TC 7157 was purchased in Grand Rapids, Michigan USA in the fall of 2004. The previous owner had it for 35 years (since 1969). It was kept in a dusty, mostly inactive garage for many years, hardly ever driven. The slippery puddle (combinations of oils and fluids) underneath the car must have been 15 years worth. The dry-rotted tires had slow leaks, the 19" spoke wheels needed to be sandblasted and painted, the body had its share of nick's and scratches but, in general I had a whole lot to work with. The good thing was, it was nearly an original car, that needed a tremendous amount of attention to detail, but, it was for the most part all-intact.

Showing 38,876 on the odometer when purchased, it was running on one carb, but, would start, roll and stop fairly well. I initially thought all the car needed was a cosmetic makeover and a tune up, but soon realized that it was going to need much more attention than that. The floorboards needed replacement (de-lamination). A lot of rubber parts were in bad (decaying) shape. The carpet and some trim parts were in need of replacement, rework or re-trim. I rebuilt the seats and added seat & lap belts along with lumbar supports. The chrome parts were very dull and pitted but improved dramatically with some hard work (polishing and buffing). After countless hours detailing the body, the frame, the wheels, chrome, electrical, and interior, replacing or restoring several components, it became quite drive-able and presentable. I got the carbs rebuilt, restored the SU fuel pump, refurbished the rusty (internal) gas tank, powder-coated the wheels, replaced the tires and got it on the road. I had to paint a few body parts, touched up all the panels and had the spare tire knock-off re-plated. All the fluids were drained and replaced. TC 7157 is running pretty well, now, looks very good and is a delight to drive. My friend Art Lewis of Belmont MI, a long term TC owner and enthusiast, has answered thousands of my questions and helped me with technical assistance and guidance.

Like all TC's, it attracts an awful lot of attention and puts a smile on many faces, including my own.

My plan is to continually improve on the cars condition, improve the steering, get all the electrical working properly while driving the car on warm summer days. It's fun to share what I know about this particular vehicle as well as the MGTC series with others who have interest and some knowledge. My thanks to the MG-TABC group as a considerable source for my continuous education.

Jim Pomeraning