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MG MGA - Grab/suicide handle

Has anyone had their partner /co driver ask for something to grab while you're driving winding twisting roads. We have a standard 59 coupe so we are not breaking the sound barrier but Janice would feel safer with something structural to brace herself with. Suggestions greatfully received. I know there will be a great temptation for the comical reply.Thanks Bob
B WALKER

I installed in our '49 TC an item we like to refer to as the "Oh S**t" handle. It's what my wife grabs onto in terror while I drive in a "spirited manner" through our local canyons.

Since our MGA is a roadster, she uses the windscreen bracket, but you would certainly attach your own handle, named by whatever your wife shouts at the point in time when she grabs for it.

There have been numerous types of dash grab handles made throughout the years by after market accessory manufacturers. Dig through the various Moss catalogs for some ideas.
Steve Simmons

The windshield braces are normally referred to as grab handles, but all this time I have been using them to grab the car when I need to push it. Silly me.
Del Rawlins

Indeed, this is an easy one. Determine the location empirically. Give her the steering wheel to hold onto and you get in the passenger seat. While in the passenger seat have her take some esses quickly. This I'm sure will provide the experience necessary to identify a suitable location for a grab handle for you, as she won't need it from that time on.

In my opinion neither the standard dash and its support or the door and its latch is sufficiently robust to attach a grab handle, and you certainly don't want anyone to bang into any protrusion if there was an accident. One location that might be suitable is on the frame along side the seat cushion and forward of the seat belt anchor location. A design similar to the factory seat belt anchor attachment could be used. (Clarke Spares sells the hardware for seat belt anchor points for MGAs not originally fitted with seat belts. The '62 1600 MkII came with factory installed attachment points for three point belts

Also, consider at least three point seat belts - you do have seat belts installed, correct? - and keeping spirted driving solo. Seriously, if the car is capable of being driven it's capable of going fast enough to get hurt if it breaks loose, and an MGA offers precious little protection if it does. If you haven't yet spun the car, suggest you deliberately do that in an environment, such as a sanctioned autocross, where chances are you won't get hurt, to convince yourself it doesn't take too much to get loose. A chicane is just the sort of place where the MGA suspension can become very unsettled. Add some water and you're toast.
Steve K

I have a handle on my door of my roadster. It is from a MGTD,TF or even a TC. It has an MG logo on the handle and it is what I use to close the door or for the pasenger to grab onto. I drilled two holes for it, even though it is not original, it looks it.
JEFF BECKER

After completing my rebuild of an MGA roadster I found the seats less than forgiving. We tended to sit on top of them rather than in them. This meant that my wife or any passenger just had no support whatsoever when cornering, in fact she insisted that either I sort the problem or she would not tour in the car again.

I am afraid the solution I came up with was to instal a pair of classic bucket seats which now give plenty of support and we go for thousands of miles without problems.
Bob (robert) yes Y8 is toast again :)

Hi
We installed Mazda RX 7 seats - cost $400 and dropped in - and are half way around Australia at the moment having done 6500 miles (11500km) and they are comfortable and secure - especially with a 3 point seat belt. Not that I advocate non-MGA seats for concours etc. Just a great, easy to fit, comfortable alternative.
Dave
David Godwin

Triumph TR3's have a very nice looking chromed one mounted on the under dash ledge in the glovebox area. About the area under the dash where the MGA radio plate is. It would be an easy conversion to an MGA.
WYATT WOLCOTT

You will find that a 21 year old woman won't be as easily frightened as a more "mature" woman. Maybe it's time for a trade in?

Cheers,
Rich :-)
Rich McKIe

I have attached a photo of the grab handle that a PO had installed on my 59 roadster. The handle is secured with two machine screws each side. No backing plate or washers were used on the underside of the dash. It is surprisingly stiff considering that it is just bolted to the sheetmetal.

My concern with the location of the handle is the potential for injury. Even though I have three point belts, I am probably going to remove the handle.

John


jjb Backman

Sheesh, suicide handle is right!
Del Rawlins

JJB, (hmmm) That handle on the scuttle above the dash looks like a gadget designed by Q for James Bond on the chance he needed to part with his passenger. Defintely pre-air bag technology.
Steve K

Hey, John - You've got my radio! (See picture in link.) Where'd you get it? Mine is out of my long-departed '68 MGB. I installed it so people can't accuse me of being a purist. :-) The PO of my car installed a grab handle under the radio opening, but that always impressed me as a rather flimsy place.



David Breneman

Thanks to all who replied.We have decided we dont want to change the seats. To those who implied Janice was frightened or needed to be traded in, this is not the case, she just wants to be able to stay in her seat(I like older models).At this stage a handle attached to seat belt anchor point or three point seat belt seems to be the answer. ThanksB&J
B WALKER

Bob,
What seats did you go with? And where did you get them?
Steve
Steve Meline

Gday Steve,we said we won't change seats.Dave Goodwin says above that RX-7 seats drop in. Bob
Bob

This thread was discussed between 25/08/2007 and 28/08/2007

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