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MG MGB Technical - Sebring front valance


Can anyone confirm if the front valance fitted to this B is a "sebring" one?

http://www.historique.freeserve.co.uk/PROJECT%20FIA%20MGB/PHOTO%20GALLERY/Rons%20MGB%201.jpg

I've seen several race/rally cars with a valance just like this but am unsure what it is.

Also, is the rear sebring valance very rounded off and fits smoothly with the back of the car (when the bumper is off)? I haven't got a picture of this, but I'll try and dig one out.

Cheers,
Jamie
jamieo

Jamieo,

You are correct. That is the Front Sebring Valence that is being offered nowadays (by Moss Motors here in the States). Very similar to those used back in the 60s. The rear Sebring Valence does exactly what you say, fills the rear bumper void. It is possible to fill the gaps between the valence and the rear quarters or you can leave the gaps.

Mark
Mark W

Definitely get the aluminum version from a dealer in the UK rather than the POS thin-fiberglass version Moss sells!

As far as these valances, if you're going to put them on, the lack of bumpers can be a serious problem. Just the slightest bonk in front, and there goes your bonnet (especially painful if it's an alloy one). But way more problematic in the rear: unlike many modern cars, the gas tank goes back all the way to the rear of the car -- if you get hit without a bumper, say your Hail Marys _real_ fast because the gas tank is totally unprotected if you take the bumper off -- it'll be one of the first things to go.
Ted


Does anyone know any UK suppliers of aluminium sebring valences then?

I've only ever seen the fiberglass ones for sale.

Thanks for the petrol tank warning - maybe only worth doing on the rear if you're going for something like a FIA fuel cell to replace the tank.

Cheers,
Jamie
jamieo

Ted, I disagree. The stock B bumpers, the chrome ones at least, sit too low and are too flimsy to be of any use anyway. I once got into a shunt with a corolla, and my whole bumper went under the car and toasted the hood anyway. And as for the tank... same deal. It's built to the usual B standards anyway... if it folds up, you've no problem. You only have problems with tanks if they start leaking. (In an accident situation)
Baxter

Gee, I've had chrome bumper cars for many years and the bumpers have certainly helped avoid *many* fender benders. Definitely keep the overriders -- they do help, and the rubber-tipped post -70 type is that much more helpful again. I'll grant that a faster-moving vehicle will likely ride up over the bumpers altogether.

As far as the rear, get yourself a '74 bumper bracket and it is 10 times more robust than the '64-'73 brackets. I just can't see leaving the car in the body shop for a month every time you get a 3mph kiss from, e.g., parallel parking, or you mis-maneuver a little in a parking garage. That just doesn't make sense, time-wise or dollar-wise, to me.
Ted


Finally found a picture of the rear valence:

http://popdog.dyndns.org/interests/cars/pictures/classic_marathon_2002/Picture%20056.html
http://popdog.dyndns.org/interests/cars/pictures/classic_marathon_2002/Picture%20057.html

So is this a Sebring rear valence?

Cheers,
Jamie
jamieo

Seems to me the smart move would be to mount the valance to the bumper mounts (if possible). Yeah, the valance would get sacrificed, but the mounts really what's saving ya, I reckon.
Although like I said, it did me no good in a bump with a corolla.
Baxter

Yes, Jamie, that is the rear fiberglass valance. I've got some before and after shots of when I installed the front (fiberglass) and rear valances on my 67 MGB. Unlike the MGB in the rear valance picture you have, I blended in the seams of my valance with bondo so you can't see them. Check out my mgb restoration website at http://home.carolina.rr.com/ncrayls/ and check out the pictures. Email me if you have any other questions. -Rod
Rod in NC

This thread was discussed between 03/10/2002 and 07/10/2002

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