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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Front wing differences?

Hi

What are the different midget and Sprite front wing types and differences between them please? This question excludes MkI Sprites.

Am I correct the main difference is the height of the front sidelight/indicator unit? From Dec 1968 onwards the sidelight/indicator was approx one inch lower?

When did the bracket for the front bonnet (hood) support switch from the left hand wing to the right hand wing?

I realise the early Midgets had holes for the side chrome strips.

Any other differences, for example relating to mounting brakes/holes? Any differences with how wings bolt to the front panel?

Guess good secondhand steel wings are best? Fibreglass ones not so good? And new Heritage ones expensive and ?

Thanks
Mike




M Wood

You’ve already covered the two main differences with the sidelights and the stay bracket. I think the bracket moved as early as mk2 Midget.

Obviously the rubber bumper wing was quite a different animal.
Dave O'Neill 2

Then you also have the manual bonnet prop or the “automatic” one.
It is all described in Horler so just buy the book
O K

Thanks Dave and Onno

I have the Horler book, but the date of changeover of the side of the early stick like bonnet prop is not listed. I also I want to know if Horler has missed any changes in wing mountings that rebuilders will know of.

I have a 1961 MkII Sprite with a bonnet stay bracket that is opposite location from the wing bracket, and the wings are Midget items (holes for trim clips filled in) so I have no idea what side the bonnet stay should be on, or age of the wings (they are pre-Dec 1968 due to sidelight height). The previous owner had bodged the bonnet stay to the opposite side of the bonnet to the bracket that is on the bonnet with self tapping screws (stay fell off years ago), perhaps so they could find room to shove an the electric fuel pump near the water bottle at the front of the inner wing panel (replacing a mechanical pump due to LCB perhaps). To confuse matters further, the bracket on the Midget wing matches the new stay location, even if it us the incorrect side for the bracket on the bonnet!

No idea what age the bonnet is.

This reminds me of the Johnny Cash song 'One piece at a time'.

Me being concerned about having a bonnet stay that works shows that I am slowly getting closer to getting the car on the road. The cut down length of old broom handle that I use when working on this as a project car is not ideal for when it stops being a permanently static garage ornament.

Cheers
Mike
M Wood

My car has new wings and bonnet and so I ended up with a choice of bonnet stay. As the original Mk1 Midget stay meant that the bonnet twisted I opted to use the central point of later cars and bent my stay to fit. It works well and only a thermos carrying, flat cap wearing spotter would know the difference!
John Payne

As the bonnet rod and telescopic stays only support one side of the bonnet and the telescopic stays are a PITA requiring two hands in the wrong places on the bonnet I'd say b*llocks to any passing shot at originality and fit gas struts to both sides. There's an article on MASC about it.

The boot telescopic stay is even more of a PITA needing two hands to shut it when often your arms could already be loaded up so if anyone came up with measurements or a kit for that it'd be great.
Nigel Atkins

John

What side of the car was your stay fitted to please?

Thanks
Mike
M Wood

This thread was discussed between 28/06/2020 and 30/06/2020

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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