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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 - Windblocker for Spridget

Does anybody know of a wind blocker company that sells one for a Sprigdet or have a picture of a working wind blocker, or know if they don't work on Spridgets.

Malc
Malc Gilliver

Search the archives Malc - I think this came up last year.
Graeme W

Thanks Graeme,

I searched the forum, but forgot that doesn't search the archives.

Malc
Malc Gilliver

Hi
Weekend before last I saw a windblocker that was held onto Frogeye hoodframe with cable ties. Owner told me that it was originally for an Audi A3.
Alan
Alan Anstead

Hi Malc,
My mk3 midget came with one from the factory. In the handbook it is referred to as the hood. I rarely use it though.
I though part of the fun of having a classic convertable 'sports' car was the wind in your face/hair/back of your head.
And even more fun when driving in the middle winter with the top down.

Perhaps they are right and I am a bit strange.

I am sure I have seen a piece of shaped perspex mounted on the tonneau sticks working as a windbreak.

Dave.
Dave Brown

There has been quite some discussion before however I don't think anyone reported back. I usually don't remember detail but I do usually remember if there is an answer somewhere. (often given on thread drift).

I think it ended up like Alan has said. A set of bodges that may work.

I like the hood down but I am sure my missus would prefer a blocker as well. Anyone able to give us a definitive that fits with the hood up for quick change to dry top will be appreciated.
Dave Squire

I'm with Dave Brown on this and interestingly so is my wife. She carries something called a 'hairbrush' to cope with the after-effects .
graeme jackson

Windblockers are for hairdressers I thought... Like audi TT's
Alex G Matla

I shall re qualify: ............ As a daily driver I have the hood down most days however 'I am sure my missus would prefer a blocker as well. Anyone able to give us a definitive that fits with the hood up for quick change to dry top will be appreciated'.

Its just for the times when the budget holder is in the car. That is the weekends. ;-)

And on this attempted thread hijack: I know nothing about hair dressers - as I don't need one! :-)
Dave Squire

Gotta love you guys, I ask about a wind blocker and they general response is to question my choice of career - lol.

Malc
Malc Gilliver

Malc,
the usual suppliers sell wind deflectors

or I'd have thought you lads who like doing such things could make one for yourself

my mate made one for his Westfield just by making a frame and getting the mesh material from the material manufacturer, it wasn't that expensive and the same material as used on the commercially available wind deflectors, his deflector was very effective when used with the sidescreen doors - but he is an elderly person, sidescreen are for more delicate Caterham owners

I've seen at least one wind deflector that covers the horizontal gap that a folded tonneau would cover otherwise cover

from my experience how effective they are depends on their design and fit to a particular model, I think generally the mesh types are better than the perspex types which makes sense to me when you think of the wind difference between a wall or fence compared to a hedge

my concerns would be can you put the hood up with them fitted - that also restricts the design of them - and also if you can't leave them permanently fitted then you'll need a protective storage cover and would they fit in the boot and how much space would they take up

the Mk2 MX-5 had a factory fitted very low in height hinged, so you could put it down, solid plastic wind deflector and despite being so low it was I'd say 75% effective compared with a full sized after market mesh type on my mate's Mk1 but Mazda were very good at design on the whole car with no doubt lots of testing to get that low flap deflector
Nigel Atkins

You used to be able to buy them thur moss and victoria british...not sure now

But WARNING... they are very expensive, the general consensus in the past was to zip tie a self made pieace of plexy glass to the head rest

or buy a new soft top with a zip out rear window

Or wear a ball cap

Ive always gone with a ball cap, with an offical mg midget logo...it works and looks almost as cool as smoking a cig/fag

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Headrest ???

What headrest - my car doesn't have headrests - only hairdresser's cars have headrests, what next, a fold up hood that only takes a minute - real men store the hood in the boot and only use in a thunderstorm - lol..


Nigel,


I've a had quick look on the WWW, but have only found Little British Car Co in the US listing a wind stop for a MK3 Sprite.

I think the design is quite simple and like you say, relies on a good fit around the back of the seats.


Malc
Malc Gilliver

Malc,
why are you using the hood in a thunderstorm, real men including Morgan drivers never put the hood up

actually the headrests might work a bit but not as much as a scarf and hat or cap

well now, MGOC Spares have been selling a "windstop" (badly named in my opinion) for a number of years

the www isn't as good at find things as some think plus the major search engines are geared towards sales

wow, I mean wow, even more expensive than when I last looked - http://www.mgocspares.co.uk/acatalog/MGOC_SPARES_Windstops_654.html
Nigel Atkins

I posted this image for the last thread on this topic. It is half of a BMW Mini Cooper convertible. The owner is Mike who made up some simple brackets affixed to a strenthener under the rear scuttle but his was an IOW midget so not sure about a proper Frogeye. It folds back over the bodywork allowing the hood to be erected with it in situ.

Another local MASC member (Les) has a perspex (or Lexan which is better) panel mounted within the hoop of his roll over bar on his Mk1 Midget.

I have a similar arrangement on my Mk4 Midget but I used springy metal pipe clips to attach to the roll bar so it is easily removeable, but I keep it on all the time.

Another member (Bernie) has MGF seats fitted with a Lexan screen attached to L brackets that fix to the headrest stantions. It also incorporates part of a tonneau to block off the behind seat area, which I mean to do on mine, as it blows a real gale between the seats cooling the kidneys somewhat.

The cheapest sorce of Lexan is this eBay advert from a conservatory seller in Warrington. This size is more than big enough. item 171295110306

As you may have gathered we are a bit nesh up north!!!

Rob


Rob aka MG Moneypit

I fitted a perspex deflector from MGOC to my RWA. However, I modified the brackets to raise it the maximum that stills allows the hood to be raised. Also modified the back draught deflector to keep the 'back shelf' free for luggage.

It was listed as a Midget specific item but they now only list a perspex one for a B [Wind deflector - Plastic V664].
D Plumb

Here is one from moss usa.... whew I feel a nose bleed comming on... just shy of $300 usa money

http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=38110&SortOrder=20

Im betting that link wont work
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

It worked... wow, but there is not much to it for that price tag
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Why buy a convertible if you don't like the wind in your hair?



Never understand why anyone would want a screen like this, they ruin the look of the car as well.
SR Smith 1

Thanks Prop,

But my car is a 1965 - so NLA.

SR,

The reason I want a convertible is to have the roof down and the sky above me, for as many days of the year as possible.
I want to do this while wearing a tee shirt, not a
Berghaus and woolly hat !! - lol
Malc Gilliver

When I'm out in the car on by myself during summer, I dispense with the wind blocker, the tonneu and the headrests on the MGF seats. But my wife likes the headrests because she feels safer in the event of a rear end bump and prefers the blocker because it eliminates much of the wind buffeting especially on motorways. If we go out on dry days in winter, I too like the blocker and tonneau on. If it rains, I put the top up. Simples. What's the point of having a convertible if you can't use it as such? The clue is in the word "convertible". If you want to be constantly at the mercy of the elements, buy a motorbike.

Bernie.
b higginson

Success.

Mazda MX5 early shape windblokker, two bits of angle bracket and two long bolts.

Can and will be improved, but just drove back from Derby to Tamworth - M42 all the way and did better than keep up with the traffic while wearing a tee shirt and shorts.

Close up piccies of brackets if anybody want them.

Malc



Malc Gilliver

Malc, i like the look of your interior... do you have any more pictures ?
particularly the seats head on.....
Andy Phillips (frankenfrog)

Malc. Glad you got it sorted. I also love those '65 seats. When I fitted MGF seats at my wife's request, I was loath to part with them as they were in perfect condition, but they went to a good home.

Andy. They are standard early mk2 Midget/Mk3 Sprite seats, before they changed to the more square shape in late '65(I think). I must say though that the blue colour really sets them off.

Bernie.
b higginson

Thanks for the nice comments about the interior - very happy with the results - did swear a bit when fitting the seat covers !


Andy,

This is as near to 'head on' as I have.

Trim and carpets came from PJM Motors - Market Drayton.

The vinyl trim was a standard colour, but they let me speak to their carpet suppliers for the blue carpet as they only offered a light blue and a dark blue.

Malc




Malc Gilliver

I've made a wind blocker for my Frog using the hood frame. I will post an image tonight if I can.

The way I did mine was to use a sheet of polycarbonate, place it behind the frame on the car, draw around the inside, then cut out. I used plastic P clips to fix it to the frame.

I am wondering if there is an optimum size because mine fills the area inside the hood frame and I still get buffeting from behind and a cold draught down the neck. I suppose car manufacturers have done research in a wind tunnel to design these things which is why they look so small and do such a good job.

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

Very nice, my seats (no idea where they are from, unlikely to be original) are very wide and square at the top, yours, with the taper would fit much nicer and not rub on my roll bar, and maybe be able to go back some more to give me more elbow room.....

But love the colour too....
Andy Phillips (frankenfrog)

Image attached of home made Windblocker using polycarbonate. Cost about £15 total. Hope you can see it.

Rob


Rob aka MG Moneypit

This thread was discussed between 09/06/2014 and 27/06/2014

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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