ABW gets a grilling

With old cars there is always a question as to how original one should keep the specification.  Purists would say you should try to keep the car as close to the factory spec as possible.  In the case of ABW that means Rostyle wheels, vinyl seats, navy trim and an MG steering wheel; rather than the alloys, leather, black interior, and 13 inch steering wheel.

Personally, I rather like the upgrades, particularly when they are period-style accessories.  The thing that attracted me to ABW was all the upgrades, small and large, that have been lavished on her without losing the period essence – which is after all why we buy classic cars.  I've already fitted a Smiths cigarette lighter that I had knocking about the garage.

Now the grille was causing me some concern.  I discovered, on close post-purchase examination, that the fitted part was close to disintegration.  This was the standard Mk III black “egg g box” item fitted from 1969 to 1974 when the rubber bumper Midget was introduced.  The grille is an alloy mesh, painted black, with a stainless steel trim and an octagonal black and red MG badge fitted centrally.  

Standard Mk III MG Midget (GAN5) grille

The options were to go with the standard black or perhaps fit the slightly plainer, polished alloy version from the Austin Healey Sprite, fitted from 1961 (Sprite Mk II) to 1969 (Sprite Mk IV).  This is similar to the MG grille, but without a centre badge and the stainless steel detailing.  

Standard chromed “egg box” grille fitted to an MG Midget

An even more radical idea was to fit the vertical slat grille from the earlier Mk I and Mk II MG Midget.  This is of a rather complicated construction, with a black and red MG shield-like badge towards the top centre of the grille. 

 Mk II MG grille

Cost inevitably becomes a factor, with standard grilles costing around £150 or more and second-hand examples often bashed and bruised and little better than the one being replaced.  A final option was to look to something sportier.  For a while Ashley Hinton has been manufacturing stainless steel components for Midgets and Sprites.  A snazzy grille caught my eye – retailing at a very reasonable £75 including badge at the Midget 50 show.  The quality was excellent. (Ashley Hinton website: http://www.mgcars.org.uk/ah/)

Fitting was simple; a straight replacement and a fitting kit was included.  The new grille fitted snuggly inside the existing aluminium surround finishers that are riveted to the body work.  However, to my eye the finished job looked a little too plain; perhaps too much like a racing car or special.  The solution was to take the stainless trim off the original defunct grille and mount it to the new item.  Finding some suitable fixings was a challenge, but eventually it all came together.

 New Ashley Hinton grille fitted, with additional stainless trim

I’m rather pleased with the final arrangement.  No doubt the purists will shake their heads!