was described as being in the USA, is this one genuine, and Mr
Robson is ignorant of it, or is it a recreation on a normal roadster?
>
> Secondly, the TA Tickford prototype shown (reg No TH 8757) has a bustle
tail with enclosed fuel tank. Did this survive? Did any others have this?
>
> Thirdly, a period factory photo shows a new TA with it's rear light on the
nearside of the car, the car in front has it on the offside where you would
expect it, so I presume they did export spec TA's (possibly with different
dipping as well)
>
> The book contains some interesting period and modern photos of MPJGs,
XPJMs and EXPAGs Engines and transmitions.
>
> Robson states his first car was a TA, and he comments it had a 'Rock Hard
Ride', and was far from smooth. It also let him down and he lost money on
it. You get the feeling the TA was his least favourite open 2 seater MG.
>
> Regards
> David Whittle
>
>
>
>
> ***********************************************************************
> This transmission contains information which may be confidential and
> which may also be privileged. It is intended for the named addressee
> only. Unless you are the named addressee, or authorised to receive it
> on behalf of the addressee you may not copy or use it, or disclose it
> to anyone else. If you have received this transmission in error please
> contact the sender. Thank you for your cooperation.
> ***********************************************************************
>
> For more information about AEA Technology please visit our website at
http://www.aeat.co.uk
>
> AEA Technology plc registered office 329 Harwell, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11
0QJ.
> Registered in England and Wales, number 3095862.
>
>
>
Re: TA trivia
Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2001 12:11 pm
by C. Knight
David Whittle wrote:
> I just got hold of a copy of 'MG T Series The Complete story'
> .......the TA Tickford prototype shown (reg No TH 8757) has a bustle tail with >enclosed fuel tank. Did this survive? Did any others have this?
The same car is pictured in The Magic of the Marque by Mike Allison, but
he describes it as "a prototype.....which was not produced in large
numbers". It is preceded by a picture of the conventional TA Tickford
with slab tank, captioned "a popular body style ...allowed the best to
be made of uncertain British weather" - (if they weren't so over priced
I'd have bought one myself this winter!!)
> Thirdly, a period factory photo shows a new TA with it's rear light on the >nearside of the car, the car in front has it on the offside where you would >expect it, so I presume they did export spec TA's (possibly with different >dipping as well)
Clausager in Original MG T Series says that "before the war export
variations were limited to such minor details as the provision of a
kilometres speedometer, double dipped headlamps, and the change over of
the position of the horn, fog and tail lamps" He then goes on to discuss
the TC EXR, EXR/K and EX-U from which I assume that no specific code was
used to describe the pre war export TA cars.
Robson's T Type book sound interesting. He is usually pretty accurate,
although better known for his books on 60s and 70s classics.
Regards
Cliff
Re: TA trivia
Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2001 1:19 pm
by sculptart@aol.com
David,
Attached is a page from the Clausager book, [i]Original MG T Series, [/i]showing
the export figures for both TA and TB. As with the TC, there were variants
for export and these are listed in different literature as to the placement
of rear lamps, dipping headlamps, etc., for the continent and beyond.
I found in the TA/TB service parts list Sept. 1939, revised Sept, 1946
where both round (ceased body #[b]1789[/b]/10574) and D shaped (commenced body #[b]1790[/b]
/10554) lamps were offered.
The photo you refer to of the boat tailed TA is a prototype, but wouldn't
it be great if this did survive into present day. Perhaps someone has this in
a barn somewhere...Badger?!
Ben Cordsen, TC4260
Re: TA trivia
Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2001 2:16 pm
by Derek Durst
sculptart@aol.com wrote:
> "............... boat tailed TA is a prototype, but
> wouldn't it be great if this did survive into present day. Perhaps someone has this in a barn somewhere...Badger?!"
Well, almost Ben!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=553158423
Badger
Re: TA trivia
Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2001 8:18 pm
by Diecuts@aol.com
Hi Dave and List,
Regarding the TA Airline Coupe, the Feb 1986 TSO has an article on the only
one produced. It is TA 0355, MPJG 622. According to the article, One, and
only one, extra N body was mounted on a TA chassis in 1936. N and T series
shared the same market in 1936 for some months and N & T chassis
measurements are the same except for 2" in length which was accomodated in
the bonnet. It was sold through the MG dealership network Dec 2, 1936. It
passed through several owners and eventually was restored and a winner at the
1975 GOF. In 1986 it was owned by Mark Gibbons. All this info was from an
article by Dave Lawley. Wonder if Mark still owns the TA Airline??
Cheers, Lee Jacobsen, Dearborn, MI TA2969 Tickford.
TA trivia
Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2001 10:36 am
by LECH K ZAKRZEWSKI
Graham Robinson was quite right, Airline Coupe derivatives of the TA were built, at least one still exists. It is based in Switzerland, attached is a photo taken during the M.G.C.C. International Meeting at Interlaken (Switzerland) in 1998, I have a few more pictures of this car and the special bodied TA biult for Lord Ashley by the works in 1938 (page 126, The Magic of M.G. by Mike Allison) if anyone is interested.
Fw: [mg-tabc] TA trivia
Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2001 11:52 am
by LECH K ZAKRZEWSKI
Whoops that should have read:- 1) Graham Robson. 2) built
----- Original Message ----- [b]From:[/b]
the.zaks@virgin.net [b]To:[/b]
mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com [b]Sent:[/b] Friday, February 02, 2001 6:26 PM [b]Subject:[/b] [mg-tabc] TA trivia
Graham [b]Robson [/b]was quite right, Airline Coupe derivatives of the TA were built, at least one still exists. It is based in Switzerland, attached is a photo taken during the M.G.C.C. International Meeting at Interlaken (Switzerland) in 1998, I have a few more pictures of this car and the special bodied TA [b]built [/b]for Lord Ashley by the works in 1938 (page 126, The Magic of M.G. by Mike Allison) if anyone is interested.
Re: Fw: [mg-tabc] TA trivia
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2001 1:40 am
by David Whittle
Lech
Thanks for the picture and info, that TA Airline is lovely in Black & Yellow, please post a photo of the Lord Ashley TA, I have not seen this before. Does it have any interesting mechanical differences, how did it come into existence, what did the factory charge for it?
Regards David Whittle
ps, many thanks to all who answered my original posting, strange how the story of 2 TA Airlines has become established, and even stranger that Robson (MG Expert!) thinks non exist today.
>>> "LECH K ZAKRZEWSKI" the.zaks@virgin.net> 02/02/01 19:41:14 >>>
Whoops that should have read:-
1) Graham Robson.
2) built
----- Original Message -----
From: LECH K ZAKRZEWSKI
To: mg-tabc group
Sent: Friday, February 02, 2001 6:26 PM
Subject: [mg-tabc] TA trivia
Graham Robson was quite right, Airline Coupe derivatives of the TA were built, at least one still exists. It is based in Switzerland, attached is a photo taken during the M.G.C.C. International Meeting at Interlaken (Switzerland) in 1998, I have a few more pictures of this car and the special bodied TA built for Lord Ashley by the works in 1938 (page 126, The Magic of M.G. by Mike Allison) if anyone is interested.
***********************************************************************
This transmission contains information which may be confidential and
which may also be privileged. It is intended for the named addressee
only. Unless you are the named addressee, or authorised to receive it
on behalf of the addressee you may not copy or use it, or disclose it
to anyone else. If you have received this transmission in error please
contact the sender. Thank you for your cooperation.
***********************************************************************
For more information about AEA Technology please visit our website at
http://www.aeat.co.uk
AEA Technology plc registered office 329 Harwell, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QJ.
Registered in England and Wales, number 3095862.
Re: Fw: [mg-tabc] TA trivia
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2001 6:47 am
by Frank O_ The Mountain
In a message dated 2/5/01 1:41:20 AM Pacific Standard Time,
david.whittle@aeat.co.uk writes:
>
Is this the "Park Ward TA"? If so, you need to look at this extremely well
done web page:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/hemmo/start.htm
Terry