Can anyone identify this MG based kit car?

[78Z]

Any ideas? No manufacturer anywhere on it. I suppose its meant to look like a T-series melted in the sun. Its got MG B engine, gearbox and rear axle. The brake cylinder is the single kind so probably make in the 60s.

 

[Roger]

Looks like an MGB version of an Arkley to me.

Not that there is such a thing, as far as I know.

 

[MGZT260]

Arkley definitely comes to mind. But even the early Arkleys had a smaller snout.

Probably a 'A' under that skin, not a 'B'. B's are frameless, being unibody, and don't take well to kit conversions of any kind that do not retain the original tub. As for B components in a A frame, sure, everything mechanical is bolt-in.

As for Arkleys, they were designed around and using Spridgets as donors. However starting with one such vehicle and adding wider axles from a B one could end up with something like what you found.

 

[78Z]

Looks a bit like an Arkley but rear is a lot different. It looks a bit like a lot of things but never found a match. I suppose it could be home made but fiberglass is quite good quality.

I don't think its a MG A frame either - looks like a frame made from square box section. This MG A frame diagram seems to have more curves to it. https://www.mgaguru.com/mgtech/frame/pics/frame_dim175.gif The running gear could be A or B - definitely the B-series engine.

You can see a bit of the frame (well a tiny bit)

brake and clutch cylinders - you have to take the scuttle/dash off to even check the fluid levels!

a few more pictures here - https://www.flickr.com/photos/daveseven/sets/72157622432704588/

 

[bgbassplyr]

Arkley 2+2?

 

[78Z]

Its actually only a two seater. Just a storage area behind the seats.

 

[tony barnhill]

Early MGB drivetrain...

 

[78Z]

1963 to 1967 I figure from the single circuit braking system

 

[DrEntropy]

Whatever it is, it's butt-UGLY.

Lots of early MGB bits seen from here.

 

[Deleted member 8987]

This one has me puzzled, and I've seen a lot of Fiberglas kitcars.

The Arkley does not have running boards or cowl (scuttle) vets, but does have a recess for the spare on the boot.

This ALMOST looks like a mix of several kits.
The grille is too wide for any of the "normal" MG-type kits.
The one-piece running board and fenders looks Manx-ish, as in dune-buggy.

I am puzzled about the big chicken-leg shaped cutout to the right of where the instruments would go if it had ever been completed.

I am guessing there was another part that fit over the snout of the bonnet.

With he opening behind the rear "seat", and the low horizontal flange alongside the inner bulkheads, next to where the front seats would have gone, smacks of VW pan mount.

I am thinking this was made for a VW chassis, somebody slapped their rotted MG bits under it, probably with a home-cobbled frame, maybe used another bonnet (to clear the bigger radiator?), then gave up.
The big "bustle-back" boot REALLY smacks of rear-mount VW air-cooled...

The top bows are also something one saw on cheap dune-buggy kits.
Not very sturdy.

 

[78Z]

TOC - I think you might be onto something. It actually was a complete car at one point but has fallen into disrepair. You are right about the rear - definitely looks like the usual solution for an air cooled VW engine.

 

[gblawson]

Having done a little bit of 'molding' work, my mind boggles at all the steps involved to come up with something so incredibly unattractive....! Whew!

 

[Deleted member 8987]

Unfortunately the photo is no longer available.
However, while doing some research, I found a car (with the grille) that sure looks like what WAS in these photos:

https://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/siataspringinfoclub/

 

[JPSmit]

Unfortunately the photo is no longer available.
However, while doing some research, I found a car (with the grille) that sure looks like what WAS in these photos:

https://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/siataspringinfoclub/

similar look (I presume - didn't see the originals) but SIATAs are Fiat based.

 

[Deleted member 8987]

Yeah, I know.....but the one in the p-hoto that ain't here looked just like these, but had an MG engine slapped into it.

 

[Bruce74B]

The Italian flag has me thinking FIAT, too!

 

[Deleted member 8987]

Okay.
The original photo of "what car is this" showed an apparently fibreglas body, a wanna-be TD style, with a VERY wide grille, headlights that looked like this car, fenders that looked like it....

Now, if someone decided when the FIATsco engine died to stick an MG into it.....and when THAT quit, just park it behind a barn.

Nobody knew what the original car in question WAS, and I've been looking ever since.
This is the closest.
And, I found the original photos:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/daveseven/sets/72157622432704588/

 

[JPSmit]

Oh My