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MG MG Y Type - MG YB

Paul,

One for the register, nice history.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C600208#

Richard
R E Knight

The car has an aerial mounted on the roof, but no radio can be seen on the internal picture. How strange.
R Taylor

Not so strange? In my car a large HMV-valve radio was fitted, as it wasn't working I removed it to get a bit more room.

The aerial is still fitted on my car, too.

Willem van der Veer

How remarkable to find a car that's been in one family for so long. As this looks like a University Motors car, it's no surprise to find an aerial in that place: mine is the same. The radio itself had already disappeared - forensic analysis (ie a quick look under the dash) suggested it had been hung under the glove box, neatly removing most of the available knee-room.

I was a bit concerned that "original MG parts" were used in the recent service work on UMG 778: they must have been a fair age!
Tim Griggs

In the 1970s, I owned UMG 780, only 2 registrations from this one. I do not know what happened to my car. Of particular interest is the side screens mounted on the front doors. UMG 780 had the same type, but I have never seen a Y Type with these screens since - until now. Not only did they allow the windows to be opened without causing draughts, they also allowed an 'overtaker' mirror to be mounted without drilling the doors. Perhaps they were a University Motors accessory at the time.

Mike Long

M Long

Mike,

I usually end up being overtaken rather than overtake whilst driving one of the Y types. Perhaps there is less need for "overtaker mirror" nowadays compared to the 1970s.

Richard
R E Knight

Well Mike, I may just know where your old car is now - in Australia !.

There is a YA here that was a private import into Australia in late 70's and has Auster Weathershields and twin external chrome horns - maybe ?.

Did it have a "Williams" Temperature gauge perchance ?.

And the car here is For Sale !.

Tony
A L SLATTERY

Richard

The overtaker mirror is also useful when you are being overtaken, as I am most of the time. It is particularly useful for lane changing in town traffic systems and at roundabouts.

Tony

UMG 780 was a YB and I know that it was still in the UK in 1999 - owned my my late brother, Peter. It is still registered in his name at DVLA.

After Peter died, his widow sold the YB, and a Morris 8, to 'someone who had a barn full of old cars in the west of the Isle of Wight', but knows no more details. I did try to investigate this further, but drew a blank. One garage owner thought that the collection of cars 'might' have been exported to Germany. The MG was in very poor condition by that time.

Mike
M Long

Hi Richard

You mentioned in your response to Mike that you felt as you are generally overtaken rather than overtaking that in your experience you dont nees an overtaking mirror.

I think that they are absolutely vital and as Mike mentioned 'it is particularly useful for land cnanging in town traffic systems and at rounabouts'. Absolutely right. I think it foolhardy to drive a classic without any effective means of seeing what is right on your tail, or about to cut you up! I know that Y's do have interior mirrors but in my experience thaey are wholly inadequate when trying to manipulate a slow Y type around busy town centres.

Very much 'see and be seen' - so flashers of course, and high level braking lights and D Lamps with LED's to ensure that your stop and tail lights are readily seen.

Has your YT not got any passing lights or similar? See the arangement on mine to complement the interior light. (PLease note guys my garage is not simple and clear of tools etc, etc now!)

Have fun!

Cheers

Jerry

Jerry Birkbeck

Jerry,

I would be interested to know where you got your D LED rear lights from, there used to the vendor on the IMGYTR but he has since packed up, and was US based.

In respect to busy towns I tend to avoid these and stick to back country scenic roads, and always plan my route according to avoiding such traffic hold ups.

On sunday I had good trip via A272 down to Arundel 110 mile round trip in YT to the MGOC meeting along with another 350 odd cars plus one other local YT being present. Great fun.

Richard
R E Knight

Richard, Butch Tara's who advertise on the IMGYTR, has taken over the manufacture of D light LED conversion. My wife brought me a set as part of my Christmas present.
c callaghan

Richard
Also supplied by
http://www.dynamoregulatorconversions.com
Peter
P W Vielvoye

Chris / Peter,

Thanks for suggestions. Peter have you purchased the LED from Dynamo Regulator conversions are they right fit easy to install? My worry with any purchase is when you get it and find snag i.e doesn't guiet fit or like lot products not made to same standard, example I had was spark plug leads not fitting as good on new purchase inferior to what already had on YT.

Regards

Richard
R E Knight

I haven't purchased the rear lights only the flashing trafficator leds but D lights are standard for a lot of models so they should be well tried and tested. Give them a ring.
Peter
P W Vielvoye

I am working on getting another supplier of LED 'D' lights on board soon Richard. Email me off line if you want his details for now.

Paul
Paul Barrow

After a bit more research I find the car here (Y5539)was first registered on 18th August 1950 as UMG244.

It still has it's radio, centre aerial, twin front mounted chrome horns and "Auster" wind wings.

Apologies for the earlier presumptions.

Tony
A L SLATTERY

I asm not sure how this thread ended up on LED lights, but never mind.

Following the fitting of a refurbished steering column, which means that the horns now work from the centre button for the first time in the 6 years that I have owned UMG 576, I have converted the side lights and indicators to LEDs using equipment from Dynamo Conversions. I am well pleased with the result and, so far, all works as it should.

Dynamo Conversions supplied LED boards to replace the existing bulb holders in the rear D lights, LED bulbs for the front torpedo lights, LED compatible flasher units and flashing bulbs for the trafficators.

The reduced total wattage for the trafficators and LED flashers meant that I was confident to use the steering column switch and slip rings for the trafficators and flashers, so that they work together.

The LED boards for the D lamps comprise red stop and tail lights in the rectangular section, with side-facing white LEDs for the number plate illumination, and white light in the 'D' shaped section for the indicators. With the original red lenses, this means that the indicators flash red, which is legal, but not necessarily what modern drivers expect. So, I changed the flashers to amber using clear glass lenses and clear glass paint.

The clear lenses, with the rectangular part painted red were original equipment for reversing lights, but are difficult, although not impossible, to find now. If there is enough interest, it may be possible to have a batch of clear glass lenses made. I have already identified the source of reproduction red lenses, so it should be possible.

The red paint was removed and several coats of red and yellow clear paint applied to the respective parts of the lenses. I tried orange, but it was too dark. This paint is readily obtainable on the internet for a few pounds.

The LED bulbs for the front lights show white for the sidelights and amber for the indicators, and fit the original bulb holders.

I used 2 flasher units, so that I could keep the trafficators working from the same switch. Obviously, to do this, the feed from the switch must be continuous or the trafficators would flap like little wings. I mounted the 2 flashers units with small buzzers on a board and fitted it inside the battery box. Modern batteries are much smaller than those originally fitted to Y Types, so there is plenty of room. I am not sure if the buzzers are necessary to comply with the Lighting Regulations because the switch is timed, but better safe than sorry.

I will take some photos later in the week and post them here. In order to get this information to a wider set of owners, T Types specifically, I intend to write it up for the Octagon CC Bulletin.

Mike Long

M Long

Hi Richard
John James's Totally T Type2 website advertised LED's as being available from Lew Palmer. I am not sure if he is US based rather than GBR.
Nonetheless his contact details by email are:
lew@roundaboutmanor.com

Hope this may be helpful. I guess one of our US subscribers may be able to confirm.

All the best

Jerry
Jerry Birkbeck

Hi All,
Strange none of you have picked up on the painted headllights,which a 52YB would not have had i thought only the early y had these and even they had chrome rims,
John UMG624
JC Jebb

John

UMG 780, first registered about a week after UMG 778, certainly had chrome headlights when I bought it in 1970. It's condition at the time, rather tatty, suggested that it was mostly original. While it is possible that a previous owner had changed the headlights, I think it unlikely.

'Let There be Ys' states that the situation with YB headlights is totally confused. It concludes that YBs from YB0251 could be ordered with either chrome or painted headlamp shells, although both types had chrome rims. So, this car's headlamps have probably been modified at some time.

The car looks in remarkable condition for its age. Although the ad states that it has never been welded, it does not mention whether it has been re-sprayed, which I think most likely.

Mike
M Long

Hi Mike,
yes i was wrong,should have checked my YB spares book first which showes a choice of painted or chrome shells but all with plated rims.Can't say ive ever seen a YB with paint shells though, would be interesting to know how many yb's were actually ordered with paint shells rather than chrome and i wonder what the price difference was,
John UMG624
JC Jebb

Shown here: https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=pics+of+mg+yb is a selection of "Y's," some with, some without chrome wheel rims. Were trims perhaps a showroom fitted extra, or could it be that over the years some trims have gone walkabout? Certainly UMG 804 that I currently am the custodian of, has both the chrome wheel trims and chrome headlamps, but if it was my car, photographed for sale, questions might be asked as to why the rear blind is missing. Painted headlamps, missing wheel trims or missing blinds, such are the vagaries of owning a fine vintage.
R Taylor

John

My YB (UMG 576) had painted steel headlamp shells when I bought it, restored by the previous owner. I bought a pair of chrome ones in fair condition to replace them, but still have the painted ones, just in case! So at least one YB was originally fitted with painted shells.

Mike
M Long

This thread was discussed between 17/04/2015 and 29/04/2015

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