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MG MGA - removable boot rack

Does anyone know of a removable boot luggage rack for an MGA roadster?
Jack Stern

Hi Jack,

I have been looking for the same thing for an upcoming road trip, but no luck so far. I came across Surco, the company that makes removable racks for a number of cars (miata, boxster, even mgb), but their narrowest rack was still about ten inches too wide for the MGA. I thought about sectioning it to take out some of the width, but looking at how it mounts to the decklid also makes me think some alterations would have to be made to the boot seal to get it to work.

Hopefully, somebody else will chime in with better news. Like you, I would like the option of using a rack without putting holes in my lid.
Chris Sloan

Are you handy in the wood shop?

I pondered this myself for a while. Not only are the holes in the lid a problem but the skin on the lid is very susceptable to denting.

Here's my solution. I haven't made it yet but I'm confident it can work.

Go get some pretty but weather resistant wood, mahogany or cypress.

Cut the planks in a long thin arch that runs from the bumper to the tear drop stantions that hold the hood bar.

Machine a clamp to the bumper and fitting with tongue to latch to the stantion.

Purchase the regular boot rack and fit on the wood system.

viola'

T McCarthy

Chris, I tried Surco also but they said they don't custom make them. Moss gets their removable MGB boot racks from them. I wonder if Moss could place an order for some MGA ones if they thought they could sell them. I would like one to go to Key West next April for the NAMGAR regional GT. eBay UK has some generic removable ones but I am not sure they would fit and shipping would be very expensive. If enough people on this thread show interest we could approach Moss or Surco. Regards, Jack
Jack Stern

The answer is extermely simple gentlemen. Get yourself an extra trunk hood that has NO RACK. Paint it the same colour as your car. Now comes the easy part. Remove the standard hinge pins from the trunk and replace them with a new pin that has a hole in the end. Thru the hole in the pin slip a removable holding clip.

Now when you wish to "toot around" without the rack you simple pull the pins and change the trunk lid.....and vice -a-versa. Gordon

PS: Could be done with the engine hood......one with louvers....one with a hood scoop.....etc.
Gordon Harrison

Gordon, I am actually considering doing just that. I just happen to be in a short-term time squeeze (leaving for Watkins Glen in two weeks) and didn't have time to get the work done. Probably the most sensible way to go long-term, though.
Chris Sloan

Second option.
Amco use to make a luggage rack for Mg's that had 4 small legs , that you could bolt to the car OR replace the botls with suction cups. If you can find one, or a similar rack with seperate legs, get some large suction cups and put them on in place of the bolts.

Now the suction cups are not to hold the rack...just to cushion the legs. What Amco did was use 4 flat rubber coated S-hooks that attached to the upper and lower edge of the trunk lid. The upper ones were fixed with flat banding strap to the hook onto the trunk lip and then to the uppper crossbar of the rack. The lower ones had a turn-buckle in them which you would then tighten down,the banding strap and s-hook, to secure the rack.

The best description I can give of the banding straps is that it was about one inch wide and secured at each end by a flat u-clip. Very similar to the banding metal strips used when shipping large wooden crates or packages. The type of strapping that needs to be cut by tin snips.

The S-hooks were a little larger and one end had a slit thru which the banding strip would connect.

I hope this gives you an idea, but it is rather hard to describe.
Gordon Harrison

Go to www.tr-register.co.uk and look at the advertisment in the bottom of the page. there on the right lower side is what I am takling about
Gordon Harrison

Jack, attached is a photo of the rack on my A. I installed it almost 28 years ago, and I beleive it is the Amco product previously referenced. 4 Wing nuts under the boot hold it in place and they are easily removable if needed. I insert plastic plugs painted white to cover the openings if needed.//nk


N Kopernik

Thanks for posting that photo. Its the same as the rack on my car and I've often wondered what it was and how long it has been there.

The only problem it causes is "know-alls" who come up and tell me I've got the wrong rack. They soon get the message that it is part of the car's history.
Malcolm Asquith

Understand the know-all philosophy well. I've owned my car for a long time and had to rely on some non-traditonal parts to get it back on the road in the early 80's, including parts from a Mustang, International Harvester Truck, Jaguar, Triumph, as well a home made oak dash which I traced from another A owner's car. Finding parts back in the 80's was very different (no internet), so you had to reply on other A owners, or friends of A owners, or comb thru junkyards; things are different today (positive development). The first A I owned was a 58 and even in the mid 60's, this car was already customized by it's previous owner(s) with a wood dash, wood door panels, XKE style nose/grill and an AOOGAHHH horn which you could hear a mile away. Original is nice (but, what is original??); what I like about the A is that for me it is meant to be personalized & kept on the road.//nk
N Kopernik

I believe I have found a solution! Check out www.boot-bag.com. No drilling into the boot lid ans it just might work! Jack
Jack Stern

This thread was discussed between 20/08/2008 and 26/08/2008

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