MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Seat bases

Just taking my seats apart to put new cushions in and I have found that both bases have split across the very narrow section in the outside corners, see picture. I plan to remake the ply base and re-use the metal screens. Does anyone know if the replacement ply bases are wider at the broken section or has anyone beefed up their seats at this obvious weak point? I don't see why the section could not be widened inwards a bit. I plan to have some original dunlopillo (latex) cushions made. My original leather is still in lovely condition.

Thanks

John


John Francis

More detailed picture

John Francis

Even remade as per the original, I suppose it would probably last another 100,000+ miles. How long would that take you? ;o)
Dave O'Neill 2

Hi John
I agree with Dave. Why not remake them as original. I did just that and remade the blocks in oak. I also reused all the original fixings where possible including the captive nuts.

Brian Paddon

Hi Brian and Dave
I think there is definitely a weak spot there as even my passenger seat was broken and that hasn't been used that much and only by lightweight passengers for the past 40 years. I expect they broke many years ago. Your photo shows yours was broken too. Looking back in the archives I note that it has been discussed before with a suggested improvement widening that section and using 12mm ply.
Brian did you reuse the rivets to hold the mesh on? They look like bifurcated rivets.
John Francis

Hi John
I used new bifurcated rivets bought off ebay fitted my restored original mesh trays onto the new ply (Both originals were split in the same position.) Used original ply on the front fitted to original front panels. I have found wherever possible to reuse original parts as new are rubbish. I did buy the foams on special price from Moss in the 70's, when I started buying parts for my rebuild. I had the seat frame bases powder coated and have made some oak 'wedges' to lift the front of the seats to give more leg support (pinched this idea from my son's B.
Regards Brian


Brian Paddon

Hi Brian
That looks very good. My seats don't have the three round (ventilation) holes in the front ramps that Barney shows on his website. Did your have any? I agree totally about replacement parts. I like the way that the factory fitted the mesh at a slight angle which I think gave them flexibility on putting the rivets through. Can't think of another reason why they did that. John
John Francis

The screens weren't all tapered. Mine from August 1958 production were all 90 degree bends, and the original Dunlopillo cushion was shaped to match, not tapered. (picture).

barneymg

Hi John
My original bases had no holes. My car is a 1600 roadster registered in Nov 1960. So maybe as Barney says there were various options to these along with others on the cars. I tried posting another photo from the top but it was not added so here it is now.
Regards Brian

Brian Paddon

1957 Coupe here, repatriated about 20 years ago.
No reason to think the seats were not original ( although some trim panels had been badly covered in thick Naughahide ).

The photo is when removing the totally beyond help covers about 6 years ago. Has the 3 holes in the base ramp. If the rivets are bifurcated they are turned over quite deep inside the plywood.

Does anybody else have the piping under the stapling ? Or maybe somebody had done some work on the seats.

J N Gibson

Hi Brian

My car is a March 1960 registered 1600 UK car so it looks like ours were produced with the same design. JN the rivets are turned over into the wood and can hardly been seen on the surface of my bases. If you mean the black strip around the edge of the cover under the staples mine has this but I'm not sure if it was added when the seats had new cushions fitted 25 years ago.
He's a picture of the rivets underneath plus the fixing of the cover to the base and the picture of my top covers - totally original with beautiful patina! The only part that hasn't been restored on my car.


John Francis

Just came across this ad in NAMGAR magazine. Custom fabricated seat bases. Made from original patterns.135.00 per set.
Contact neonracer28@hotmail.com
A Dickinson

This thread was discussed between 19/01/2018 and 26/01/2018

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGA BBS now