Moss Motors, Ltd

Hello,

I was just wondering if there is something in the VIN or some kind of trim tag that would tell me what the original color of my 1975 MGB was. Right now it is black and my dad thinks that that was the original color. However since I got it I've noticed that the inside of the trunk an a small ring under the antenna mount are the kind of an Olive drab (I've sometimes seen this called tundra on some MG sites) color. My dad, who has been a body man for longer than I've been alive (over thirty years), says that this was a primer that was used under the paint. Normally, I totally take his word on most things paint and body related but this time I think he's wrong. Can someone please help me to settle this? It is the anniversary edition if that helps at all.

Thanks,

EB

Racine,WI 

Outside of our catalog, the Original Series books have some of the most complete information a restorer could ever hope to find in one place.

Find the book - HERE.

****

---

John Zarate-Khus
Internet Marketing Supervisor
khusj@mossmotors.com

Helpful Links:
Code of Conduct
FAQs
Moss Motors, Ltd.

Disclaimer: Working on automobiles is inherently dangerous. Moss Motors, Ltd. is not liable for injury or damage due to incorrect installation or use of their products. All products are sold with the understanding that the safe and proper installation and use of the products is the customer’s responsibility. Follow factory workshop manual procedures and instructions, but use current shop safety standards and common sense. Some tasks will require professional advice or services which Moss Motors cannot provide.

I'm working on a 74 chrome bumper right now. When I took the asphalt sound deadener <?> out from the floor pans before drilling out the spot welds, the bare metal has an olive drab primer on under the paint . It only has 30k miles on the car (original miles) and is the original orange toned red paint. I have wet anded some of the fenders already and they go from the top coat to the olive drab primer to bare metal. Your dad might be on the right track.

---

Chris
Smart Concepts, LLC
Livonia, MI 48150

For the 75 vintage there was no way to tell on any car #'s what the original color was short of ordering a BMIHT cert. A good place to look is under the dash as well as most resprays did not get there. So far it looks like black may have been the color.

---

Alfred, Maine
63B Waiting for resto
63B Donor
67B Ours
73BGT Mine
73BGT Hers

http://www.teglerizer.com/mgcolors/

 This is a good visual reference for MGB colors.

Isn't Automotive Archeology fun?

As stated already, check the obvious places that a respray would not cover. The antenna would have been dealer installed, so the paint under it should be the factory top coat. The entire body would have been top coated, so usually you should not be able to see primer anywhere except where paint may have chipped or worn off the shell. I don't recall ever seeing an olive drab primer, but by feathering the paint back when sanding you should be able to see the whole history of the car. Based on the year, the car could have been either black or tundra.

 

---

Kelvin Dodd
Global Sourcing Engineer
Moss Motors, Ltd.
Helpful Links:
Code of Conduct
FAQs

Disclaimer: Working on automobiles is inherently dangerous. Moss Motors, Ltd. is not liable for injury or damage due to incorrect installation or use of their products. All products are sold with the understanding that the safe and proper installation and use of the products is the customer’s responsibility. Follow factory workshop manual procedures and instructions, but use current shop safety standards and common sense. Some tasks will require professional advice or services which Moss Motors cannot provide.