TA trivia

[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.

[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. > > >

[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

[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

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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