MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

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 TD TF 1500 - Door top armrest

Hi

My new paint is getting scuffed by my arm hanging over the door. The door top armrest is NLA but I was wondering if I could fashion one from aluminium, has anyone had any luck doing this? Is there a pattern of the original accessory anywhere, it's a 1950 TD.

Barry
B Bridgens

Barry. There was a U.K. MG parts supplier for MMM that used to offer the chromed door top covers. I don’t remember who it was and I think the owner retired and his inventory was bought out by another vendor. But again I don’t remember who that might have been. Maybe someone else will know where to source them. I’d like to find a source as well.

Bill Chasser
TD-4834
W A Chasser

I wonder if you could fabricate a removable one that utilizes the sidescreen mounts? Could even be upholstered.
M Magilton

I saw one on a TD last weekend. It uses the front and rear window screw bracket. It looked pretty easy to make. I will see if the club member can get some pictures.

Bill, do you know who ownes a yellow TD with a black arm wrest on the top of the door?
Bruce Cunha

Hi

Thanks for the replies, Bill I think the original tooling that you refer to is now damaged so no more parts can be made. One would think that even with a small demand it would be viable for a small engineering company to produce these. I for one would be more than happy to spend around €250 for a pair. To get a reasonable finish on a home built rest either the aluminium would need to be polished or as mentioned padded and covered. Fixing would be a concern as home built would need to be easily removed without damage to the door. Professional rests could be installed on a more permanent basis.
Maybe Declan's contacts could look into it.

Barry
B Bridgens

I've seen them on ebay a couple of times, and at far less money than that.
Dave H
Dave Hill

What do they or should they look like?
Regards
Declan
Declan Burns

Google search

http://www.mg-cars.info/mgtd-mgtf1500-bbs/chrome-arm-rest-201411020424475736.htm

From 2014
G D

Hi Declan

This is the best picture I can find just now,

www.angloparts.com/en/catalogues/part/31601/140.075

They were normally chrome but I guess polished aluminium would be good, MG logo would be a bonus.

Maybe someone who has a car with them fitted will show up.
Barry

B Bridgens

Hi Barry
I bought a set of these a few years ago, just as pictured above. I found therm on eBay. They seem to be designed for the pre-war cars. They did not quite fit the contour and shape of my TF door tops.
For that reason, I just could not bring myself to drill holes in my doors and mount them. I ended up selling them less than a year ago to a MMM owner.

Also, I think they are more "bling" and less function. IMHO.

Tom
'54 TF
T Norby

Hi Tom

The paint on top of the door is marked after a recent total respray. I don't know if it is my shape but I am more comfortable driving with my arm on the door which is ok when I am in a t shirt but not so good when I wear a coat. I considered a clear body film to cover the top couple of inches of the door but I think that the cap would look a bit more purposeful and a lot more hard wearing. I would probably not drill to fit but use double sided 3M tape.

Barry
B Bridgens

If such a thing were to be made, would it not make more sense to have it padded? It could be a bit wider and nicely covered in a matching leather.

Also, if it were designed with a gudgeon pin underneath to fit into the existing side curtain hole, and a fork near the front to be secured by the side curtain knob, it would be securely mounted and easily removable with no tools and no holes in the car.
Kevin McLemore

In hot climates be careful of AL or chrome. I have seen people gets some nasty burns from these when parked for an hour in the open sun.

If you just want to keep the paint from getting scuffed then the 3M or other clear plastic wrap would be best and easy to apply too. Plus you can take it off without any damage. I have my non-MG wrapped in the stuff and except for a few rock hits on the nose, it has kept the rest of the paint pristine and is really hard to tell it's there. Even at the edges.
Christopher Couper

The one our club member has is padded. I will see if I can get some pictues
Bruce Cunha

Bruce, that member is Jim Costigan. I'm pretty sure they were homemade
Keith Yarbrough(TD 1275)

Thanks Keith. The probably were, but the aluminum brackets that hook to the door window brackets are impressive.

I have to find my roster to get Jim's number

Bruce Cunha

FWIW

Barry,

Like many of my modifications, function comes before form.
I wanted a door arm rest that would protect the door paint, protect my arm from hot metal, be comfortable, not damage the car and be easy to put on and take off.

I used a piece of towel, in a color that matched the car.
I cut it and sewed in two strong magnets to hold it on the outside even at high speed. I put a snap on the inside to attach it to the side curtain hold down strap snap.

It is extremely comfortable and functional. It has been used for so many years that the color has faded.

Mort


Mort Resnicoff

Brilliant Mort.

Barry
B Bridgens

I will make one and post the photos and the drawings.
Regards
Declan
Declan Burns

Hi Declan

That would be good, not having any luck finding a pair of originals.

Barry
B Bridgens

Hi

Still no luck finding arm rests, tried wants columns, Ebay, Etsy dealers nothing. I would be grateful for any leads. The T series wants section only attracted scammers unfortunately.

thanks

Barry
B Bridgens

I bet if somebody made a leather version they would be a hot item (pardon the pun).
efh Haskell

Hi Barry
I have a new set for sale. Please contact me if you are interested. I'm in the USA.
garykrukoski AT yahoo dot com

Gary

gl krukoski

Door top armrests on the way to France.

Gary
gl krukoski

If anyone else has a set of these to unload, or a source for them, please let me know.
W A Chasser

Only problem I find with those is, two holes have to be drilled in the top of the doors, something that will never happen on my car. Great idea but for me they would have to be mounted with the factory side screen mounts plus, not touch the painted surfaces. PJ
PJ Jennings

Gary

Those look like the armrests I sold last year. Did I sell them to you?
Wow. They are making the rounds!

Tom
'54 TF
T Norby

Hi

Armrests arrived safe, happy.

Barry
B Bridgens

Hi Tom
I did not get them from you. I have had them for many years. They came along with a very large collection of new and used parts. Trying to liquidate some items I will never need. Many items left to sell.

Gary
gl krukoski

This thread was discussed between 08/06/2019 and 01/08/2019

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG TD TF 1500 BBS now