Spare Key

[vping]

Where was the spare key kept on B's?
Were the original keys plain metal or did it have the plastic surrounding it?

 

[DrEntropy]

All metal, and there was one screwed to the right inner fender near the soleniod.

 

[rick_ingram]

Well...the spare ignition key to my 74.5 B/GT had the plastic head...and was indeed held to the right inner fenderwell just to the 11 o'clock position above the fuse block....

 

[jsneddon]

<sshhhh>
mine is any old-style GM glovebox key, an old Dodge Dart key, my mailbox key, the key to my desk, luggage keys, a paperclip...
<sshhhh>

I should probably buy a new tumbler one of these days. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[kennypinkerton]

I think the BL made ones would be like mine... plastic with the BL logo moulded into it.

 

[rick_ingram]

Affirmative regarding the logo on the BL keys for the ignition and glove box...not sure about the door/bootlid/hatch keys.

 

[kennypinkerton]

Door/trunk key is all metal and very small compared to the BL one.

 

[rick_ingram]

The key to the ignition on my '78 B has the plastic BL logo. So does the key to the glove box (only it is all metal with no plastic). The doors and bootlid use a much smaller blank.

The key to the ignition of my 74.5 B/GT is identical; the key to the doors/hatch the same blank style as the '78. I do not have a key for the glove box for that car. It had gone missing prior to my buying the car. What was interesting with the GT is that the spare key was still intact and obviously unused in the engine compartment! It, as I stated earlier, is the plastic key head with BL logo.

I only have one key that works the ignition, doors, and bootlid on both the '68 MGC and the '69 MGC. With the pillow dash, there is no glove box. They are all metal-only and the smallest of the three blanks described above.

 

[JamesWilson]

[ QUOTE ]
Were the original keys plain metal or did it have the plastic surrounding it?

[/ QUOTE ]

I suspect this depends on the age of the car. Years ago I had a '64 and the keys for it were all metal, and if you're asking about those for a '67 I'd think that they too were metal.

Did the plastic keys come in with the rubber biumpers? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif

 

[vping]

I have a Plastic BL key for my 72 Midget and that is a CB car so I don't think the 2 relate.

 

[kennypinkerton]

Nope they came with British Layland (BL) taking over British Motor Company (BMC).

 

[DrEntropy]

Yup. Up to '67 the keys were all metal. One key opened all locks. Not certain but after that (BL "takeover"), IIRC the plastic headed iggy key came into play.

 

[rick_ingram]

I know that '68 and '69 did NOT have these plastic keys....my bet is on the entry of the 1970 model into the marketplace.

Then again....I could be wrong....

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[DrEntropy]

You're likely right, Rick.

 

[vping]

Any pics out there of how it looked?

 

[Rob_Edwards]

[ QUOTE ]
I know that '68 and '69 did NOT have these plastic keys....my bet is on the entry of the 1970 model into the marketplace.

Then again....I could be wrong....

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

My '69 roadster has two keys, one fits the boot and the other fits everything else. Both are small, all-metal, "FS" style blanks. My BGT parts car has an FS key for the doors and rear hatch, and a large plastic-headed key for the ignition (which btw I think is the same profile as used on '87-'92(?) Range Rovers)....

 

[kennypinkerton]

Here's what my keys look like... I'd guess that they are original considering the crappy shape they are in. Also, on mine, the plastic one fits the ignition and the glove box, the all metal one fits the doors and boot.

I've seen pictures of the spare on the fender though... here I think.