Moss Motors, Ltd

Anyone out their done some odd body Mods?? Im thinking about keeping my rubber bumpers off my Midget to give it a nice clean look, anyone done this?? I would love to see a picture of it!! Is it legal?? Help me out. thank you tim

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Timothy Hamlin

Tim,

I de-bumpered my '72 B in the fashion of sebring style, but handmade metal pieces as opposed to buying the fiberglass pieces. Is it leagl? is a good question. I recall seing loads of old VW bugs running around with no bumpers back in the day (and even now). So, it's not a new idea.

David

 

I appreciate the reply.  I remember seeing a article and a picture of a *sebring MG* It looked pretty sharp.  Dont get me wrong I love the original styles, but I have a serious problem with getting bored!! So I have a tendancy to doing mods on any project I work on.  The car may be done,, but in my mind their is always something to do!! thanx again tim

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Timothy Hamlin

Modified Midget? These pictures may give you some ideas!

http://www.britishv8.org/MG/HankKleban.htm

Make sure you surf around on that website. There's lots and lots and lots of good pictures of modified MGA's and MGB's... just not many Midget's YET.

try this site www.npmccabe,tripod.com/mgbumpers.htm its a rubber to chrome bumper conversion hope it helps there is also a bunch of racing sites that sell fiberglass fenders and such for all types of MG's

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1974 MG Midget

That midget modification is unbelievable.

That is the first ive seen of that sight. There is a lot of good info

 

Al

Converting from rubber bumpers to chrome isn't too difficult, but removing them entirely is really easier. The main problem with the conversion is getting new bumper mounting brackets to fit properly. Front turn signal lamp placement is different and the fenders will have to be filled in to mount the earlier style lamps. The front valence is also different, but could be left with the rubber bumper two hole style if you want. In the rear you'll have to smooth the area around the rubber bumper mounts and fill the area beneath the tail lamps. Other body mods have been done also such as adding flares on the fenders etc. My car was originally chrome bumper, but the same style could be done with a rubber bumper car as well. Check my photos.

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'73 Midget (V6)
'59 MGA (I6) under construction
'73 Lotus Europa

"There is a fine line between a hobby and mental illness"

 A buddy of mine has run his TR4 without bumpers since he's owned it.  He does have antique plates on it though which in PA excludes the car from safety inspection.  Each state is probably different though.  I think I'd check with whomever does you inspections as to the legality.  I seriously doubt that any cops would bother you since most wouldn't know what it's suposed to look like anyway and they're too busy making real money off speeding tickets & DUIs.

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72 MGB 80 TR8
Pittsburgh PA

I personally dislike the rubber bumpers.  It's not that they're particularly ugly, it just reminds me that in 1975, the sporty and classic looking MG disappeared. 

Apart from a major weight savings, removing the bumpers uncovers the original Spridget.  As mentioned by Bill Young above, you do have to fill in the gaping holes and figure out a reasonable alternative for protection - ie either chrome or custom bumpers, unless you're happy to kiss someone else's grill sometime.  In my avatar you can see the hole I have to fill-in below the headlights.  I bought some round LED lights to replace the turn signals, so once the spot is welded over, I will drill it out to mount them.

I fabricated some steel bar and flat stock bumpers that mount to the rubber bumper locations in the grill and rear.  They are strong enough to support the car using a jack.  I will powder coat them gloss black to match the new paint.  They look good IMO, and will give me some protection from rear enders.  They're also a fraction of the weight of the originals.

 Chrome will always look good, but you'll have a lot more fabricating to do to fit them.

Here's my MkIV, de-rubbered.

1. chrome trim and Midget emblems removed from rockers.Still keeps the trunk and grille MG badge.

2. Mirror holes welded up on doors.

3. Side marker lights and antenna holes welded up.

4. Gas filler neck hole and reverse lamps removed. Filler is in the trunk. Took an H3 driving light out of some ricer headlights and mounted it underneath the rear for a backup light. It's bright (and is on a relay)!

5. stainless licence plate frame with the protruding License plate "horns" for the lights shaved off (LED bulbs are in the licence plate bolts)

6. Reworked the lower body seam on front and rear valance panels to eliminate the spot welds and make the seam smooth.

7. Cowl holes in the front valance welded up.

8. Bumper holes welded up on front fenders. I use a set of Autonik 7" headlights with built in LED parking and turns. 

 9. I cut some stainless to cover the rear bumper mounts and used some 3M double sided tape to hold them on.

10. 60's Midget grille.

11. Flashing was some cheapy stuff on Ebay off of an early 70's. 15 bucks. I stripped all the black and hand sanded/polished it to the aluminum finish.

12. All the anodizing removed from the windshield frame (polished aluminum) and I cut the drip rails off when I had the windshield frame apart. 

 13. "Tailfinned" the rear fender seam on the top so that the ugly weld is gone at the front and the fender looks seemless.

14. Weld beads in the front fender openings and around the grille opening removed.

15. Pre Mk IV rear corners (no flats here!).