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MG MGB Technical - Driving lamps/fog lamps

I would like to fit a set of period driving lamps to my GT, not sure whether it will be original Lucas 576's or repros at the moment.
However I see that lots of ads show second hand ones as a pair of one driving light, one fog light.
There is little in Original MG about this other than they were both an option and were secured at times through the grille.
Is it normal around the ealry seventies to have a mismatched pair fitted from new (I am aware it was a fairly common practice across a lot of earlier cars)
I can see the advantages of fitting one of each, particularly if it is normal and original.
Any period pics showing the normal way of fitting available, am just going to have a search just now myself as well
Neckieman

I bought a set of Lucas repro auxiliary lamps, from Moss, one FOG and one long range, as we used to equip our cars that way in the sixties. They look really nice, but their brightness and. Light pattern is only so and so.

I should have bought those with rear mounts. Had to make aluminium brackets for mounting through the bumper, as the lamp bar I bought from Moss simply did not fit at all.

Regards,

Jan


Jan Emil Kristoffersen

I have a 73 car so the grille is plastic. I assume the original way to mount these would have been to the bumper rather than through the grille as your picture.
Its funny, but because they were a dealer fit option there doesn't seem to be many pictures or info from the time available.
I can't even find any 70's pics showing contemporary fitment which is unusual.
Neckieman

Mis-matched pairs, driving and fog were more usual in the 50's and 60's, but it was generally accepted that fogs were more effective low, i.e., under the bumper when there was less light coming back at you from the water droplets in the mist. Driving/spot lights were more usual when headlamps were pretty dismal efforts, which today they have no need to be.
Allan Reeling

Its not really for seeing where I am going, its really just a way of putting a bit of period bling on the car as it is a bit bland as it is.
However I want to make sure the accessories are at least contemporary to the age of the car.
I have bought a pair of fog/driving Lucas 576 lamps off fleabay for £40, I will see what they look like when the turn up, don't mind them not being absolutely perfect as they will match the patina of the existing chromework. (ie the pitting and rust!)
Neckieman

One spot and one fog is what the factory wiring diagrams show for 68 to 74 model year cars. Before 1970 the fog was wired to be available with the 'parking' lights. After that it was only available when the dipped headlights were on, which rendered it pretty useless for the reason Allan gives. Spots were always available with main beam only. I've wired mine as per the early fashion, also rear fogs available with 'parking' lights. I can't say how the rules changed in the meantime, but my 2004 ZS is wired the same way i.e. front 'driving' lights and rear fogs available with parking lights.
Paul Hunt

I got the "pair" of lights I ordered. If it wasn't for the fact that they looked used in some minor areas I would say that they were new repros.
Anyway, does the fog normally go on the offside and the spot on the nearside, or visa versa?
Neckieman

Spot light to shine on the kerb,so you know where the edge of the road is (nearside in the UK) and fog light to light the road ahead.

Andy
Andy Robinson

I would have always put the fog light on the offside as well. In the days when we got real pea-soupers and you weren't required to have your main headlights on all the time, I would use the fog light on its own. Much less glare-back, and being on the offside meant a car coming towards you knew how wide you were. I well remember driving home at night from Epsom to Wallington in my Ford 105E with the fog so thick I could barely see the end of the bonnet. Thank goodness we don't see that sort of thing any more.

The spot light would go on the nearside and I would point it straight ahead, wired into the dip switch, so it was only one with main beams. It made an amazing difference against the old sealed beams headlamps. I've still got a pair of Lucas Halogen spot and fog lamps from the sixties. One is dented in the back where I pranged the Anglia, but they still work and produce loads of light.
Mike Howlett

A little bit of research online seems to say spot offside and fog nearside.
The idea being the fog illuminates the kerb and the spot is in line with the drivers eye.
This seems to make sense to me so I will mount them like this.
This is with the spot on with main beams only.
Neckieman

Bolted them through the bumper tonight, will wire them up when I complete the other work I am carrying out on the car and I have the radiator panel back in.
I think while I am at it I'll put th headlights through a relay as well so that they are a bit brighter.
Neckieman

"Spot light to shine on the kerb,so you know where the edge of the road is (nearside in the UK) and fog light to light the road ahead."

'Tother way round for me. Fog light has a wide flat-topped beam which on the left covers the footpath and the width of the road a short way ahead. So spot on the right with its narrow beam pointing straight ahead for maximum forward visibility. I've always wired mine so the front and rear fogs are available without the headlights. Can't say what the law is now but my 2004 ZS180 factory rear fog and front driving lamps are wired the same way.
Paul Hunt

Have a look at the attached picture of my 1972 Ford Capri, which I had from new. It came with factory fitted Lucas spot and fog lamps. The fog lamp is on the offside and the spot lamp is on the nearside. I shouldn't think Ford got it wrong, but who knows.............

Andy


Andy Robinson

For those wishing to avoid neck strain....


Love the colour BTW


Dave O'Neill 2

Andy,
Not sure about Ford, but BL "factory fitted" were, more often than not, dealer fitted. But I think the whole arrangement was always a matter of personal choice. In a sixties "pea souper" the kerb was the thing you followed, often leading you up someones drive!!!
Allan Reeling

Lucas FT/LR6/9 fitted direct to bumper, replaced the older Lucas units previously fitted. Looks much neater I think


J D Harrington

My Lucas spot and fog have those hard plastic covers. They are the very devil to fit and remove as they fit so tight. I haven't used the lamps for decades but I seem to recall I never used the covers because they were such a pain.
Mike Howlett

as Neckieman said - it's a bit of period bling, I keep the covers on to protect the sealed beam unit, having had a stone go through one it's near impossible to get a replacement
J D Harrington

"it's a bit of period bling," if you are mounting lights above a bumper they're no more prone to stones than your headlamps. Fogs below the bumper far more likely or indeed on a special stage on a Welsh mountain track!!!
Allan Reeling

I don't think I ever used them. My other cover got lost or broken.


Geoff MG-TF

"Fogs below the bumper far more likely or indeed on a special stage on a Welsh mountain track!!!"

Indeed, even though mine have grids on them to give protection but not needing removal for use, the spot glass still got smashed in normal road use. I'd never used it, so put a layer of clear polythene under the grid just for appearance sake as the fog might - just might - be used. But as mentioned I haven't seen a proper fog for about 30 years.


paulh4

I don't expect the car accesory lighting to ever be used. However I do like the look and they are now comtemporay to the cars age.
I will make them work properly since the are fitted but remember they are simply bling, but in a tasteful, period and classic way!
Neckieman

This thread was discussed between 30/04/2016 and 12/05/2016

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