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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Replacing front wing

I am on the hunt for useable/ repairable front wings for my Austin Sprite. That's the low indicator version that goes with the later style narrow bumpers. I might want both but definitely need an off side one.
Can anyone help?
GuyW

I have an offside wing for a later midget. It's pretty solid as far as I can remember (it's at the back of the loft). I'll look it out tomorrow and post a picture. I'm in Melrose, Scottish Borders - would prefer pickup in person or you arrange courier.

Bill
W Dunsmore

Hi Bill. Thanks for that. I will wait to see what you have - hidden in the loft!
I have now taken the wing off. It is repairable as just about anything on these cars is. I have done them before but its pretty time consuming once it involves the areas around the indicator plinth.
GuyW

Guy

David Smith has a lower repair panel cut from and for an offside wing currently for sale:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334400702391?hash=item4ddbd5c7b7:g:PSAAAOSweipiVK3P

Any use?

Or in Rugby a complete front end: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384836965082?hash=item599a1212da:g:0yAAAOSwqrdiWdQf (from: http://www.rugbyclassics.com/index.php?webpage=new-used-parts)

Or how about a browse from a selection of wings:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265506013225?hash=item3dd1644029:g:528AAOSwy6th5dKE

Gumtree worth a look too. I picked up a pair of barely used Heritage front wings last year from Gumtree.

Cheers
Mike
M Wood

For Guy. Other pics to follow.


W Dunsmore

When I got the wing the mounting tab on the bottom of the curved section was separate. I have it, just needs tacking back on.


W Dunsmore

3
W Dunsmore

5


W Dunsmore

7


W Dunsmore

Bill, that looks in very good condition. If you could please email me on guyATwellerHYPHENlakes
(that's with the usual UK ending) perhaps we can discuss further?

And thanks Mike, for those other leads too.
The full front end one is more than I need and at post '74 presumably for a 1500 (different front wheel arches). But the others are possibilities.
GuyW

Hi Guy,

I have a offside wing going. Not as good as the one above, but definitely re-repairable, as solid apart from the lower part.

Off a 65 MK2

Let me know if you’d like pictures
James Paul

Hi James,
Thanks for the offer but I have agreed with Bill to take his. Just need to sort out when I can collect having been a bit delayed by son's wedding using wedding cars tonbridge this last weekend. Bill is nearer to me as well!
GuyW

Sorry Guy, I meant near side! 🤦🏼






James Paul

Wrong year James Paul, too early, thick chrome bumpers. But I'll bet somebody will want it, given the cost of news ones.
anamnesis

My car is a 1965 MK2 and it came off that.
No guarantees it was an original though
James Paul

Sorry again, just re read Guy’s request and see what you meant by too early!
James Paul

I’m now rather annoyed!

When I bought the car the PO gave me two new wings which were in good condition. I think I have just realised that the wings he gave me are later ones.

It’s all in the paint shop now so too late to do anything about really. 🙁

The bumpers he supplied are not in great condition but was thinking of getting the re chromed.

It this now a waste of time?

Thinking about it more the bumpers weren’t even attached so might not be right year for my car either!

Grrrr!



James Paul

Guessing it will look more like the first than how it was supposed to be 🙁





James Paul

I wouldn't worry much about it James.

They look 'odd' if you have a different year wing on each side, but the Midget with two later wings with the early bumper, really doesn't look that bad imo. You probably wouldn't deliberately do it if you had the correct wings to choose from, but it's not a disaster if not. The side lights and indicators can still be seen.

But if you really hate it, after you have your Midget back with shiney new paint, your wings will be worth significant sale money towards an earlier set.

As for the bumpers, late ones are either thin, 1 piece front, 2 piece rear, or thick 1 piece front and rear.
anamnesis

I don't know anam, I had two genuine leyland later wings in perfect condition and I struggled to sell them. After several attempts they eventualy went at less than 1/2 the price than the offerings from the usual supplies. Most enquiries wanted the earlier ones.
Bob Beaumont

That's a surprise Bob, I assume the later ones rust as successfully as the earlier ones, so the demand should be there. My '73 Midget front wings rusted well enough Lol. And I would rather buy genuine leyland wings than later stuff. Less than half the price of new pattern wings, someone got a nice bargain.

What year did slim chrome bumpers come in? 1969 or '70?
anamnesis

As I run my car without bumpers, it barely matters. Other than they both need to be the same.
There are some cars claimed to have come from the factory with mis=matched wings. One High Light, one Low Light


GuyW

No bumpers and no hub caps either.

Travellin' light Guy. Nothing to slow you down. 😉
anamnesis

Guy

Your pic of the blue car looks great; purposeful with dirt. What wheels has it got - looks appropriately enough ‘Weller Wheels’ with a hint of TR6 styling?

Cheers
Mike
M Wood

This is Guy's sprite when clean (rare)LOL


A de Best

Is that an outing of the bumperless club? 😁
anamnesis

Mike, the wheels are 13" Cosmic alloys. Very rare in that style/ size!

Car has always just been used, whatever the weather, so that photo, one winter in the Scottish Borders is fairly typical of its appearance, though maybe a tad muddier than usual. Aries' summer photo is from when 3 of us (actually 4 in 3 cars) took a trip around the top end of Scotland along what has now been over marketted as the "NorthWest 500" and these days is well clogged up with campervans. By comparison, we drove on empty roads. Apart from the sheep which seemed strangely attracted to Arie.
GuyW

Mud, ice and salt - probably why I now need a new front wing!
GuyW

It's how they should be used Guy to get the most satisfaction out of them. Imo, well used cars stay in use on the road longer. Mine's 45 years and counting, And others are longer.
anamnesis

"Apart from the sheep which seemed strangely attracted to Arie."

Always had that effect on female mammals LOL!!

Is it that busy nowadays on the scottisch coastroads Guy?
Not been there since 2013, absolutley loved the empty roads
We actually planned to go to the Highlands for summer holliday this year and stay on Skye.
But due to ill health of my father in Law were not going this year. :(

Btw, due to expanding family no longer summertravels in the Midget but even with the 78 series 2 Jag we still enjoy the small twisty roads like on photo 1 on the "Gap of Dunloe" in Ireland :)

Or some overgrown path near Kilcrohane called "the goatpath".... if I was wise I would not have taken that path but as you know im not, it sure was fun!!! LOL!






A de Best

This thread was discussed between 15/04/2022 and 30/04/2022

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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