Under the dashboard, we see the steering column in the center, with the
speedometer cable and a defroster vent tube to the left. On the far right
are the turn signal controller and indicator light.
Looking from the passenger's side, the radio is the gray box on the lower
left. Just above it, and just to the left of the defroster vent tube, are
the two windshield defroster vents.
One of the new wheels and authentic wide-whitewall tires as exported to
North America, along with their new knockoff. The old knockoffs looked
as if they'd been applied and removed with a jack hammer. These feature
the MG crest in the middle, just like the original. This was one of the
last MGAs with the crested knockoffs. Later cars had plain "BMC universal"
knockoffs fitted.
The combined oil pressure and temperature gauge was is pretty rough
shape, and it was more economical to replace it. This is the new
gauge, made by Smiths in England. At the time the MGA was made, Smiths
had another gauge line, Jaeger, and all MGA gauges had the Jaeger logo.
Unfortunately, the desirability of this level of authenticity is lost
on the folks at Smiths, and this unit carries the Smiths brand. I
suppose we're lucky that they're even making these at all. Try getting
an OEM oil pressure guage for a 50 year old Chevy!
As a concession to safety, modern H4 haolgen headlights are fitted.
A vast improvement over the sealed beam units required in America at
the time, they're more like the replacable-bulb lights common in Europe.
Also plainly evident in the grille opening are the hoses which carry
outside air to the heater/vent (left) and carburetors (right).
History:
Though it hardly seems like the type of car designed for such service,
several MGAs were employed by the Lancashire Police Department for traffic
patrol.
On to Page Thirty Five