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 MGA - Car numbers

Where can I find a key to the chassis numbers? Is the code the same as the Magnette, etc.?

The chassis number for my 56 is HDC4323604. I'm interested in the original color, which the key in the Magnette manual lists as "dark red". I was really hoping for a good reason to go to the trouble to paint it Iris Blue. You know, "But honey, that was the original color."

Thanks.
Wray Lemke

Sorry mate,i agree the code would say it was originally dark red
B WALKER

Go for the Iris Blue none the less! Code is Florida Blue--PPG. Concours match, gauranteed.
Paul Hanley

Wray

I went through a similar 'originality' debate in my own mind during my MGA rebuild 8 years ago. My car was originally OEW but I wanted to paint it BRG. My supplier and MGA restorer, Bob West, made an interesting statement: "If you are rebuilding it to sell then consider originality, but if you are rebuilding it to keep then paint it in the colour that gives you the most pleasure." I can report that my BRG MGA has given me enourmous pleasure during the past 8 years.

Even now some people occasionally point out to me that BRG was never an original MGA colour. However, many MGAs were exported in primer, so virtually any colour top coat could be argued as original!

Steve
Steve Gyles

All,
As I understand paint on an MGA, The colour that is considered correct is anything that was available at the time of manufacture. ie. Metalic paint was not used on MGs from the factory with the exception of one car, the 100,000th which was Gold. Because some cars were shipped in primer, any colour from any manufacture from that time period is considered OK.

Jim Pennoyer

Hi Jim just a small point, Sydney Enever ( MG's chief engineer) had one in Mother of Pearl white, I think this car still exists and there is an old photo of a works Le Man coupe in gold
Terry Drinkwater

Wray -

Don't you realise that you're supposed to take a non-red MGA and paint it red?! This business of taking a red MGA and painting it non-red is going against the grain of all perceived wisdom in MGA painting! :-)
David Breneman

David, I know. Just call me an outlaw, a rebel, a non-conformist. I have a very nice red B and a Damask RB BGT. I just don't want another red car. Of course, an MGA would look good in any color, even the horrid Citron. The BGT is getting changed to Pageant Blue.

Maybe I'll paint one of the Magnettes red....
Wray

I have a 57 that is painted red with tan interior. My dad was inspired by an MGA that appeared on the cover of a Moss Motors catalog some years ago. I however find that red mg's are a dime a dozen, and I am seriously considering returning it to it's original black with red interior as I seem to see far fewer of those. I read recently that Ralph Lauren (of over-priced clothing fame) was quoted as saying that he believed that red cars were nothing more than toys, and a true collectors car is black or dark blue. I do however think that the color of your car is a very personal thing and you should paint it whatever color you think will make you happy.

Michael Adams

Wray
Have checked out your car from my collection of MGA books.
If your MGA 1500 has chassis No HDC4323604
This means your car was:
H = MGA
D = Roadster
C = Red
4 = LHD N. America
3 = Cellulose Paint
23604 = Chassis No.

So your car was originally red. All 1500 red cars were in Orient Red.
As you are in the US the only relevant reference I can find for Orient Red is a Ditzler/PPG ref 71609.
Hope this helps.
Pete
Pete Tipping

Wray -

Blue is a very attractive color on the MGA. Mine is painted its original color of Glacier Blue and in the evenings, as the sun is setting and there's lots of ultraviolet light in the sky, it just seems to glow. It's a very 50s kind of color and it really stands out. Why a PO took this car and painted it dark burgundy I'll never understand.
David Breneman

David
You are so lucky - you get a lot more sunsets than we do here in the UK. See - we have to have red MG's to warm the place up a bit !
Pete
Pete Tipping

This thread was discussed between 06/04/2005 and 18/04/2005

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.