MG Motoring 2019 Volume 59 Issue 11 | Page 30

MG Car Club of South Australia the call of duty. If you need help with broken bolts or stripped threads, Cap- tain Thread (Brenton) 0407 077 414. We missed one run also. As usual the Legends was a great event, well run, excellent atmosphere and spirit and Stephenson Motorsport will be back again. PAGES OF INTEREST By..Bob Schapel T he pages which might interest M.G. enthusiasts this month are from the M.G. Technical Literature booklets, is- sued by Nuffield Exports / Morris Motors during production of the TC, TD and TF They outline the MG Company’s official “SPECIAL TUNING” procedures. The “stages of tune” described in these book- lets are well known, but many T-Type owners are unaware of the additional information in the back few pages of the original documents! That is where “Special Materials available through the Service Department” are listed. We would now call such materials, “Factory Optional Extras”. Similar book- lets were issued for MGA and MGB. The booklet published in June 1949, during TC production, lists 16” wheels as M.G. Part No. A.1338, Brooklands Steering Wheel as M.G. Part No. A.1333, a taller diff ratio and 1.5” carbu- rettors. The December 1951 booklet, published during TD production, lists wider wheels as M.G. Part No. 131904, a com- bined water/oil gauge as Part No. 500154, two taller diff ratios and the 1.5” carburettors. 28 In 1954 another booklet was published during TF production. It lists the Com- petition Camshaft (AEG122), a Racing Camshaft (168551) and two other diff ratios. (One “taller” and one “shorter” than standard) Each document also lists many other items. All three include the High Per- formance Coil (Lucas BR12) and the Lucas 4VRA vertical magneto. These documents, produced during pro- duction, by the M.G. Company, contain indisputable information. However, they still beg an interesting question. Were any Factory Special Parts fitted to cars before they left the factory? We can only assume that some were, because over 50,000 T-Types were produced, and surely some cars were special or- ders. Perhaps there are some old M.G. Factory personnel, still around, who would know. I imagine these lists of factory parts are a “can of worms” for concourse judges as I assume that fac- tory-available “options” would not incur any penalty.