62 pages

[Alan Moote]

Hello group,
I joined the group about five months ago just prior to the arrival of
my TC from Indiana. It might sound corny but I feel as though I know
some of you through your posted messages. I have visited some of your
personal web sites as well as seeing some of your cars at events or
meeting you personnally. I was trying to explain this previous thread
to my wife, who's idea of a car is a mini-van, but I had some dificulty
putting it into words that she could follow. I decided to print it out
for her to read and it was 62 pages in length. In most cases it is not
neccessary to repeat the message to which you are responding. Usually,
but not always, a reference will suffice.

Let's get to the meat and potatoes of this MG thing. I love my TC. I
have wanted one for as long as I can remember. I am 49 years old, 50
the 26th of this month, and was not well informed about TC's or any
other MG for that matter. I had an XK-140MC and a Sunbeam Tiger back
in the early 70's as well as a few early Fords but no TC's. I saw my
TC on Ebay last September. The car did not sell and I contacted the
agent after the auction. The car was avilable at the opening bid
price. The car was in Indiana and I am in Southern California. I did
not have the means to travel 2,000 miles to Indiana as well as buy the
car. The agent/dealership had a good reputation and emailed photos of
every angle I requested. I heard the car run over the telephone and
had to rely on information from the dealer. My TC had been previously
owned for 35 years by one gentleman and his wife. He is in his 80's
and was looking for a car with more comforts. I think it was a '65
Chevy Impala. Let's cut to the chase, I bought the car SIGHT UNSEEN!

I was very fortunate with my TC. During the time between purchase and
delivery, about five weeks, I learned of some of the pitfalls of TC
ownership. I read some books as well as intercepted some of the emails
of this group. I became a little concerned. I knew that the numbers
matched but not much else. What about this wood? I thought cars were
made of metal. When the car arrived via enclosed trailer and was
offloaded I sat in a TC for the first time. My family and neighbors
were surrounding the car as I grasped the starter pull and the car came
to life. I could hardly believe that I owned a TC. I drove it around
the neighborhood giving rides to all that were there.

In a short time my wife and I drove to a local MG get together where
this unknown car was looked-over by the local experts. Aside from the
"these screws are wrong son", " the tyres aren't correct (5.75-19)",
and "the horn and the fog lamp are incorrect" the car was ok. I
overheard people making nice comments about this "Ebay" car. I guess I
did Okay. I was lucky!

The car is fairly original. I just recently purchased the correct
Dunlops and had the local wheelright, Jim McGhee, rebuild the wheels. I
settled for a replica horn and am saving up for a SFT-462 fog lamp. I
purchased a Bronze Master Cylinder from Phil Marino and a oil filter
adapter from Bob Grunau. Blair Engle rebuilt the distributor and Roger
Furneaux informed me that TC7915 was built on February 15, 1949. I
will probably maintain what is there and not make any drastic changes
unless neccessary.

I enjoy my MG friends weather there car is a bone stock original
driver, a museum piece or a "Hot Rod". Treat the cars with some sort
of respect and drive 'em till your heart's content.

Regards,
Alan Moote
& TC/7915
Oceanside, CA