Reviews

Classical music for modern moments 

Drive TD2000 Gatsby & 1952 MG TD
Malaysian’s TD2000 aims to rekindle the spirit and passion of the original MG TD. Simon Huber pits modern against classic to find out how far the TD2000 has succeeded in its mission to bring back the best of the good old days.

"On a clear day, you can drive all the way back to 1950,” proclaims the evocative sales pitch on the glossy brochure of the retro-look TD2000 Gatsby.

It’s somewhat ironic then that the head-turning TD2000 –supposedly a “faithful replica” of the MG TD – is built in Malaysia using predominantly Japanese parts. The T-line-up of MGs, which ran from the MG TA Midget in 1936 through to the MG TF in 1955, represents everything that is quintessentially British in style for pre and post-war sports car.

With the car’s “Gatsby” name, TD Cars Malaysia also seems to have crossed up equating an English brand with an aristocratic American folk hero. But we reckon F. Scott Fitzgerald would doubtless have approved.

The long –winded history of the TD2000 dates back over 17 years to 1984 when enterprising Australian Jaguar dealer, Ross Marshall, bought the original MG TD tooling, which had by then found its way to the USA.

Originally, he did a deal with Nissan Australia to produce a front-wheel-drive TD replica based on Pulsar running gear and engine. There were big plans to produce the then dubbed TD Sports 2000 in Melbourne and Taiwan. However, recession bit and in 1987, his business concern was sold off to Australian Classic Cars with just one running prototype produced by Marshall.

The second generation of the TD2000 debuted at the Sydney Motor Show in 1988. It was essentially a better-built car, again using a 2- liter Nissan engine, while the rest of the car was locally produced in Ararat Australia. But only a few came off the production line before financial problems put the TD2000’s second owner out of business. The Australian coach builder, A.F Gason, bought all the TD assets and went on to sell around 90 of them in Australia and overseas.

Eventually, a group of Malaysian entrepreneurs headed by Eddie Teo, the boss of Malaysian car importers Inchcape, bought all rights and tooling for the vehicle and formed TD Cars Malaysia.

The car has been redesigned as rear-drive and features a 2-litre 16-valve four – cylinder power plant sourced from the previous Toyota RAV4, as are the gearbox and drivetrain . The front and rear axles are basically shortened Ford Falcon items.

Yes, this is pretty much your “bitsa” Kit –car philosophy, but in truth, the build quality and replication of the original body work is far above that of other historically- based replicas.

The coachwork is not completely spot-on though. Singaporean MG TD owner, Edward Wong, quickly points out that the front wings /running boards are closer to the later MG TF, which came as a two–piece item. He also notices that the dashboard cowling is fashioned after the later TF.

And while the TD2000’s chromed wire wheels may look very authentic, the fact of the matter is that the original TD was never produced with wire wheels. This option was only available from 1954 when the MG TF that superseded it was offered wire items as a factory option.

At least the original 15-inch wheel size has been retained. Radial tyres now stretch across the rims, of course, and you’ll find even the purist owners of classic T-series MGs adopting this obvious handling and safety enhancement to their period cars.

Nonetheless, those not in the know would be hard pressed to tell the difference between the original TD and this made-in-Malaysia interpretation at first glance at least from the exterior alone.

Unlike the original article, only the bonnet and engine side cowlings of the TD2000 Gatsby are metal. A glassfibre tub constitutes the rest of the bodywork and also the rear petrol tank.

There’s also the addition of a rear-mounted chromed roll-over bar, which only adds to the TD2000’s sporty classic look. The adjustable front windscreen features mini wiper blades that are connected to the body, rather than the original’s, which feature the wiper motor on top of the screen and the wipers hanging downwards.

Panel fit and finish even look very good on the post-modern TD, although with the obligatory period piping joining them, it’s difficult to say exactly just how good.

It’s also good to see the dash is of genuine polished walnut finish and that a high level of careful craftsmanship has been employed on it. A brave effort has been made to recreate the period look of original Jaeger dials with the white faces and corresponding arrow–like needles, but it’s clearly a modern take. Even a cute period –looking chromed map reading light stands out next to the deep glovebox on the passenger side. What does look distinctly out of place is the very up-to–date and plastic-looking radio cassette player in the center of the dash. Still, like the modern running gear, we guess certain things have to be conceded to modern motoring.

There’s no separate starter button to fire up the Toyota engine either. Just the quick twist of the key will have the four cylinders burbling away with a more meaty growl than you’d imagine from a high–revving Japanese engine. The team at TD Cars has obviously worked hard at finding the right exhaust system to liberate the kind of burble you’d associate with a vehicle like this .

It pulls away cleanly and strongly (trying a quick getaway with the non-synchromesh first gear of the MG TD takes more than a bit of practice) and it throws up a deep but inoffensive trail of sound behind you.

The TD2000’s 130 bhp peaks at 5600rpm and soon announces it doesn’t mind having its neck wrung. Call it a replica if you must, but the original’s 57bhp at 5200rpm is certainly a world away…..

The TD2000 Gatsby is very different from any car of yesteryear. You can take liberties with the gearbox and throttle and power like a highway hooligan if the mood takes you, or simply cruise along in regal style for a more relaxed Sunday afternoon drive. When you do decide to pick up the pace, you’ll embarrass more than just a few road users who’ve got this car pegged down as a highly polished antique.

The modern shift and clutch are so light you don’t have to constantly worry about bad engagements or getting enough power on. Everything’s on tap.