Les Thompson's Journal

Found some pictures of my 1955 RHD steel wheeled TF 1500. Bought it in 1966 from the local Dodge dealer where it had been setting on his side lot for some time.

They were taken around 1986, while I was prepping it for the new owner to pick up. Sold it less engine, but with the octagon engine number tag with the correct numbers. Had used the 1500 block in my TD, swapped my TD number plate on to the TF block so it looked to be the stock 1250 while I was autocrossing it.

Probably should have kept it, but put a lot of miles on the BMW K-100 I bought with the funds from it.

Was unusual to find a RHD TF here in California, always heard that the majority of TF's made were LHD export models and most had wire wheels.

Just found the transfer of ownership from when I sold the TF. VIN, actually engine number, is XPEG 974 according to the DMV slip. Not sure if there should be leading zeros that were dropped. This engine is currently in my TD, so need to get back in to it and see what's actually stamped on the block.

With the engine number in hand, Tom Lange was able to give me car TF7149. Sold it on July 12, 1988 to an Andrew Fibato of Newport Beach. Car had 56.624 miles according to the sheet.

Haven't had a driving MG since the mid-seventies.

Bought my first MG in 1965, a 1952 MG-TD. Between 1965 & 1968 when I went into the Air Force, I acquired a 1955 RHD MG-TF and a 1959 MGA Twin Cam.

Got married while in the service and while I was in Thailand, my wife bought a basket case MG-TD that she and my father rebuilt and put on the road. A little after that she found a basket case MG-TC. Later after I got out of the service, picked up an MGC-GT with a small block Chevy in it.

Over time they all got sold off, with only my original TD remaining in the family. Got the bug again, but wasn't ready to pull the TD out and play with it, So started looking at MGB's, found a solid runner 1965 MGB for a great price.

Have started taking care of some of the little things that need fettling after 50 years & unknown previous owners. Think it's somewhat appropriate that the MGB is a 1965, since that was the year I bought my first MG.