Fascinating. I had many of the same fit and contour problems with aftermarket panels for my 1967 Mini Traveler. Fortunately my body shop cared enough to work with them - but with resultant damage to my wallet. Getting it right meant putting more money into the car than I could recover by selling it. Fortunately, I love it and plan to keep it forever.
Great video! Everything you said about body panels and replacement panels needing an experienced and dedicated craftsman to make them fit properly is true for all European sports cars of the 11950s through 1970s. They all had hand built bodywork to a greater or lesser degree.
I learned the “have the grille with the car” lesson way back when did my 63 Etype in my mom’s garage. I did the bodywork minus the headlight trim ring. It was on order, but after a few months I went ahead and painted the car. When the rim finally arrived it didn’t fit. Had to redo the body work and repaint the entire car. I did a much better paint job the second time so it all worked out. (I bought it in 1974 for $900!)
Velva seal was my go to back in the day. Now 35 years later the areas I didn't strip all the way down on my B look just like that, although not bad and only under indoor lights. Good info, thanks.
I grew up in a body shop, where my dad used velva seal quite a bit, and I used it early on myself. I see tons of cars coming through my shop where the paint has shrunk down into cracking in the base paint underneath.
This was so throughout the British car industry. The Jaguar saloon had a hundred weight of lead filler in every body! Body panels from Triumph’s that could not be made to fit on production were sent off to dealers as spare parts.
Yep, true for any type of vintage car restoration, though some parts sources are better than others. I used to own classic Cougars. One thing I appreciated about the guy who owns the leading commercial parts supply company was that he would tell you if you would have to do rework for repops - he would only offer certain things because they were the ONLY choice out there, and he would always offer a better-fitting part when it became available.
I would be highly interested in a video like this for the B. I have a 70 BGT here in Ohio as well. Saw you leave the mid Ohio vintage races last year. I have a ton of rust repair to do.
Body work is an art that takes years to learn. Not everybody can do it. Because you love your car does not mean you have the artistic talents to sculpt surfaces together with seamless transitions. Save up and find in a car club of your brand and start joining and asking around.
I could never get my driver’s door adjusted to latch properly and the door would often fly open when the chassis flexed or around corners. In a ‘57 MGA without seat belts, if you weren’t gripping the steering wheel tightly, there was the risk of being flung out of the vehicle. Panel gaps also weren’t perfect. I only kept the car as long as I did because it had such beautiful lines. Finding a body craftsman as this guy is, is rare and I would have gladly handed the car over to him for a makeover.
My MGA Coupe has exactly the same door issue but only on the american drivers side. I heard years ago none of these panels fitted properly but it relies on the body guy at the time to put it right.
Unfortunately the youth of today don’t want these cars that are so precious and have been restored. The marketplace is simply abyss. Regards Al from down under.
I've always liked these MG-As. They sit on an incredibly stout chassis. You'll lose your mind fitting up the body panels since they don't even fit from one car to the next. Those Chinesium rockers are too short. Beautiful finish though.
Interesting video . Not sure if everyone is interested in a museum quality restoration & just do it as a hobby . Aware of two MGA’s being “restored” by friends . They are working in a 2 car garage , no hoist & when/if they get them finished , will probably get ohs & aws at the local car shows .
Actually, what a said was there was some variance, but not like Alfa Romeo where you could see as much as 3/4”. I don’t remember how much there was on the MGA but it was much less… like 1/4” maybe
@ The grille interchangeably has more to do with how many cars have been damaged in that area, and ill fitting replacements that were available for so many years ( some cars have been adjusted to fit these) The replacements today are a lot better, but are made by more than one company ( believe it or not ) and may or may not be exactly the same as each other, or the factory ones.
I tend to say a similar thing to my customers. I tell them I don’t do Maaco quality A friend of mine conned me into squeezing his, his Mgb GT into the schedule because he said if I didn’t do it, he would take it to Maaco. He said friends don’t let friends go to Maaco 😂
Fascinating. I had many of the same fit and contour problems with aftermarket panels for my 1967 Mini Traveler. Fortunately my body shop cared enough to work with them - but with resultant damage to my wallet. Getting it right meant putting more money into the car than I could recover by selling it. Fortunately, I love it and plan to keep it forever.
Thanks for the video, learned something new today!
Glad to hear it!
I learn so much from your videos! Thank you.
You are so welcome!
For every ten MGAs you see at a Northeast show, probably nine look exactly like this one. The door sticking out is ubiquitous.
Great video! Everything you said about body panels and replacement panels needing an experienced and dedicated craftsman to make them fit properly is true for all European sports cars of the 11950s through 1970s. They all had hand built bodywork to a greater or lesser degree.
Outstanding video and presentation.
Glad you enjoyed it
I learned the “have the grille with the car” lesson way back when did my 63 Etype in my mom’s garage. I did the bodywork minus the headlight trim ring. It was on order, but after a few months I went ahead and painted the car. When the rim finally arrived it didn’t fit. Had to redo the body work and repaint the entire car. I did a much better paint job the second time so it all worked out. (I bought it in 1974 for $900!)
If it's a roadster and you still have it you're doing well.
@ I wish!
I learn so much from your videos . Thank you sir.
Glad to hear that, you’re welcome 👍🏻
Velva seal was my go to back in the day. Now 35 years later the areas I didn't strip all the way down on my B look just like that, although not bad and only under indoor lights. Good info, thanks.
I grew up in a body shop, where my dad used velva seal quite a bit, and I used it early on myself. I see tons of cars coming through my shop where the paint has shrunk down into cracking in the base paint underneath.
Great information. Tell the owner it’s scrap and I’ll take it off his hands for $500!
Good advice, thank you
My pleasure!
This was so throughout the British car industry. The Jaguar saloon had a hundred weight of lead filler in every body! Body panels from Triumph’s that could not be made to fit on production were sent off to dealers as spare parts.
When I had a shop GM, Ford & Chrysler did the same. Probably still do.
Back in the day, body construction wasn't as precise as now. And never, ever assume that repro parts either fit or work.
Yep, true for any type of vintage car restoration, though some parts sources are better than others. I used to own classic Cougars. One thing I appreciated about the guy who owns the leading commercial parts supply company was that he would tell you if you would have to do rework for repops - he would only offer certain things because they were the ONLY choice out there, and he would always offer a better-fitting part when it became available.
I would be highly interested in a video like this for the B. I have a 70 BGT here in Ohio as well. Saw you leave the mid Ohio vintage races last year. I have a ton of rust repair to do.
Body work is an art that takes years to learn. Not everybody can do it. Because you love your car does not mean you have the artistic talents to sculpt surfaces together with seamless transitions. Save up and find in a car club of your brand and start joining and asking around.
I could never get my driver’s door adjusted to latch properly and the door would often fly open when the chassis flexed or around corners. In a ‘57 MGA without seat belts, if you weren’t gripping the steering wheel tightly, there was the risk of being flung out of the vehicle. Panel gaps also weren’t perfect. I only kept the car as long as I did because it had such beautiful lines. Finding a body craftsman as this guy is, is rare and I would have gladly handed the car over to him for a makeover.
My MGA Coupe has exactly the same door issue but only on the american drivers side. I heard years ago none of these panels fitted properly but it relies on the body guy at the time to put it right.
Unfortunately the youth of today don’t want these cars that are so precious and have been restored. The marketplace is simply abyss. Regards Al from down under.
worth remembering that accuracy wasn't the same as today 60 years ago
I've always liked these MG-As. They sit on an incredibly stout chassis. You'll lose your mind fitting up the body panels since they don't even fit from one car to the next. Those Chinesium rockers are too short. Beautiful finish though.
Interesting video . Not sure if everyone is interested in a museum quality restoration & just do it as a hobby . Aware of two MGA’s being “restored” by friends . They are working in a 2 car garage , no hoist & when/if they get them finished , will probably get ohs & aws at the local car shows .
3/4” variance in fender lengths? That’s nuts. No wonder the UK car industry eventually imploded in the 70s.
Actually, what a said was there was some variance, but not like Alfa Romeo where you could see as much as 3/4”. I don’t remember how much there was on the MGA but it was much less… like 1/4” maybe
@ Ah, okay, thanks. But non-interchangeable grilles is still pretty serious.
@ The grille interchangeably has more to do with how many cars have been damaged in that area, and ill fitting replacements that were available for so many years ( some cars have been adjusted to fit these) The replacements today are a lot better, but are made by more than one company ( believe it or not ) and may or may not be exactly the same as each other, or the factory ones.
@ Someone is competing with Moss? 😀
@ there’s a small company called Scarborough Faire that specializes in Mga and magnette parts, they tooled up a good quality grill back around 2016
Reinforces a rebuilders comments to his customer's; if you want it done right; I'll do it. Otherwise I won't touch it! He was a perfectionist
I tend to say a similar thing to my customers. I tell them I don’t do Maaco quality
A friend of mine conned me into squeezing his, his Mgb GT into the schedule because he said if I didn’t do it, he would take it to Maaco.
He said friends don’t let friends go to Maaco 😂
I think my 1964 AH 3000 had all of these faults but in 1974 I wasn't that bothered !
Very bad restoration the dog leg to much inside and to short to the door pillard...like you indicated
I would not consider it a very bad restoration, more like the average restoration on one of these. Which is why I made the video to begin with. 👍🏻