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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 MGA - Tripod Headlamps

I must admit I am an interloper on this site - I have a 1954 MG TF! However the TF and MGA both have the relay box system of indicators/sidelamps/brake lights. I propose to fit the front sidelamp bulbs in the headlamps and use the current side/indicator units exclusively as flashers - with amber bulbs. To do this I will need new headlamp units with side lamp holes in the reflectors. I have seen on line TriPod replicas, with the required hole, for about £50. My TF has split headlamp rims with the clamping screw and TriPods do look well with these. However I have noted a few MGA owners compaining on line that the TriPod replicas are of very poor quality. Is there anyone out there with first hand experience of the ones currently for sale on eBay?

If I didn't have a TF I would probabally have a MGA


Jan T
J Targosz

Jan

You should read the article in the Z Series section of this month's MGCC Safety Fast magazine on this very subject.

Paul
Paul Dean

To the best of my knowledge, all of the currently available tripod replicas are garbage, not functional for night driving, and not very good for concours show either. Moss Motors even has a note in their catalog recommending something else for night driving. If you want to drive at night with tripod lamps, look for good original ones that may be restoreable.
Barney Gaylord

Jan, I agree with Barney and I have had experience of trying to drive at night with repro tripods.

When I first got my present MGA 6 years or so ago it came with repro Tripod style headlamps. They did look great but the lens design was really poor.

They were so bad that on dipped beams light just seemed to blaze every whichway including into the treetops.
Then on high beam this became even worse with random beams of light illuminating everything except the road ahead.

I understand that the original Tripods were better but finding a pair in good condition may not be so easy.

If you dont ever drive the car on unlit roads then tripods would suit you fine.
But if you prefer to see where you are going at night and actually enjoy driving your car in the dark, then fit some modern lamp units.

You can always fit some tripods for car shows etc and then swap to better ones when you are likely to drive it at night.

Colyn



c firth

Thanks for the responses. It's great to see similar MGA enhusiasm as with TDs and TFs. My suspicions have been confirmed. I have fitted a Dynalite 50A alternator so can power, and will buy, a set of good quality halogen headlamps with the side lamp windows.


Jan T
J Targosz

If you can get an old pair of tripod lights with corroded lenses it is relatively easy to fit replacements with halogen bulbs and sidelamps. They come up on eBay fairly often. Make sure they have "Made in England" at the bottom under "700 headlamp"!
Neil MG

Hi I didn't think the A ever had "tripod" headlights when new ?

Gordon
G C Pugh

Im certain that you are correct Gordon although I have seen many MGAs fitted with them presumably as later replacements.

I think I must be in the camp that prefers to see the MGA as a different breed from the earlier T-Series cars with a more modern streamlined body etc.
So I prefer the look of disc wheels as compared to wire wheels and I particularly like the twin cam/deluxe disc wheel design.
This most likely explains why I am not likely to refit tripods to my car.

Dont get me wrong though, if Jan offered to sell me his TF , I would find it really difficult to turn it down.
I love the TF design and if I could afford to buy a second MG, it would be the TF.

Colyn

c firth

Oh no - I really liked the look of the tripod lights on the A, so bought myself a pair for Christmas.

Now you tell me they are useless.

Let's hope I can find the receipt and get a refund.

Gutted! 😂

Chris.

Chris Bond

Had tripods as standard equipment on my '55 Magnette and they were awful things to drive by but looked the part when they were turned off!
Lindsay Sampford

.....I suppose you could be really perverse and fit HIDs to a TF!
Lindsay Sampford

Guys here spend a kings rasnom on replica Tripod lights and they have a hard time at night trying to drive with them. They do look really nice, though. I run a set of lights listed for a Mazda Miata and they are great. Hope you can find some to restore.
Tommy Baker

Lindsay

I heard something on a motoring programme in 'Quest' (Dealers Wheels) that HIDS may not be legal in certain situations. I have just done an internet search and came up with the following:

" The latest directive from VOSA includes their view that unless strict criteria are met, after-market HID kits may not be legal.

There is some confusion regarding the change in legislation towards HID kits. Although we are still trying to determine the full details here is some text that may help! Many thanks to the MX3 Forum guys who bought it to my attention

Here is the relevant text -

"In the Department's view it is not legal to sell or use after market HID lighting kits, for converting conventional Halogen headlamps to HID Xenon. If a customer wants to convert his vehicle to Xenon HID he must purchase completely new Xenon HID headlamps. The reason for this is that the existing lens and reflector are designed around a Halogen filament bulb, working to very precise tolerances. If one places a HID "burner" (bulb) in the headlamp, the beam pattern will not be correct, there will be glare in some places and not enough light in other places within the beam pattern.
The following is the legal rationale:

The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 regulate the situation in the UK.
Under these Regulations, HID/Gas Discharge/Xenon headlamps are not mentioned and therefore they are not permitted according to the strict letter of the law........."


Food for thought.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve,
Your quite right about UK illegality of aftermarket HID's. It is because these bulbs are not designed for the reflector and the beam pattern dazzles as a result. I also mentioned it to my MOT man and he said the same and has in fact failed a car for beam spread, not so much that it would dazzle, but there was a 'hole' in the light beam right where it was needed. Face it, even as original equipment these lights dazzle. I have them on my daily driver and am regularly getting flashed by oncoming traffic as they think i am on main beam.

Like you i have the (UK Legal) Night Breaker bulbs and find them fine.

regards
Colin
Colin Manley

Plus all current production vehcles fitted with xenons, nust have headlamp washers and self levelling headlamps.



My MOT guy ss he interprets the currant advice from VOSA they are not uk legal unless fitted as OE equipment.
SR Smith 1

In my opinion, those HID things should be banned for what they do to the eyes of other road users. I have not yet been in a car at night that has them, so I don't know what it is like to be behind them, but my son-in-law fitted led bulbs to his Honda Civic Type 'R' and although they looked bright when you looked at them, they seemed to light the road very badly. Tungsten rules!
Lindsay Sampford

Currant? woops
SR Smith 1

This thread was discussed between 04/01/2015 and 02/02/2015

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