continental kit

[scruffy56501]

hi all; i've seen a few lbc's running around with the spare hanging off the back. looks real nice. is there a bracket one could fabricate,or is there somebody out there that makes them?

 

[Steve]

I don't know of such a kit. Which particular cars were these on? A couple of older LBCs had the spare mounted on a sloping back deck, and a boot-lid mounted spare was on option on the Rover 2000/2200/3500. I don't know of any that had the sapre mounted "continental" style unless they were used in rallying. I would imagine that such an installation would mess up the aerodynamics ( such as they are).

 

[scruffy56501]

i saw one on a sprite,sure was pretty,aerodynamically i don't beleive it would make much of a difference,but look at all the room in the boot

 

[scruffy56501]

oops!

 

[mowog]

Think you might have seen a T series which had the Spare mounted on the back they didnt hava boot

 

[Bret]

You can find some information on making your own. The Roger Williams’ book: “How To Improve MGB, MGC & MGB V8.

A Spare Wheel Carrier is clearly described in Chapter 11. You’ll find it as one option in the section on “Increasing a Roadsters Luggage Capacity”. Where an external spare wheel carrier (complete with drawing) is shown mounted using the normal boot rack hardware locations.

Personally I don’t like these and wouldn’t put one on my 78B. But I don’t have a problem with someone else doing it to their car. But one way or another - you might want to consider the following before you commit:
1) Is the added weight a problem for your boot lid. This could be a troublesome issue depending on the wheel & tire combination that you select. Especially - should you want to have a matching spare.
2) Rear-view mirror obstruction. This might not seem like a big deal for some of us while we run about with the top down. But it would seem to be something to think about with your top up.

If after all of that you still think it looks cool? Go for it. But if you are considering this as a way to get more boot space. Ditch the spare all together & just go without. Or buy one of those little cans that will inflate your tire & seal most punctures. But in that case I guess the question is – How lucky do you feel driving about without a true spare tire?

Bret

 

[William]

In the book "MGB" by David Knowles, he describes some of the "special editions" devised by Bruce McWilliams (I think I have the name right) of Hambro, the US BMC distributors. One of them (in the late chrome bumper era) featured a trunk mounted spare. Apparently weight (when trying to open the lid), and obstruction of the rearview mirror were the only problems. Me? I'm not sure I'd do it, but then again I don't like the idea of putting much of anything back there on a luggage rack or otherwise.
-William
Course, if you have an early Land Rover, you can put it on the hood/bonnet for that Safari look!

 

[Guest]

If all you want is more room in the boot and you have a steel wheel car, the undersize spare from a Saab is the right bolt pattern and will get you home in a pinch. If you can't find one in the local salvage yard get hold of Tony Barnhill at the Autoist He has a bunch

 

[scruffy56501]

thanks for the info.maybe one should think about this for awhile

 

[bryan h]

okay, no one else said it sooooo, I think that would look hideous, totally throwing off the nice proportions of that great looking car! There are a few pre 1960 cars that have that, but nothing after!

 

[scruffy56501]

thank you all. why mess up a good thing and leave things as their supposed to be. does any body know how i can fix some chiped paint on my new paint job, it enamel. evidentally the little woman was looking for something and kind of knocked over one of my stand lights. nothing major but i can see it.

 

[Kim de B]

I saw this done on a 1974 1/2 MGB that traveled to MG2002 in Dallas with us last year.

I've got a picture of it in my Ofoto album.
MG2002 Photos You have to sign in to see them (it's free). The photo I'm talking about is #15.

I didn't find it too objectionable to look at, but probably wouldn't do it myself.

If you want info on how to do it, email Jerry Kohlenstein at jkprod@triton.net It's his car, and I think he did this project himself.

 

[Guest]

That's a great album Kim, I don't think I've seen that one before. That's the first pic of Charles I've seen, I was beginning to think you made him up.

 

[tony barnhill]

Great album, Kim.....however that continental kit's got to be the ugliest thing I've ever seen done to a poor, unsuspecting MG...we're talking some kind of abuse here...heck, if it were a child, she'd be taken away from him & handed over to DHR...a self respecting MG owner wouldn't be caught dead with that lump hanging off the rear of his car....talk about a hemeroid (I'm so mad I can't even spell it)! Somebody should tell the guy to just go buy an SUV if he wants that look! Jeez, put him out of his misert or at least have a state trooper pull his license so that poor little car isn't embarrassed by its ignorant owner!!

Now, would you like to know how I really feel about that monstrosity?

Chuck, you can have that tech tip!

 

[Guest]

no thanks

 

[Kim de B]

Chuck, I'd forgotten about that shot of Chas. in the Subaru.

Sad to say, he no longer has the long ponytail. He went for two years without a haircut when he left banking . . . but in October had it all cut off and donated it to an organization that makes wigs for cancer kids.

Tony, OK, so the "continental" tire kit isn't for everyone. I found it interesting, is all, because I'd never seen that done. I believe it was affixed to the license plate bracket, so at least wasn't a permanent surgery to the car...