how old's yours

[Deepfat]

My TF went down the line on the 08/01/02 and the vin ends 600260 and according to Adrian Clifford was the 106th production car made, I would dearly love to find out many of the preceding ones are still on the road or SORN but get stumped at every turn. When I occasionally take it to shows I have a little Bio about the car which currently says probably one of the oldest on the road, I would like to replace probably with a number. So has anyone on here got an early TF?
I have attached a picture of my (beautiful to me) car she will be 20 very shortly and has just recently turned 27K on the milometer

[mgtfnut]

Wow, that is an early one. Looks really good, (yes it is beautiful) .

Mine's a little later, built 11/03/2002 09:43:48 - then had a crash before it's first six months on the road!

[Chris Tideswell]

Not sure what the vin and build date is but this is a very early one viewtopic.php?f=7&t=25674

Mine came off the production line at the end of March 2002 (Friday, 29th March 2002 10:38)

[Deepfat]

mgtfnut Thank you

Chris I have seen that car on another forum and would love to know the vin, apparently? the early TF press cars were taken off the F line and modified to be TF's ready for the launch, it makes sense otherwise how do you get a car before the line starts? The waters get a bit muddy with some saying these cars vin no's are F numbers and others say no they have TF vins hence my interest in the (1st ?) press car vin. I've read a lot about early TF's and a lot of the info contradicts others, some say the vins started at 251 an MG tradition but others say 101 which I think is correct. Then Adrian Clifford tells me the first production car was 155! so mine is the 106th production car, but what about 101-154 (pre production?) don't they count?
It's an interesting thing to research over winter but I suspect come spring I wont have a defined answer, I have therefor decided to alter her Bio and name her Carlesberg the oldest production TF on the road (probably) then wait to be contradicted!!
The DVLA could answer my question in minutes but I've trawled there site and it seems they wont, information is King and I a mere subject.

[Rob Bell]

Some really early pre-production MGFs knocking around - mine is a October/November 1995 built MGF with a VIN placing it in the first 2,500 built. Some of the plastic mouldings have manufacturing dates from 1994...!

[janiepb]

Quite early …

[Rob Bell]

Can't get earlier than a pre-production!

[talkingcars]

My TF was an early one, IIRC it was 264 but I can't see the V5C where I thought it was.

[Deepfat]

Phew that was close!
Talking cars if your recollections are correct yours went down the line on 08/01/02 at 15:31 making it 23 mins younger than mine, they were at that time twins both being Trophy Blue with a Sebring interior. I would really like a photo of your car to add a close family member to mines bio, it makes it more fun for those reading it esp wives/girlfriends/children who have been dragged along! if you are agreeable to this you can post on here or send directly to me deepfat@aol.com if not thanks for the info anyway.
I'm still waiting to be knocked off my perch, any offers?

[Deepfat]

Just sort of knocked myself off the perch, BU51JFY the press car although registered 2 days after mine was in fact produced on 29/11/01 quite a while before mine 08/01/02. The VIN production number puts it firmly in the F production run 146th before the last F @535576 (from what I've read), so I presume this is one of those taken off the F line and converted to TF spec before the TF line officially started. The strange thing to me is the bit of the VIN that denotes the model 4th & 5th integers (RD in this case) is used for both F's and TF's so to me is pointless. The car is taxed and MOT'd so is on the road somewhere, some might say the car is an F but it is registered as a TF so I admit defeat.
I will have to redo mines Bio ready for next year to reflect this info and any other that may come to light.

[Rob Bell]

The press car, BU51JFX also still exists - its owner posted on here fairly recently and may have a similarly early "transition" VIN.

[talkingcars]

Indeed my TF was Trophy Blue with Sebring seats but it's long gone. I don't think I have any photos, it was bought to break as it was a total shed and I was only after the TF subframes.