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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Rear Light Swap

Guys,

I recently purchased some early style rear back lights for my 1972 midget that I am planning to run the cosworth engine in.

The shell is back from the body shop and I have gone to fit them up today but the fit to the body isnt good, I thought they were a straight swap and would appreciate someone confirming this if possible ?

Also part of the problem seems to be that the thickness of the light to body gasket ? it about 6mm and hard to pull in flush , anyone got any advice

Thanks
Andy
Andy Sebring

Andy on my 66 body I have the 'proper' two part lights but they do NOT have a good fit to the tail end

When you get yours sorted (I think it is supposed to be a straightforward swap) let me know how you did it

I often knock my lenses off just walking past the b**** things

Good luck mate
Bill sdgpM

I fitted the early lights to my RWA, as I preferred the rounded look. ISTR that they fitted OK.

<<I often knock my lenses off just walking past the b**** things>>

Have done that, too!


Dave O'Neill 2

Nice carrrrr...


:)
Bill sdgpM

Andy,

When I built up my RWA Heritage shell one of the problem area's was the rear lights - I needed to build up the base as it was too low, with a larger gap.

So it may be just a shell/wing issue - I thought they were a straight swap also ?

I don't think the original gaskets are 6mm - thought more like 3mm - may have an old set in the garage and will see if I can check them.

R.
richard boobier

they are a straight swap, and they don't fit too well...
David Smith

Dave O'

Can I ask how you fastened the windows into the hardtop?

Mark Crossley
M Crossley

The rear window of my track car is fitted using a standard rubber and the quarterlights are retained by screws. For a road car where ventilation may be required, the quarterlights could be fairly easily fitted with hinges.


Doug Plumb

The separate rim type is listed in the Moss catalogue as being for early Midgets/Sprites and MGBS and the later type for the later versions of both cars.
The lamps on my '65 Sprite are the original ones, I just bought new chrome rims, but they are not as good a fit as the later type lamps that are on my '73 project Midget.
I wonder if the early ones are a good fit on Bs.
I do prefer the look of the early lenses and if the rims get a bit manky, you don't have to buy a full lamp, just the rim.
Bernie Higginson

Hi Mark

The windows were Perspex. The rear one was held in with stainless M4 button head socket screws.

The side windows were chamfered to sit flush with the aperture and I used longer (non stainless) socket screws, as that was what I had.

I also used some clear silicon sealant to try and keep the water out.


Dave O'Neill 2

Doug. Your Ashley top looks like and an original one for the earlier cars, same as mine. Mine was on the car when I bought it in 1967 ('65 car) and it had the same profile as yours around the rear deck. It also had hinged opening quarter windows. I like the way you've put the fuel filler in the handle recess.

Dave. Is your top a modern version, as the line around the longer rear cockpit wasn't on the earlier tops. I think Ashley had ceased trading before they got round to making them for the 1275 cars. I could be wrong on that though.

I sold mine because of storage space restrictions at the time, but now I have the space and I'm starting to regret it now.


Bernie Higginson

I have always lusted after an Ashley hard top. In fact it is the only style of hard top that I would ever consider adorning my car with! They look just so right.
GuyW

Bernie

My hardtop was an original, not a modern recreation. It originally had a glass rear window and hinged side windows.

The bonnet was also an original. It was well made, but a bit heavier than it needed to be.
Dave O'Neill 2

I stil have an original ashley with glass.
But it is in a sorry state, and I only found out when trial fitting that I could not remove the spare wheel when the top is fitted!
So it went on a shelf to not touch for years.
Then I bought an original look top and fitted that for the winters.
Now I have a different daily and the total use for a hardtop is gone.

Gotto love how your wishes/demands change over the years.

As for the rear lights.
They can fit like sh#t and i've left a couple on tracks/roads while cornering hard in the past.
Now they have seen some bending and all seems well for the past few years
Onno K

Jim Lowry fitted the Ashley hardtop when he built it into a race car which was subsequently raced by Harvey Woods. In 2012, I bought it for track day use. The previous owner had the persex rear window made using the glass as a pattern. I have the glass window together with the ali quartlight frames and hinges [but they are in poor condition].

It's not clear in the photo but unlike Dave's car, mine has the metal rear scuttle removed hence the rear legs of the roll cage reach to the rear of the 'boot' area.
Doug Plumb

Ive changed to the old/roundish lights too and found they were a pig to fit but blamed it to them being reproductions.
Obviously they reproduced them realy good as exact as the originals: cr*p to fit!

Onno, driving a different daily, so that's why I don't "see" you anymore on your way to work, always the radar on for the yellow midget.
Please tell me its the LandRover or the Bgt, if its something like a prius im afraid I cant talk to you anymore. :)


On the photo the light looks well fitted but from close it realy doesn't, well not to my standard.
And to get it like this it took quite some time and then not even mentioning the poor fitting of the two plastic lamp bits to each other...
Do like the looks of the these lights tho + the car is more aerodynamic so it makes it go faster(in my head anyway) ;)


Arie

I guess I'm not as picky. I switched to the early style lamps and they seem to fit fine. And I've yet not knock one off just by bumping it. Mine have the original bases with repro trim ring and repro lenses.
Trevor Jessie

Nice photo of The Netherlands there Arie


:)
Bill sdgpM

Sorry Arie not on the 206 most of the time.
Got posted at our yard in Aalsmeer.
And I don't like the traffic on the A4 an A44 in the midget.
When spring starts the midget will go down the 206 every Friday.

I bought the boring box partly to tow race cars ;)
Onno K

Thanks for your comments guys it looks like the ill fitting is a common issue, i have trial fitted them and will see what the body shop thinks , i have kept the later style so can review later if needed.

The cars on the thread look great, pleased to see
Andy Sebring

Onno, no shame in driving a boring box for work.
I drive a 2004 Opel Omega for work and must say im quite pleased with it for its purpose and it has a towbar too. ;)

Got posted?
You haven't been lucky lately with the MG's, first the BGT and now the Midget.
Well its only material damage and eventualy everything can be fixed.
Arie

Bill, its the lakedistrict and beside some humps&bumps around the lakes its quite the same as the Netherlands. ;)
Was at last years K-series weekend, a great run with a bunch of wakko brits.


Yep, its just like being in Holland. :)


Arie

Put a windmill left or right and you couldn't tell if its Holland or not...


Arie

This thread was discussed between 01/03/2016 and 08/03/2016

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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