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MG Midget and Sprite General - '73 RWA MKIII - Sill Colour?

I'm sure this is a matter of personal preference, but I am 50/50, so would appreciate anyone else's opinion.

My sills are currently body colour (Flame Red), but they are a rough texture and, as the rest of the car needs attention, I am planning on re-spraying the outer sill.

I have bought the original chrome strip which is lacking, and I shall also buy the MIDGET lettering.

I notice there's a definite split in existing cars where half of people's sills are body coloured, and half are black.

My question is what do you guys prefer? Body colour, satin black or gloss black?


Any opinions welcome.

Sincerely,
- Richard
R L J Oakley

body colour.
But then i am a pre RWA fan
Onno Könemann

I like the black myself... but only between the wheels and not that little flip behind the front wheels.

That said... there is always this option I really like, (check out the photo)...but Id loose the chrome strip and keep the body color in this example

Prop

Richard another option to consider is some stainless steel sill covers - I had some on my vermillion midget - they set off red paintwork quite well. Only down side is they can harbour a multitude of sins regards rust underneath. But waxoyl and vigilence will keep it at bay.
A pic link I found:

http://www.mgcars.org.uk/mgupload/1252516176_7585.jpg
John Barber

I prefer body colour and no chrome strip but I do like the leters.
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Body colour, IMO everything else is hiding something...
S Deakin

my 72 has satin black with a chrome strip

P Ottewell

I do like the stainless option...i havent seen the stainless flip behind the front tire before....vary smart looking, i really like the stainless on gryfs car
Prop

Nice to see...

Original and...

NOT hiding something,

Staffs...

Do you don't want to sell?

S Deakin

Sorry stainles covers are trerible rusttraps and will hid all sorts of nastyness
Don't go there!
Onno Könemann

I agree Onno - thats exactly what I found after I bought my midget. However it hadn't had any prevention measures taken - I think if you have a good paint covering and inject waxoyl on the inside of the sill - then paint wax on the outside of the sill before covering it with the stainless - then I think it will last just as well as any other chrome/brightwork strips etc...

Other than than I would vote to match the paint colour in preference to black..
John Barber

I've no strong committments on this but with flame red body I'd have though either the photo Prop posted, black between wheels (and metal strip and letters if you want)

or body colour but with or without letters but without out strip

or body colour without strip or letters (they can lead to rust traps too)
Nigel Atkins


my understanding what onno said is vary true... but i think you can get away with it if the car is kept inside and dosnt see much wet weatther

I know gryf has had his stainless scence day one... well in excess of a decade, and it still looks good, but i think his is siliconed on so no water or gunk that can get between the body and the stainless steel plates ... if i did it, thats how Id attach them.

but i never did them because i think in some cases it can be way to much and almost over the top. so if the car is fairly minimalist, then it will look great, but if there is alot going on already, it can really spoil the proverbial broth...In my humble pie opinoion.

Prop

Interesting thoughts. Thank you.

I am tempted to paint the sill (bar the flick at the front) in a gloss black. I feel the chrome strip (which I've already bought) works better splitting the black from the red.

Does anyone know what the car would have looked like when rilling out of Abingdon in late '72? Did they used to paint the sills matt or gloss black?



- Richard
R L J Oakley

neither IIRC they were satin black.
David Smith

I couldn't face drilling all those holes for the strip and the letters. Body coloured sills for me. Don't put on stainless covers please. If you ever want to sell the car, most prospective purchasers won't even come to look at a car fitted with them.
Mike Howlett

Personally, I don't think they were gloss, matt or satin. I believe they were actually a semi-gloss, but I've no idea where you can actually buy it, these days.

When doing some bodywork on my last Midget - which was mostly original paint - I discovered that the black was actually applied BEFORE the main body paint. The black paint was half way up the front wing, door and rear wing, beneath the Flame Red.

Dave O'Neill 2

That's a lovely looking car there Dave, I can't wait until mines that standard.

Where does everyone get their MG colours from? Local paint shops, or has anyone trusted Halfords to mix before?

I think gloss looks better than the satin I see on some peoples. I see that Mike Auther's MKIIIs seem to have a glossy black sill.

I would be able to recreate a semi-gloss effect with some clever lacquering and a heat gun. One basically needs to get the lacquer to cloud slightly.


- Richard
R L J Oakley

I think if you're not going to put the chrome strips on then it looks better body coloured but if not then either looks good, in my opinion. Also, my plan is to stick the letters on with either body tape or sealer/adhesive as I don't like the idea of drilling more holes in a perfectly good piece of metal!
-Craig
C Robertson

Most really good paintshops will have or make up the colours - Halfords, well, I guess it depends on the staff there - some are good, some not so good .... would probably prefer a good paintshop - or get it from the MG places who sell them!

As for the rubbish stainless sill-craps - DO NOT DO THEM - even with waxoyl put on them every other day - they store water, and nothing will save the sills ..... Sides, why would you want to have more to polish when you could be driving :)
rachmacb

No, I don't like the look of those sill covers. Look a little Persian.
R L J Oakley

This thread was discussed between 18/04/2011 and 19/04/2011

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