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MG MGA - Dash reflection

I found that the top of the dash on my white car reflected on the windscreen in a distracting way. I made a cover for it in red vinyl which works fine but frankly it's not a neat job. I think maybe the de luxe cars had such a cover but can't find it in any catalogue. Anyone know about this?
H L Davy

Yes the Mk II had this vinyl cover. I believe it was always black and was a special pvc, not like the rest of the trim. It was more like a sticky back plastic and had a more uniform embossing, (not like a leather grain) Most people just use the interior pvc, in the same colour as the interior when restoring cars. I am not sure about the twin cam (and deluxe?) though. Maybe they used the same interior pvc? All coupes certainly did.

Anyway, it covered the dash top from behind the crash rail to under the windscreen and down behind the wing beading at the sides. There were no visible edges.
Neil MG

I do agree the reflection is a problem especially on white cars.

I use a sheet of the thin anti-slip rubber in black which is placed on the dashboard top when needed and removed when not.

Back in the days when MGA's had no value and were broken for spares, I removed the covering from the dashboard top on one car and it was a thin sheet of aluminium with a vinyl covering.
John Bray

The sun in the UK must be different to that in Africa and North America. LOL. Have driven my OEW roadster for thousands of miles without reflection from the cask being a problem. Maybe it is not as highly polished as yours!

On our coupe I glued black vinyl to the dash scuttle. That does distract sometimes, but is a minor inconvenience.

Peter.
P. Tilbury

The scuttle cover on MkIIs came in both black and red. It is thin, unbacked vinyl (like the plastic cover on a 3-ring binder) and had a subtle leather grain embossing.

The dash covering was the same "leathercloth" used for interior panels.
James Stout

James, do you have any or access to any of the original material, either fitted to a car or not?

I removed mine (original) several years ago and, regretfully, did not keep any of the stuff I took off.

I would be very interested to see the grain pattern.
Neil MG

Neil,

Yes, I have original material that I have removed from both my cars. I will see if I can take a photo with enough detail. If not, I could send you a snippet.

Best, Jim
James Stout

Hi Guys,

Have you tried wearing POLARISED sunglasses? They cut out reflected glare off horizontal, non metallic surfaces (including insides of windshields). I find they are great when driving any modern car too because the sun on the top of dash reflects off the sloping windshield. The light is polarised and so is nearly completely cut out by the POLARISED sunglasses. Note that ordinary sunglasses don't help much but POLARISED sunglasses work differently.

When buying sunglasses hold them out in front of you and look at a reflection from a horizontal surface .... e.g. a shiny tiled floor. turn the glasses 90 degrees as if you are lying on your side. If suddenly the reflection comes through, the glasses are polarised. "Polaroid" brand glasses are mostly but not all polarised. These glasses are great for driving towards the sun on wet days too! Reflection of the sun from a wet road can be awful .... unless wearing POLARISED glasses. Good for cutting out reflected glare from the sea when fishing or swimming pools when bikini girls are diving too!

Bob Schapel
R L Schapel

Thanks comments, very interesting as usual. I think I had better make another effort to tidy up my job. Re Polaroid sunglasses I have found on other cars that there is a problem with toughened glass screens.
H L Davy

Here is a pic of the vinyl on the scuttle of my MkII Deluxe. It was (oxidized) red when I bought the car in 1978 but I sprayed it black.

Jim

http://imgur.com/pozx7N8


James Stout

Thanks Jim, that's perfect. It is exactly as I remember mine, now that I see it! Next job is to try and find a source...
Neil MG

Let us know if you find a source for Novon vinyl. My google-fu did not work - there are now drugs and a bio-degradable plastic using that name.
James Stout

Bob,

Polarized sun glasses are great for glare. But to read a GPS screen or other devices, I find I have to look over the glasses.

Peter.
P. Tilbury

I get reflections on the dash top, not anything to do with glare or bright sunlight. Usually on a bright day driving under trees the reflection off the scuttle is reflected again in the windscreen. In certain conditions and in peripheral vision it can look like smoke rising up. I have also had comments from passengers who have thought they have seen smoke.
Neil MG

Neil

Ditto. Although it seems that my more raked sports windscreen lessens the effect.

Steve
Steve Gyles

This thread was discussed between 16/10/2014 and 21/10/2014

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