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MG MGA - sunroof in a coupe

I was reading a thread on the MGA Experience forum which I found really interesting.

A prospective Coupe owner from Glasgow has found a really nice 1500 coupe but was asking for opinions about the aftermarket Webasto sunroof that had been fitted to it in the mid 70s. It appeared to be a good installation.

Most opinions were slightly in the negative for various reasons including, lack of originality, reduction in value, water leaks etc.

I think I was the only one to put in a good word for the car. I saw a similar car at MGA day a couple of years ago and it created quite a bit of interest.

My previous MGA was a coupe and I loved how it looked. It was however, very hot inside and on one mid 70s summer trip to Switzerland it was so hot that my wife arrived with heat stroke and took a day to recover. I was very tempted to fit a sunroof after that but I couldnt really afford it at the time.

I wouldnt fit a sunroof to a coupe today but it wouldnt put me off buying an MGA with one already fitted.

I would tell everyone that a 30 year old Webasto sunroof was a classic in its own right and was bound to increase the value of the car!

And if anyone was critical of the sunroof I would simply enjoy the benefits of a cooler coupe with more fresh air and sunlight inside and just blame it all on the DPO! :-)

Am I really the only person who approves?

Colyn
Colyn Firth

It was good enough for Rivers Fletcher and PRX 14.

Google for his car.
John DeWolf

It's a shame that there does not appear to be a great number of photo's showing the actual installed sunroof. You can get a glimpse of the SR on some of the pic's but it would be fantastic to be able to see inside the car. Was the SR able to be opened or install as a permenatly closed unit. How was the interior roof treated etc.
Gordon Harrison

If you want more air, a roadster isn't always the better option. I can see that it would be a perfectly sensible option in Scotland with so much rain, and relatively cold, and think it's a very pragmatic approach. It has to be faster to close the webasto from the driver's seat than get the hood up on a roadster. The car would be a lot less draughty on a cold day too.

If it was offered on other cars, why not do it on a coupé too.

But I am not one of the purists, having a 1500 with disc brakes, five-speed, Judson, sporting screen available, mesh rad grille, 2-speed wipers, electronic ignition etc.

dominic clancy

I'd have it like a shot, having owned 2 1500 Coupes (70s and now) and a 1500 roadster and also had the benefit of a MGBGT with a Webasto. The latter had some huge advantages. Knock a bit off the price and enjoy it.
Shane
Shanerj

Thanks all for the interest / advice...I have taken the plunge and yesterday the old lady was trallered up, yeh.

1958 1500 Coupe MGA + sunroof.

Will put up photographs when I've more time, busy at work the now so it'll be next week.

By then i hope it'll have stopped raining and she can head out, seems the front window rubber seems to leak a bit, the sunroof however is dry !
M Elliott

I seem to remember seeing a picture of a Coupe with the ultimate sunroof; it had been converted to a roadster! It was a really tasty job and had retained those sexy little Coupe door handles. It was on the MG Nuts web site, but that site doesn't seem to exist anymore.
Lindsay Sampford

"It was on the MG Nuts web site, but that site doesn't seem to exist anymore."

Steve Simmons, after a huge amount of work, is days away from launching his updated MG Nuts Dot com site.
T Aczel

I have an MGA roadster and for cold or rainy days I put on the Factory aluminum hardtop. I have the best of both worlds. I am currently working on a 58 ZB Magnette. It now has a sunroof that matches the curves of the roof. It came form a Toyota Celica GT. It is water tight and slides with a touch of a button. I made the decsion to put it in and be the PDO. The car was trash when I got it and I figured it would be better with a sunroof to make it one of a kind or let it go to the crusher
JEFF BECKER

Good for you M, I would have bought it too. The sunroof is part of your cars history and I think you will just love it.

We would love to see the pictures of it when you get the time to post them M.

My roadster was a hillclimb car with a Sebring front valence when I first saw it and it still looks the same apart from removing the roll cage and competition seats. So I do like the look of period modified cars.

Jeff, I have seen an MG ZB Magnette with a sunroof fitted over here in the UK too. The owner told me that it was original equipment but I dont know enough about the ZA or the ZB to be able to confirm this.

All I do know is that it looked great in the Magnette.

All this has got me thinking, should I buy an original hard top for my roadster and fit it with a sunroof? :-)

(Do I have to expect death threats for thinking this!!?)
Colyn Firth

This thread was discussed between 29/04/2011 and 07/05/2011

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