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MG MGB Technical - mgc paint colour

hi all,
does anybody know what colour white was used for the mgc. I'm looking to repaint the car and what i have found out so far is that old english white was made from 62-67 and snowberry white was used from the beginning of the mgc production from 67-69. my car is a 68. can i assume they were snowberry. can anyone confirm this.
many thanks bob.
bob taylor

Bob
I'm no MGC expert but I did own a white one years ago and it was Old English white
I researched colours at the time and from what I have here in my records
Old English white--- had a choice of red or black trim
Snowberry white-----black trim only
therefore---
If your car has red trim it would a strong chance of being O.E. white but if it has black trim it could be either

willy
William Revit

I have had a look in my copy of "Original MGB" by Clausager and he says that the MGC was never painted in Old English White, but always in Snowberry White from the start of production. According to him no other white colour was used on the MGC.

But always remember that with your car being nearly 50 years old it could have been repainted several times and who knows what colour was used. But it seems like it SHOULD be Snowberry.
Mike Howlett

hi mike does it say anything about interior trim colours that were sold with snowberry. will have to get one of them books.
thanks bob.
bob taylor

Interior was either black or red for '67-68 and only black for '68-69, so not conclusive for a '68 car.
Dave O'Neill 2

OK. I've been back into the book and it's a bit complex. This is what it says goes with Snowberry White.

For mgc roadster and GT 1967 - 68, black seats have red piping, black carpets, red or black door seals, and other GT trim grey.
If the car has red seats, the piping is black, carpets are red, door seals are red, and other GT trim is grey.

For MGC roadster and GT 1968 - 69 (1969 model year), all interior trim is black (seats, piping, carpets, door seals) apart from the other trim items in grey.

By "other trim" they mean GT roof lining, sun visors, header and cant rails, rear quarter upper liner, and quarterlight rear edge cover.

To determine whether yours is an earlier car or a 1969 model year, Clausager says that the new model year 1969 started at MGC roadster number 4266 in Oct 1968, and MGC GT number 4236 in Nov 1968. If your car's chassis number is higher than those, then it is the revised model.
Mike Howlett

hi mike, thanks very much for your time. my car is number 33**. red seats black piping,carpets and door seals red, rest grey. looking good i think.?
regards bob.
bob taylor

Interesting--
My car was def. O.E. white
I still have an old tin of paint here, No numbers on it unfortunately but it is Dulon MG Old English white
It was an auto GT and the inside was all black ,piping ,door trims carpet and seats
If your car is red inside I'm thinking it also is OE white
Having said that special colours could be ordered as well
I have always been a bit confused what series my car was
It was first reg. in 68
Being an auto it had a map pocket and map light and ashtray std fitting which I understand were standardized in the second half of production in all cars but only in autos in the first half
willy
William Revit

Bob
Found this for you to have a look at

It's out of a book you should try and get hold of as it has a heap of MGC info in it

The Mighty MGs
by Graham Robson
published by David&Charles

It's on------
Twincam MGA
MGC
MGBV8

An interesting feature of this book to me is the V8 GT featured on the front cover, and owned at the time by Peter Laidler, is now owned by a good friend of mine here in Tasmania and still proudly wears the PL number plates shown in the pic.


William Revit

Maybe paint colours were different for Australia. Personally, I would go with what Anders Clausager put in his book. Working at British Motor Heritage, he had access to all the original MG records when he compiled "Original MGB" and he clearly says that when it was white the MGC was only painted in Snowberry.
Mike Howlett

I have long since given up taking as gospel any BL/BMC or indeed other references to parts, colours etc.. According to BL records my GTV8 is Teal Blue!
Just a few shades off I submit!


Allan Reeling

"Maybe paint colours were different for Australia"

They were, part of the high requirement for local content i.e. painted there. These are the colours and codes for MGBs, for example: http://mgbsmadeinaustralia.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Paint-codes.pdf

Clausager would only have had access to the records for cars finished in the UK ... or chose to ignore other sources. He was very sniffy, for example, about people wanting to know how many were painted in each colour saying "Go and count them yourself!".

paulh4

Paul
Yep , good info - for MGB
But MBC's were imported into Australia as complete cars

Bob
At the small cost involved----
How about getting a small amount of both O,E, and Snowberry whites mixed up and compare to your car

Cheers
willy
William Revit

will do that willy but think car been painted before. will got to paint shop today and have a check, roof looks best to compare with.


bob taylor

Bob,
Often the best original paint is seen on the back of the tailgate lock cover.
Allan Reeling

just got aerosol made up and is perfect match. the guy printed out the formula for snowberry and old english white. theres not much difference between the two. oew had a very small extra amount of yellow and less of another colour.


SNOWBERRY.

thanks all bob.
bob taylor

Congrats

Just out of interest, what brand of paint are they using in the p/pack and is it acrylic
The reason I ask is that I'm having lots of bother getting some yellow mixed up for my Elan
The prism guns they use are for cob paints and when I get it mixed in acrylic it's way out-a lot darker
just wondering if someone-your man- might have an acrylic formula in a brand I can get here
Thanks
willy

OR
the name of the paintshop and i'll contact them
thanks
William Revit



hi willy.
below are the people i use here in uk. i had cellulose paint mixed. don't know if this is any use to you but if i can help you with anything else just let me know.

regards bob.



C A R S
Car Paints in Dagenham
Unit 6
Mirravale Trading Estate
Selinas Lane
Dagenham
Essex
RM8 1YY
T: 020 8592 6300
bob taylor

Thanks Bob, I'll contact them and see what they have to say about it--
Cheers
willy
William Revit

Bob
I got onto your paint guys
Spoke to a Geoff Morton - very helpful
I guess because of the distance thing and also mostly because he was genuinely trying to help, he has actually given me the formula for the paint and the brand name of the product he uses so that I can get it mixed here---hopefully
I thank you very much for your help in contacting him
Thanks
willy
William Revit

thats good willy, hope you can get your problem sorted out.
regards bob.
bob taylor

This thread was discussed between 15/07/2016 and 22/07/2016

MG MGB Technical index

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