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MG MGA - MGA Estate find

Just uncovered an MGA, which I always wanted to add to my MGTD and MGTF.

tried to verify the numbers but I need help!

engine number 18G-U-H 25191

body tag number B 12329

has Cobra shaped bonnet/nose.

where else can I look for numbers?

will post photos next

thanks,
Don
DM Bosco

Don't know where the chassis number can be found on a MGA, I'm sure that someone else will pipe up with that info. The 18G-U-H 25191 engine number is an 1800 engine from an early MGB. Cheers - Dave
D W DuBois

Thanks Dave
DM Bosco

This will help.

http://www.namgar.com/articles/article/mga_history/mga_chassis_vin_engine_body_number/

Jim
James Stout

ID number information here:
http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/buying/buy101.htm

18G-U-H 25191
18G is MGB engine, mid 1962 to early 1964
U = center gear change
H = High compression
25191 is probably late 1963

B 12329 body number
"B" is for MGA 1600 model
12329 would be about Nov-Dec 1959

Find list of production changes here:
http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/care/cf125.htm
Barney Gaylord

Don, my first car in 1967 was an A and I fabricated a cobra nose for it (been sorry ever since). Is it or has it never been Old English White w/black interior? Just curious if it may be the one I drove way back then.
Nick Kopernik

Nick

If it is yours then your work held up very well!
Did you sell it to a guy on Staten Island? The estate is still looking for the title documents.
Don

DM Bosco

body number

DM Bosco

Once I free it from its prison I will take a better photo of the nose. It is up against the nose of a 1987 Lincoln.

DM Bosco

Well its white, one thumb up. Once I see the nose I will be able to tell. My car did not have an antenna, but that could have been added at any time. Quite honestly I don't recall who bought it, but I do remember advertising it what was then the Bridgeport (CT)Post/Telegram. I made a new nose for it because my car was backed into and the front end was crushed in. It was cheaper to do a new facia than to go back to original styling. It will be interesting to see if it turns out to be the one I owned. If I remember correctly, I sold it something like $150, all original (except for the nose) and in quite good running condition.
Nick Kopernik

Clausager gives us the following on page 18 of his work:-

"It is worth noting that the chassis number was at least sometimes stamped on the frame; cars have been reported both with and without the number stamped in.
The location is the horizontal top surface of the box section crossmember at the rear of the gearbox, on the right hand side (from the rear) of the gearbox cover tunnel, approx. 3 inches from the tunnel."

As he says, it's not always there, and may well have been erased during blasting for chassis cleaning, but I found the remains of mine on my coupé and knowing the number on the other plate was just about able to make out the figures "with the eye of faith!".
J Barnacott

MGA Nose

DM Bosco

Don, had my fingers crossed, but this car was not mine, but it did bring back some memories. The nose on my car was similar is shape, but was narrower in width and height and it did not protrude as far out. The edge was also somewhat sharper, with a piece of aluminum (u shaped), ringing the opening. Looks like others at the time liked the Cobra look. Good luck with the car; its always nice to see another A being readied for the road. Any thoughts on keeping the current look, or maybe reverting back to original?
Nick Kopernik



This was alas a common mod in the day:

http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/accessories/at205.htm


Mark Hester

That looks like an MGA drawn by Matt Groening.
David Breneman

Nick - was hoping it was your car - which must still be around. Not sure what to do, maybe just get it running and play with it for now. I do like the look.

Mark - thanks for the old ads, did not know that it was such a popular conversion.

David - not familiar with Matt Groening - is he an artist like Picaso? the cobra style nose on the MGA is indeed quite an abstraction.

Thanks guys, appreciate the info and comments.
Don
DM Bosco

Don, Matt Groening... not Picasso...."Simpsons"

Personally I think you may want to keep the "Cobra" nose on the car. This was a period change apparently to improve cooling and air flow through the engine compartment. The MGA shape is almost too clean. Their is info on this on the "net" in a number of places. The stock grill and nose shape is very clean and their was concern of reduced airflow to the rad and engine compartment above 25 MPH. The "Cobra" nose was used by performance advocates to "grab" more air and direct to the engine compartment. The Twin Cam, deluxe, used extra venting by the inner wheel wells to try and improve airflow. The "62 vertical grill was done to try to do the same thing.

The nose on your car looks reasonably well done and is a very rare contemporary conversion by someone to try and "improve" the car. Its a piece of automotive history. If it were mine I would most likely keep it as it is part of the cars "story".

I think it is "neat'. But it is your car!

...CR
C.R. Tyrell

Were you ever able to find the chassis number stamp on the frame?
..CR
C.R. Tyrell

I could not find the chassis number yet. I plan to "dive" into the car this weekend and will let you know what I can find.
Thanks,
Don
DM Bosco

The square cross tube where the # is stamped is quite hard and the stamping is very shallow. Be careful cleaning the area so as not to obliterate the number. A strong light, shone on the oblique is very handy.
..CR
C.R. Tyrell

The car number is stamped on the footwell crossmember, passenger side on LHD cars, just to the right of the handbrake. If you do not immediately see the number lightly stamped there due to dirt, grime or rust, use a mild wire brush on the cross member starting about 4 to 6 inches from the transmission tunnel and work to the outside of the car. Do not work the metal hard and do not use sandpaper. If the number has not been obliterated by the ages, you will find it there.

Charlie
Charlie Adams

This thread was discussed between 26/11/2014 and 10/12/2014

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