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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Paint Chip/Scratch Repair

With the Houston All British Car Show coming up on October, I thought I would try repairing some scratches and "road rash". On the advice of a friend, I'm going to try using DrColorChip.com. Has anyone else tried this ? Any advice or warnings ? I'll post some before/after pictures if I go ahead with the experiment.

Thanks,
Chuck
Chuck Mosher

Looks like the biggest problem will be matching the paint. I have done some serious research in paint matching the old MGA colors and found that because different pigments are used today that the old formulas don't work. I found that the best way to match color was to take a sample of a panel and have the paint supplier read the color with their scanners. I have been able to match the following colors and believe that the samples I have are identical to the originals. I have matched three colors so far: 1. Old English White (this was the most difficult) 2. Tyrolite and 3. Glacier Blue.
James Johanski

A word of advise, anyone having or intend on painting a car, order extra paint! Yes it is a little pricey, but you will save yourself so much aggravation when you (not if but when) scratch or damage a panel. I bought 2 extra quarts and continue to use it for nicks and scraches. Should damge ever occur I am ready for a perfect match!
WMR Bill

Hi WMR Bill. Not necessarily a perfect match. It is surprising how much paint can fade over time, even with careful washing waxing and polishing. You may find your can of paint wont match as well as you might think! Glenn
Glenn Hedrich

Glen is right paint does fade. That is not the question to consider. The question is what to do to get the best looking long term solution. Faded paint creates 2 problems, fade to this point and future fade. If you use the original paint as Glen notes it may not match your faded car. But the fade pattern of the new paint will be the same as the car and the match may get closer with time. If you tint the repair to match perfectly when the repair work is done you are almost guaranteed that as the car continues to fade that match will get further and further apart. Worse yet is the current practice of "blending". Body shops now days get colors only close then blend the old to the new across a panel. What this does is create a situation where fade will work differently across the spectrum of repairs leaving the worst color match of all for later.
Unless your car is quite faded, and in that case should really be a complete re paint, I believe that using the leftover paint as Bill recommends is usually the best solution.
Colors are different in how they fade also. OEW is probably the most forgiving color MGAs came in while Red is the worst to match and quickest to fade.
Another argument for fewer red MGAs.
The car in the picture was painted 20 years ago and is less red and more orange than it stared out. It would be murder to match and to make it look right would take a total repaint.

R J Brown

I agree with RJ. It will be a lot easier to "Tint" your original paint for a major panel repair. As for as those nicks at the edge of doors and lids, you will never notice the difference. Besides, most cars today spend most of the time pampered in garages minimizing the fading affects from UV espouser.

WMR Bill

This thread was discussed between 20/09/2009 and 28/09/2009

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