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MG MG Y Type - Spare Wheel Cover Keyhole Escutcheons

I noticed that on my YT I have two different spring loaded flaps on the escutcheons
One covers the whole area whilst the other is cut back to about 3/4 of the fitting

I have several others with broken springs which are the 3/4 type.

What is correct and was there a change during the production of the cars
cheers
Ian
Ian Prior

Ian

The Y/T had full lid covers and the Y and YB had partial ones I understand. I believe this is covered in Let there be Ys.

Paul
Paul Barrow

Thanks Paul

And another question....

When did the switch to turn off the rear lights disappear from the Spare wheel cover ?
cheers
Ian
Ian Prior

There never was one Ian.

If your car is fitted with one then it was a previous owner fit.

Paul
Paul Barrow

Hi Ian,
In some states of Australia in the early years, pre-1960 ?, it was law that if you parked your car on the side of the road at night you had to illuminate the right rear tail light.

To save the battery from going flat by leaving all the parking lights on, a live wire and switch was run so just the one bulb was lit all night. The driver simply walked to the rear of the car and flicked the switch.

At some time, sanity prevailed and reflectors were accepted as being enough.

That was the story I was told by my friend who is old enough to know (he has just turned 89).

Cheers

Tony
A L SLATTERY

Ian
If you log in to our face book page thttps://www.facebook.com/mgoneandaquarterlitre/?fref=tso just a few pages down on 22 August Neil posted a series of photos of different escutcheons used on Y types If you find the page interesting please click like. If you are not on facebook you can still view our page but will not be able to comment. It contains a wealth of information about our cars and is regularly updated by Neil Cairns where he always posts the answers to the many technical questions he receives.
Peter



Peter Vielvoye

Thanks Tony and Peter

I will ask some of the older T Type owners if they can remember the switches here in Victoria.

I will check out the Facebook site.

cheers
Ian
Ian Prior

Ian, Tony et al - an interesting sideline to your original question, was the comment on the outside switch for the tail light (singular). My YA was bought from Alec Mayes outside Toowoomba in 1984, and he told me then that the switch was to comply with the law that Tony refers to. In bare-metalling the car (painting the body this week), I opted NOT to fill in the hole where the switch went, but rather to preserve the feature as an interesting part of the car's history in Queensland. I can well understand afficionados overseas not thinking that there was an external switch - I find it hard to believe myself, now!
J P Hall

Hi John

Re "I can well understand afficionados overseas not thinking that there was an external switch". I never said there was never such a switch but rather that "If your car is fitted with one then it was a previous owner fit." By that, what I meant to imply was that this switch was not a factory fitted switch, but rather an after market one, albeit as it now appears, to be a Dealer fitted switch to comply with local legislation. I 100% agree with you though in keeping such a quirky part of the Ys history. Could you please possibly post pictures of it so that we can see the location and the switch? Perhaps Ian can too and if any other examples are out there, please post those too so we can see if there was a particular way this was done, or if it was just whatever was available and where ever the Dealer or the owner at the time wanted it.

Thanks

Paul
Paul Barrow

Re:- Tail light external switches.

I have seen these in both the car body and in the spare wheel compartment cover, but it was always in the right rear - I suppose it was where it suited the skilled technician to drill the hole.

All of them I have seen were pull/push switches. I think I have one here somewhere ?.

The hole in the panel was around 3/8" diameter.

It is necessary to run a new wire from the regulator to the back of the car to power the tail light (and flatten the battery if you left it on too long).

I seem to recall it was only required from sunset to a certain time during the night - maybe 10pm ?.

Maybe one of the motoring club archives will hold a record of these laws - I will see what I can find through the RACQ (Royal Automobile Club of Queensland).

Yep, just one of those little details that are nice to retain, even if not "factory fitted".

Cheers

Tony
A L SLATTERY

Hi Ian, brother Richard here,
I can answer your question about the rear taillight switch. Yes it was a requirement by law in Victoria at least in the 50's. My understanding is that it was required so that you knew your taillights were working but it was rescinded because too many motorists were forgetting to turn their taillights on which were wired separately to the front side lights. It may also have been a requirement for parking as Tony said. Our TD still has it's original push pull switch in the rear valance and it still works!!! I am surprised you did not remember that the old mans 1950 Cyclops Rover also had one!!! Are the memories!!!
Cheers
Richo
R A Prior

This thread was discussed between 03/09/2016 and 08/09/2016

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