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LOCATION OF Turn Signal Indicator Lamp In The MGA Dash - DT-106A

turn signal lamp in LHD dash late Here is a fun but of trivia that may be of special interest to originality enthusiasts. The original location of the turn signal indicator lamp is in the extreme end of the dash panel near the turn signal switch. This would be 10-o'clock position relative to the turn signal switch on a LHD car (first picture with incorrect white bat handle), or 2-c'clock position relative to the turn signal switch on a RHD car (mirror image on other end of the dash panel).

About a week before beginning of MGA 1600-MK-II production in March 1961, location of the turn signal indicator lamp was moved from 10 o'clock to 1:30 o'clock relative to the the T/S switch (LHD) or from 2 o'clock to 10:30 o'clock relative to the the T/S switch (RHD) , and the depression in the dash was deleted. !600-MK-II dash panels were vinyl covered. For CKD cars assembled in Australia, the 1600-MK-II dash panels were painted, not vinyl covered.
turn signal lamp in LHD dash late A bit of cheating going on here. The photo at left shows a 1600-MK-II roadster dash panel, but it has a Twin Cam tachometer, and there never were any 1600-MK-II Twin Cam cars, so that's an error. But all Twin Cam dash panels were vinyl covered, both roadsters and Coupes. There were no Coupe or Twin Cam CKD cars in Australia. Any Coupe or Twin Cam in Australia would be imported as a complete car.

For the MGA Coupe, all Coupe dash panels were created by modifying a roadster dash panel, cutting off the flanged ends and welding extension pieces on both ends. Then the Coupe dash panels were all covered with vinyl, presumably because that was easier than trying to finish the weld joints clean enough to be painted. Otherwise, turn signal indicator lamps for the Coupes are in exactly the same position as on the roadsters.
turn signal lamp in LHD dash late turn signal lamp in LHD coupe

On 8/24/2021, Garry Kemm wrote:
"The turn signal warning light position was actually changed before the introduction of the MGA 1600-Mk-II. The last 300 to 400 of the MGA1600 Mk-I model had the later style dash with the repositioned warning light (but no chrome speaker surround and no s/s trim on bottom of dash). These MGAs were assembled early 1961 just prior to the introduction of the 1600-MK-II". - Regards, Garry
turn signal lamp in lhd coupe turn signal lamp in lhd coupe
Note that 300 to 400 cars would be just about a week of production.

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