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MG MGA - Factory chassis finish

I have been trying to figure out the chassis finish and method of application on TF's, and I have been able to find almost zilch. So I thought I would ask the MGA board how the early MGA's were done on the 'assumption' (dangerous word that one) that there was not a great deal of change in paint and technique between the two models.

Were the chassis dipped in a tank? Anyone have a photo of this?

The factory chassis paint on a TF will dissolve in gasoline and kerosene which makes me think it had some of bitumen/tar base to provide moisture protection. Was the same stuff used on early MGA's? What is this paint called?

I am guessing the same technique and paint was used on the whole BMC range at that time. Where did this take place?

Cheers,
Matthew.
M Magilton

Matthew, After the welding process, the MGA chassis was dipped in a bath of enamel and baked in a gas fired infra-red oven for six minutes. There was a building at the Abingdon factory site called the Press Shop where the chassis were assembled.
Garry
Garry Kemm

Gary. -- Just curious, but where did you find that interesting bit of information?
Barney Gaylord

Thank you Garry,
Looks like MGA's used a different paint technique.

Matthew.
M Magilton

Barney, Can't give you a definitive answer at this stage. I have a photocopy of a page from an unknown publication of a photo of an MGA chassis being welded together with the following caption.
"Above, the chassis welding jig enabled the frame to be rotated while welders worked on it. After welding, the chassis was dipped in a bath of enamel and baked in a gas-fired infra-red oven for six minutes. The chassis was a development of the TF's but with a....."
The rest of the caption is missing.
I will endeavour to trace the source but it is over 10 years since I acquired the photocopy and I cannot recall from whence it came. It may take a while before I can get back to you with further information.
Maybe another reader can assist.
Garry
Garry Kemm

I got it. Mick Anderson sent me a copy of the article. It is "Sports Cars by the Thousand" from The Motor, April 8, 1987. Interesting article about assembling sports cars at Abingdon after they pushed out the Magnette assembly line to install the Healey assembly line. It is a 2.8-MB pdf file which I have posted here: http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/literature/pdf/sports_cars_by_the_thousand.pdf
Barney Gaylord

Thank you Barney, Mick and Garry.
How does "Stove enamel" compare to other paints I wonder? Were they also using this in 1955 (article is 1959)?

Matthew.
M Magilton

This picture shows the hand-welding of the chassis for the very first MGA's. It's from the book "MG's Abingdon factory" by Brian Moylan

Rutger Booy

This thread was discussed between 19/11/2013 and 24/11/2013

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