Tech Stuff

Todd Does It Yet Again!
(A continuation of last month’s story entitled “Todd’s Cars”)
Tales of the Mongrel

In the March Driveline I wrote about a good friend of mine, Todd Phipps. Todd is a neighbor; he is a retired engineer for GM and some years ago he got the British car bug, buying a 1966 Jaguar E-Type Coupe needing some work.

Todd then added a 1979 MGB and most recently a 1959 MGA fixed coupe. Now I do understand that there are Chicagoland members who own more than 1 British car. For me, I have always been a 1 car guy (my 1972 ‘Mongrel) as 1 MG is a handful. Todd is different as he just can’t seem to stop buying British cars.

I did not expect to be writing this article a month later, but Todd called the house last Sunday and said he wanted to stop by with his “latest” acquisition. This ended up being a 1954 MG TF ! He saw the car in a local British car club ad and just had to check it out. The TF was owned by an Ian O’Shea (I bet Reinout knows Ian) who, among other British car clubs belongs to the North Georgia British Car Club.

Todd and another enthusiast, Don Carlson (also a neighbor) got in Todd’s pickup and away they went to Ringold, GA with Todd returning driving a magnificent MG TF.

I wrote in the March driveline that Todd’s Jag, MGB and MGA are all award winners, but this MG TF is literally one of the most flawless I have ever seen. It was a body off restoration even replacing all of the ash wood under framing these cars had back then. Every square inch of this TF was touched by restoration. I told Todd not to drive it in the rain for fear of getting the concourse bottom of the car wet! Exterior, interior, framing, engine, etc…. Every piece redone with both skilled but loving hands. This TF even had some very professionally placed additional gauges for temperature and electrics.


Of course, the paint is flawless in its BRG color!

Todd now has 4 British cars in addition to a GM pickup and a Chevy. He can cram 3 of the cars into his garage but his better half, Laura, is probably somewhat skeptical. He apparently reached an agreement with Laura. If he can find a place to store these cars she said he can keep them all. The search is afoot.


~~ Ralph Arata