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MG MGA - Grill surround - brass or steel?

Over the years I have accumulated three or four grills, of varying condition. I have one that is chrome on steel, while the rest are chrome on brass. Was steel ever the original material for this part?
Peter.
P. Tilbury

Hi Peter. I believe that only the Brass shells were factory original, and that steel grilles were aftermarket replacements. Cheers, Glenn
Glenn Hedrich

Peter, the grill on my coupe is at least 25 years old and is chrome on steel, although it probably isn't the original. I think the car had been in a front ender sometime in it's checkered past. When I restored my car I ordered the latest grill from Moss which was chrome on brass and I was not impressed with the quality so ended up rechroming my original which fits great. It was more expensive to rechrome than the new grill from Moss.

I'd recommend seeing which one fits the best and having it rechromed.

Andy

Andy Preston

Peter, a bit off-subject, but I've been watching the olympics and I keep thinking of the NAMGAR's Get together at Whistler a few years ago. It was a great time and Andrea and I really enjoyed the drive there and back, even though it was a bit uncomfortable (hot) at times. A public thank you for your efforts. Marvin

Marvin Stuart

Peter, Andy, I also have a small collection of brass grilles and a steel one from about 25 years ago (that came with a car). That one is quite rusty now, but I never even considered rechroming it. Your comment has inspired me to go and have a closer look at it's condition and shape, before it gets binned.
Neil McGurk

Marvin,
Did you get “The Distance Award” for that one?
David Werblow

Yeah, Dave, We did. But the real hero was the MGA. With a detached fan blade and a blown head gasket near Medicine Hat, Alberta on the way out, and a flat tire near Hope, B.C, leaking oil cooler hose near Libby, Montana, broken generator mounting boss on the water pump near Espanola, Ontario, and a set of fouled plugs from idling across the Niagara Falls bridge (about two hours, at least) on the return, the real hero was 'Ol Blu. Marvin

Marvin Stuart

Thank you Marvin. Whistler was the best GT ever, but then I'm biased. We were very impressed by the MGA's and Magnettes that came to the frozen North from all over the US and Canada. Who says you can't travel long distances in an MGA?
Iv'e had two quotes to rechrome the steel grill - $250 and $350. That's a bit rich for me, so I wonder what you paid, Andy? I like this grill because it is much stiffer and heavier than the current brass Taiwan specials.
Peter.
P. Tilbury


Marvin and Peter,
I agree totally. My wife and I drove out from Essex, Ontario in our '57. 4 weeks, and had the trip of a lifetime. Its funny, the heat has been erased from my memory and all that remains now are the good memories. Funny thing Marvin, the generator mounting boss on my aluminum water pump cracked also somewhere on the return trip. I didn't notice till I was cleaning things up when I got home. Wisconsin this year and I'm hoping for Tahoe in 2011.....

Ralph

Ralph

Original = brass

Early repros = steel
Bill Spohn

Peter, I also like the steel grill because it's far stronger and can take some knocks from passing butterflys and bugs. I think it was $300 and that including knocking out some minor dents, the nose piece and bolts and polishing the stainless steel bars to a chrome like finish. First of all the chromer had to remove the existing chrome, and then plate it with copper before the new chrome. Very labor intensive. I think it was just slightly more than the Tiwain specials in cost and IMO far better.

Andy
Andy Preston

When I restored my MGA, I bought a MOSS repop grill as the original that I had was a bit ratty to say the least. The first thing I didn't like was that the back sides of the slats were very sharp (found out the first time I washed the splash panel forward of the radiator.) I put up with that for a while but noticed the chrome was getting so thin from polishing that the grill had a goldish undertone. I eventually had the chrome shop repair and chrome the surround and buff the slats. Still looks good after all these miles. You can't beat Original MGA stuff. Marvin
Marvin Stuart

This thread was discussed between 23/02/2010 and 26/02/2010

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