MGB Early tail lights on later car

[drooartz]

II have a cracked rear tail light on my 1970 MGB, and need a replacement. I've been thinking about changing to the earlier style rounded lenses for a while anyways, so now is the time. Just want to make sure that:

1. This is bolt in
2. I need the entire rear assembly, housing and lens

Just verifying before I make my next Moss order.

 

[DrEntropy]

Same bezels & bases, just lens shape is different.

 

[drooartz]

Thanks, Doc

 

[Grantura_MKI]

I have amber tops fitted to mine.

 

[DrEntropy]

I have amber tops fitted to mine.

Yup! Me too.

 

[drooartz]

I do as well on the square ones -- UK cars had them from stock. Even on the square ones they look better.

 

[drooartz]

New lights are in! Going from newer square lights to the older round style did require replacing the entire housing, not just the plastic lens. The housing is actually quite different, surprising given MG's usual inability to pay for anything new. Easy bolt in swap, and does look nice.

 

[DrEntropy]

Apologies, Drew!

Must be old age. Yeah, that's it.

 

[Grantura_MKI]

Time to bin the overriders with the rubber strip.

 

[drooartz]

Must be old age. Yeah, that's it.

No worries, I'm starting to resemble that remark myself!

Time to bin the overriders with the rubber strip.

On the list once the coffers fill back up a bit.

 

[drooartz]

Time to bin the overriders with the rubber strip.

Consider them binned!

Also switched to the earlier style rear view mirror, so now I can see out the windshield on left hand turns. Previously all I'd get is an eyeful of mirror. I'm happy with these small updates, that pretty much finishes the cosmetic touches. Still needs bodywork some day, but that can wait. For now, we drive.

 

[Grantura_MKI]

Weld it the reverse lamp holes when you do the bodywork.

 

[drooartz]

Weld it the reverse lamp holes when you do the bodywork.

I actually don't mind the reverse lamps, they are helpful when backing up in the dark even if they're not the brightest of things.

 

[JPSmit]

Weld it the reverse lamp holes when you do the bodywork.

+1 I bought a generic set of motorcycle signal lights. smooths out the back and still have reverse light.

it is to the left of the muffler

 

[AngliaGT]

Consider them binned!

Also switched to the earlier style rear view mirror, so now I can see out the windshield on left hand turns. Previously all I'd get is an eyeful of mirror. I'm happy with these small updates, that pretty much finishes the cosmetic touches. Still needs bodywork some day, but that can wait. For now, we drive.

View attachment 80675

I wish my GT looked that good.It needs bodywork,
but I could never spend that kind of money.

 

[Grantura_MKI]

I have a pull handle car so don’t have any of these issues…

 

[DrEntropy]

I have a pull handle car so don’t have any of these issues…

Heheee... same here. No fancy reverse lights, no heavy bumpers, all the switches are toggles.

 

[drooartz]

This car, being a UK home-market car, is a bit of an oddball compared to the US versions. Even though it was built in November of 1970, it still has the metal dash with the early-style switches, no side marker lights, etc. It's one of the last made that way, as shortly afterwards the key moved to the steering column and then the rocker switches started coming in. Someone in the car's past already swapped the recessed grille for an early style and swapped the bonnet for an aluminum one. I wouldn't have bothered doing either (the recessed grille is fine by me), but don't mind that they were switched.

The bodywork on the car is actually not too bad. The worst part is both door skins. Both have cracks-of-doom and some rust bubbling at the bottoms. But as neither issue has changed in the last 11 years I'm not in a huge rush. Some day, maybe. For now I'm just happy to keep driving it.