Ian and Mary Hodge drove their ?new? 1954 MGTF down from Ormond with the roof down all the way despite the bleak conditions, the rain, and strange looks from other motorists ?. and they remained dry.
It was the car?s first trip in the rain following a 24 year restoration period that began with the purchase a fire-damaged chassis and boxes of parts from previous owner John Smallman of Mount Macedon following the dreadful bushfires that devastated the area back then.
After a slow start, the ?TF? then sat in Ian?s shed gathering dust for quite a while before Mary said he could start working on it again. As the last of the wood-framed T-series cars it required new woodwork as well as extensive panel work to bring it back to condition. Ian is indebted to fellow Club member and near neighbour John Moore whose expertise and support was invaluable during the rebuild.
This TF is one of the later 1500cc versions of the car which was a stop-gap model prior to the release of the more modern monocoque MGA which succeeded them. It is a stunning car in its glossy, deep cream paintwork (chosen by Mary), tan trim and bright chrome work. The attention to detail is astounding and a credit to Ian who is justifiably thrilled with the outcome and loves driving the car after all those years of working on it in the shed.
Ian and Mary plan to run the MGTF in next year?s RACV Fly the Flag Tour which heads through central Victoria and up into southern NSW. By then Ian should be fully confident that all those nuts and bolts he?s been worrying about, really have been done up tight and nothing?s about to fall off.
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