- Appraisals
Many years of experience as a licensed dealer allows us to provide accurate information on replacement value for insurance and estate puroposes.
The rarest and most desirable of post war T Series MGs with only 3,400 built (compared to 29,000 MG TDs). Its 1466cc XPEG engine offering lively performance coupled to the car's superb road manners.
This car, a rust free older restoration, is in great condition. Old English White (looks great but a closer examination shows some 'age' cracks in the paint....a 'ten footer?') with green leather and tan canvas top and tonneau, wire wheels, excellent drive train (160-`170 psi compression in every cylinder, 70 psi oil pressur,e no smoke, PERFECT running, and seems to be unusually quick), folding windshield, a great classic sports car for show, country roads, and appreciation.
We were going to repaint the car but every time I walked by it, I thought 'will it really make it a better car?' An estimate from our painter is $3,500 in any color....a prospective buyer's choice?
Painted or not painted, it is a genuinely good TF 1500. Not 'gutless' as in earlier T Series MGs...this car really goes. And with its beautiful chrome, wire wheels, lovely patina, and high degree of originality, a grear 'driver' and wonderful collector's piece.
Tho' I am a 'Morgan guy' and generally look down on their MG cousins, the TF1500 is a worthy competitor. While slower, it still has what I would characterize as 'lively performance.' And FAR better steering, ride, handling, and comfort. Fairly similar in looks but the MG wins (by a long shot) in the detail category. Really impressive for a car that was rather inexpensive when new. Those cute octagonal gauges, individually adjustable seats, starting crank, adjustable steering column, finned light alloy oil sump, precise rack and pinion steering...the TF1500 has a lot of virtues.
Add a pair of Brooklands racing screens and it is hard to imagine a better all around classic sports car for winding New England roads.
Inventory Number: NE-1955-2
Quite an interesting history.............
Sometime in early 1970s, this Lotus 51 Formula Ford received a transplant with the removal of its original 1600cc Ford engine and Renault gearbox, replaced with a Lotus twin cam engine and Hewland Mk 8 transaxle.
No documented history until the late 1980s when the last owner rebuilt the engine with a Cosworth steel crankshaft and Cosworth steel con rods. The head, off a 1972 Lotus Europa Twin Cam Special, was race prepared by Quicksilver engine services, fitted with race cams, gas flowed, fitted with a beautiful set of stainless steel exhaust pipes, wide Revolution alloy wheels and run as a Formula Atlantic!
Yeah, its true. Even have the SCCA log book showing it as a Formula Atlantic. And was the 1988 MARRS Formula Atlantic champion.
Run in 1987 and 1988, retired and kept nicely stored in a workshop (with occasional runs down country roads in rural Maryland), came into our possession in excellent running order. 80 psi oil pressur,e no smoke, starts instantly and runs perfectly.
All the right stuff is there....alloy fuel tank, oil cooler, dry sump equipment fitted, extra wheels, and all in the most beautiful of Formula Fords. Or, alternatively, one of the slowest Formula Atlantics!
Whatever it is, it IS a real Lotus Formula Car, doesn't look like it was ever damaged, could use some detailing and updating BUT seems ready to go (as far as testing if not competitive racing). I guess the choice is to run it the way it is, sell the all steel twin cam to fnance a decent original 1600cc crossflow, or?
Or...........fit new tires and drive it the way it is. Always an option. But would be a very exciting historic race car with (as a rough guess) maybe 150, 160 or 170 hp. In a VERY light (and beautiful) formila car.
AM number is 109 and Chasiss number L51A FF 111
AND...............what a deal.............buy it now and can include, in the price, a nearly new set of proper treaded vintage race Avon race tires, a variery of spare parts, and a complete 1600 Cortina engine with Weber and manifold, suitable for reconversion of this car back to Formula Ford.
Inventory Number: NE-1969-7
We have been fortunate to have raced at Le Circuit at Tremblant, Quebec,
in the Laurentian mountains. Ran at Bobby Rahal’s Legencs event in the
Mallock, just managed to squeeze into 2nd place on the last corner of
the last lap when ‘punted’ off the track by a 600hp Shelby
GT350…finished 4th overall and won the B/Sports-racing class. And
recently, did the Fall Classic at the same venue….against smaller, more
genteel driven sports and racing cars, finished 1st in all three
races…and in the last, came within a few seconds of lapping the entire
field.
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