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MG MGA - Side Curtains Stowage Bag

I am installing the cockpit rails and stowage bag, and find that, with the curtains in the bag,resting on the transmission tunnel, the seat will not slide back the full distance for my long legs. When I try to stuff it up on top of the battery cover (as Barney describes for the later bags), there is simply no room for the curtain filled bag. Help. Bob Prentice
rsa prentice

Hi Bob,
Is your car a 1500? Mine is a 1500 and I have the aluminum frame side curtains They can't fit on top of the battery cover when in the stowage bag. I rest them on the tunnel.

Ralph
Ralph

The only side curtains that do fit on top of the battery cover have an articulated front bracket that will swing away flush with the rubber strip when detached from the door. I am attaching a picture of an after market side curtain with the articulated bracket.

I rather assume that the late 1600 factory type side curtains must have been made this way, but I don't have a picture of those. If anyone does have that picture, I would like to post it on my web site.


Barney Gaylord

Ah, so that was the way it was done! I remember a similar thread a couple of years that also talked about the screen retaining lip on the front of the battery box (which I don't have either) and I could not understand how the screen fitted in the vertical space. I eventually stowed them in the boot (trunk) to create more space behind the seats.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Barney, as far as I am aware, there were never any factory made sidescreens with that movable front bracket...these must have been an aftermarket Amco type?
Gary Lock

Yes, my picture is after market type (as I originally stated). Since earlier factory type side curtains with fixed bracket will not fit on top of the battery cover and underneath the body tonneau at the same time, I would like to think the factory made side curtains with some sort of articulated bracket for the later models. This would be starting with car number 78249 in October 1959 when the top frame and battery cover were modified. There would be about 20,000 roadsters with these later features.
Barney Gaylord

Yes, sorry Barney, didn't see the "after market" comment..it will be interesting to see if anyone can come up with a different version, as I have never seen one..I've just bought a set of screens off a Mk2, (look like it, and said to be original), and they are exactly the same as the mid-1600's ones.
Gary Lock

Thank you guys; so it seems that to slide the seat all the way back, I'll have to stow the curtains in the boot.Mr Enever must have had short legs. Bob Prentice
rsa prentice

Most men in Britain of his generation were lucky to break 5' 6". I wish my MGA had an MGB's legroom. Just another inch of seat travel would be nice. I don't think Mr. Enever considered 6' 4" drivers any more than he considered limited access freeways when he was designing the MGA. They just weren't part of his life's experience.
David Breneman

This thread was discussed between 26/09/2008 and 27/09/2008

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