MG Car 7676 Pre-paint send off

ABOUT THIS CAR Built on January 21, 1949, in Abingdon, England, Car 7676 was one of 10,000 MG TC models built between 1945 and 1949. However, car 7676 is one of only 494 TCs made especially for the United States and thus carries the designation EXU for "export model." (However, note it remained a right sided drive.) Car 7676 has the original matching engine, XPAG 8389. It is four cylinders with 1250 cc displacement yielding 54.4 horsepower. Its top speed was factory rated at 75 miles per hour with acceleration from 0 to 50 mph at 14.7 seconds. The wheel base is 7'10" and has a curb weight of 1,822 pounds. Its fuel capacity is 13.5 Imperial Gallons. As with all other TC models it has no fuel indicator gauge other than the "2 liter" warning light. This car was subsequently painted in the "cream and cracker" style, the traditional racing colors of the MG Car Company. Its original color was red.

Old pictures from 25 years of driving and showing MGTC Car 7676. ABOUT THE EXU MODEL Feedback from the important American market led MG to develop this special model for sale to the U.S. Beginning with car number 7,380 in December 1948 and produced "as needed" throughout 1949. The 494 built was less than 5% of all MG TC production.

In addition, the EXU units included the following improvements: - Full-width bumpers - Two Lucas Windtone horns mounted under the bonnet instead of the badge bar. - Rear number-plate mounted centrally below the ear bumper. - Lucas type S.700 headlamps. - Lucas type 482-1 stop and tail lamps mounted on each side at the top of the petrol tank. - Laminated windshield glass. - Badge bar, fog lamp and external horn deleted. - No"Thirtilite,“ but map lamps. - Rear-view mirror above dashboard. - Turn signals -High-beam warning lamp (versus fog lamp switch) Rear Bumper

FROM THE PROUD BRITISH THE PAST

Losey hands over his pride and joy for restoration to Stuart Etheridge, Master Mechanic.

Sitting in Stuart’s garage – just waiting. Almost a “frame off” restoration, everything to be painted is off the car for individual painting while the body, firewall and other parts will be painted on the car. Other repairs and maintenance have been completed.

Doors repaired and ready for painting. Mike is the “body man” with greater then 20 years experience.

Masking of dash Rexine, an artificial leather cloth fabric produced in the United Kingdom, was the original covering for the dash board. It turned out to be unsatisfactory since it would easily deteriorate. It was frequently replaced by alternate material, including wood or as in car 7676’s case, polished accented metal. For this reason no attempt will be made to use the Rexine artificial leather on the dash.

Sorting and inventorying the carry-off parts. Later put inside the truck, great care was taken to layout and identify all the independent parts to be painted. Note the front and rear fenders, gas tank, doors, etc.

On the trailer! Tying down the car for its trip to Rick’s Back Yard Paint Shop. Shop telephone is: 904-859-2040

Stuart, the master mechanic and MG Classics Club member “When we see it again”, Stuart promises, “it will look much different.”

Final tie down! Rick makes sure nothing is going to roll off the trailer and ruin all of Stuart’s great work.

Ready to roll! Right to left: Stuart, the mechanic and manager of the project. Rick, the paint expert. Mike the body work expert. Losey, 7676 owner. (All he knows what to do is take photos.)

MORE TO COME….