MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Midget Mk3 Spotlights

Can anyone tell me the exact spacing and mounting position for spotlights fitted to a Mk3 midget ?.
A L SLATTERY

you might have different regulations in Aus to UK

if you've not got an answer by later I'll look up what it was in my 1970 AA Book of the Car for the UK
Nigel Atkins

bumper or no bumper? Mine are mounted here:

http://robsmidget.co.uk/modifications/body-modifications

I think the UK regs say you're fine as long as the extra driving lamps come on with full beam and go off with dipped, and that they are symmetrical.

fog lamps have location restrictions, driving lamps appear not to.
Rob Armstrong

I think the poster was wanting to know the position of the lamps if they were a factory fitted option if they ever were a factory fitted option.

On the other hand the spacing in the AA book would be nearer what they would have to be at that time which was more prescriptive than today

eddie
Eddie Cairns

good point eddie :D
Rob Armstrong

Rob, I think you are correct as far as the current very wishy washy regulations go, but this was not the case in the '70s. Then, from memory, spotlights had to be a minimum 24 inch centres from the ground and either 15 inch min centres between them for cars earlier than a certain year of manufacture (which I can't remember the year of)or max 12 inch centre from each side of the vehicle for later cars. They also had to only operate with the headlights on main beam. Lights lower than this were deemed foglights and were only allowed to be used during fog or falling snow.

Trev
T Mason

To add to that, the P6 (1970) is wired (originally I think) so that the main & dipped beam goes off completely when the fogs are turned on. A much better idea, if little alarming, as if it's foggy enough to need the fogs properly, then it's too foggy for the main lamps.
Rob Armstrong

Mine had spotties. Not evenly drilled though. Could have been factory or some time after.


Greg H

Eddie, you are spot-on, I am interested in how they were mounted ex-factory.

My car is an OZ-built car, so never had spotlights, however I would like to fit some, but wish to duplicate the UK mounting if possible.

Were they mounted on a seperate bar - I prefer this to drilling the bumper or body.

Cheers & Thanks Chaps.


A L SLATTERY

I don't think they were ever offered as a factory option (I certainly can't find anything in my literature saying so), so they would have been either fitted by the dealer or DIY. On all my cars back then I always made my own brackets and normally used the bumper mounting points to attach them, sometimes with additional fixings to stop shake.

Trev
T Mason

"mounted on a seperate bar - I prefer this to drilling the bumper or body."


If you'd like to fit auxiliary lamps without drilling holes, then you'll want to use one of these badge bars with lamp brackets:

http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=7775

I don't have a good photo of it fitted to my car, but it does look nice (no badges, only lamps, in my case).


Norm
Norm Kerr

why dont you make a couple of brackets and fit to bumper bolts. thats what i did for my AA badge. better than drilling holes anywhere.
regards bob.
trebor

whilst I sort out my 1970 copy of The AA Book of the Car have this photo

it's a 1966 car taken in 1978, passed MoTs so presumably correct for location of spot and (yellow) fog light (for UK)

note they may have positioned to avoid the built-in fog lights (which of course begs the question of the fitting of the yellow fog light but they were on the car when I got)


Nigel Atkins

from the excellent (1970, first edition) AA Book of the Car (one on eBay at the moment) - not much on spot-lamps other than beam pattern, aim and wiring (shows how to fit fog lamps though)

although the measurements refer to fog lamps it does have the mention of symmetry if 'a fog lamp and another lamp'

here's what I think may be relevant and of use (refers to UK cars of course)-

‘In fog and falling snow, two fog lamps, or a fog lamp and another lamp placed symmetrically on each side of the car at the same height, can be used instead of headlamps. A single fog lamp is permitted in any weather, but only in addition to obligatory lamps’

‘Fog lamps may be sighted with the centre of the lamp 2ft or less from ground level. On cars registered before January 1, 1971, the lamps must be at least 350 mm. (about 13½ in.) apart. On later cars they must be no more than 400 mm. (about 15¾ in.) from the outer edges of the car.’

‘Wherever they are mounted fog lamps should be aimed so that the top of the beam reaches the road about 30ft ahead of the car’

‘A spot-lamp, which will give a concentrated beam can be aimed well to the left and just above the top of the dipped headlamp beam (see Lighting law, p.362).’

‘As it is illegal to use a single spot-lamp except when the headlights are on, a single spot lamp is usually wired into the dipped-beam circuit. The spot-lamp can be turned off by a separate switch.’
Nigel Atkins

The no more than 400 mm from the outside edge of the car was quoted lots of times in the seventies in the magazines.

eddie
Eddie Cairns

Rob,
just remembered I meant to put, yes IIRC my Rover P6 fog lights came on when the illuminated green lights switch was put to the furthest setting clockwise which would turn the headlights off and fog lights on - I only used them once but it must have been during the wrong type of fog/mist as they were different to but no better than dipped-beam, my fog lights had covers so I had to stop to take them off before trying the fog lights so I didn't have that disconcerting momentary delay between the two light settings
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 18/12/2012 and 19/12/2012

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.