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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Antenna - aerial question

Antenna - aerial question

The body work on my 1977 US Fed midget was completely done before I purchased the car over three years ago.
So I do not know the extent of which (if any) panels could have been replaced on the car.
I have had a nagging question during my ownership of the car.
The antenna - aerial looks to be aluminum painted black and can be manually extended and compacted, with only the nubed cap to be seen.
Were the antennas - aerials originally painted black in 77 or were they unfinished aluminum?? Were they originally retractable?

Also... My antenna - aerial is housed on the passenger's side (US) fender and goes through the glove box, which looks to have been cut.

I have seen other 77s where the antenna - aerial is housed on the drivers side (US) fender.

What is the proper fender for the antenna - aerial on a 1977 US Fed Midget??

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2316765
KRS

I don't think antenna and radios were origional equipment - so it would be fitted aftermarket by the dealer or owner!
Mick - The engine is in!

mick is correct but it usually is the right front fender. I believe the same goes for mirrors and luggage racks.
S.A. Jones

S.A. -- over here in the uk, most people fit them to the rear wing, and the rest of us prefer the sound of the exhaust to the drivel they are pumping out over the airwaves!
Mick - The engine is in!

Mine's mounted in the RH fender top, just forward of the fender/cowl (wing/scuttle) join. And although mine isn't the retractable type, if it was, it would slide down into the space between the fender and footwell.

I remember on the '71 Midget we owned when I was a kid (back around '73), the antenna was located in the rear and retracted into the trunk area.

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

Thanks guys...

I had forgotten about the radio being an option...
KRS

My antenna is like Gryf's. One piece, silver (not chrome) coloured.
Clive Reddin

I'm with Mick; it's always been my understanding that radios and antennas were a dealer installed option. That said, I see antennas on both fenders where, as Gryf pointed out, the antenna retracts into the void space between the fender and foot well. I've also seen antennas mounted on the right cowl just in front of the windscreen. My '77 had a metal colored (I wouldn't call it chrome) antenna at the rear of left fender until I replaced with a short black rubber unit. My '72 has an antenna installed on the right cowl where it retracts into the passenger footwell. Neither '72 fender has evidence of a previously installed antenna (in fact the fenders are different - one early and one late style chrome bumper), so I suspect that the cowl location was an aftermarket, non-dealer installation.

I've only seen one antenna (that I can recall) installed on the rear fender/wing. It was slanted to the rear and looked rather rakish. Can't comment on it's reception...

Cheers,

Glen
G. D. Phillips

The "idea" of putting them on the rear wing was supposedly to lessen the chances of picking up interference from the engine bay. I doubt if it really made any difference but the front position, part protected by the windscreen, always seems less vulnerable to me.

Guy
Guy Weller

My 79 has it on the drivers side and is retractable (even while I'm driving).
Rik


Rik Hogan

Hi Declan here from Ireland. I have a 1973 midget with a chrome antenna located on the rear driver's wing which retracts into the boot. I agree that radio is a waste of time as you cant realy hear it. I prefer to drive 'Al fresco'
D M McGinley

Declan,
You simply haven't got the right radio. Mine can be heard just fine at 80mph. If you take trips in your Spridget over 100 miles, the sound of even the best-tuned A-Series becomes a trifle monotonous. My Midgets have all had the antenna installed as described by Gryf, but my current one is just there to plug the hole, because the one that is in use is a black retractable on the radio shelf on top of the bulkhead.

BTW, Gryf, I think that if you were to remove the antenna from the wing and look down through the hole, you would find that it is to far from the edge of the car to line up with the "tool storage" area inside the wing. At least it is on mine.
David "alternate tunes" Lieb
David Lieb

David,
Mine retracts into the "tool storage" area that you refer to. I know it does because I fitted it there. Actually that's not true as it doesn't retract any more because it is seized up, but the bottom end does go into the unfathomed abyss.

Guy
Guy Weller

The dealer for mine must have drilled the hole in the wrong place then. It looks good from the outside, but it hits the top of the footwell.
David "if that dealer were still in business..." Lieb
David Lieb

Rick,
Great looking car.
RJS Scottaline

>>> You simply haven't got the right radio. Mine can be heard just fine at 80mph. <<<

I can vouch for that. David followed me through our town once, and when we were stopped at the lights, I could hear his radio just fine... from MY car.

>>> BTW, Gryf, I think that if you were to remove the antenna from the wing and look down through the hole, you would find that it is to far from the edge of the car to line up with the "tool storage" area inside the wing. At least it is on mine. <<<

I'm sure mine's the same way, hence the non-retractable aerial. When I bought my car, the mast itself was missing from the base. (One of many bits that were missing, I might add.) So I tried one of those short flexy rubber ones like Glen mentioned. Reception was poor, so I went with the one-piece steel mast, and all was well.

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

Rik,

Your antenna is in the same spot as my '77. And that is one hell of a nice looking car. Love the wheels. Painted Minilites/Panasports?

Glen
G. D. Phillips

This thread needs more pictures. You know...










Aerial photography.


Sorry,

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

I had my minilites powdercoated a dark metallic grey to match the sills (which look black in the picture).
The car is actually a very light grey but looks white
to everybody. Finished the rebuild in June and have drove over 5,000 miles since (and always with a smile from ear to ear). Interior picture.
Rik
1979 Midget


Rik Hogan

This thread was discussed between 13/10/2008 and 16/10/2008

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