Other ways to modify for Chrome or Sebring

If you are on a budget and want to avoid painting and welding then this page is for you!

Firstly, my own car was done as per this project page.

However, as discussed in the main page on modifying the bodywork, the problems are the gaping holes and blanks around the light units:

(Photos - Jim McGlynn)

One simple way to overcome the gap at the front is to simply refit the r/b indicator units directly to the metal as below:

To overcome the problem of the gap, but use the earlier style light units at the front, this gentleman used polished stainless steel to good effect.  Whilst it could also be done using a painted plate, or left like this for a chrome bumper conversion is also possible.  In the case of the front unit it could be attached with screws as shown or with some form of metal epoxy adhesive.

If you are doing a Sebring rear modification, you'll notice that in the photograph above the Sebring rear Valence is not blended into the bodywork.  I chose to blend it in on my car as I was doing body work in any case, but the above , and as on Phil Earl's car allows for easy removal to restore to as original again, very quickly (albeit with a few small screw holes left).

In the case of Stephen Whitham, he is attempting to spray with cans of aersol but has used bodyfiller to good effect to eliminate the need for welding.

Time will tell whether it will hold up with the rigours of body vibration.

This is Stephen's effort at the front, utilising the existing r/b mesh and Polo spots on custom brackets:

Other ideas I have seen and include here for your creative stimulation...

Note the similar use to my own BGT with the Mini indicator units.  The rubber bumper cars have their side-light units in the main headlamp so this is feasible, and I like the fact the indicators match the headlights, although others prefer the original look side/indicator unit.  The original mesh that sits behind the rubber-bumper has been retained in this modification but left black so as to minimise its presence, with the subtle use of an MG badge, and large spotlights hiding the bumper plates.  

Here is another example, rather nicely done, of the low cost approach to de-bumpering a rubber bumper BGT.  Again use has been made of the mesh that would have sat behind the front bumper, but the exposed valences have been detailed in contrasting yellow paint on a similar theme to the classic Sebring cars.

In my case (see my page on debumpering the front of a r/b BGT) I used a chrome grille, and Mini indicators as mentioned above.  Obviously, being my car, I am quite proud of the end result, although, I am toying with the idea of using the diamond mesh as used on the modern MGs, but I chose this mesh at the time based on price and the fact iot nicely hid all the wiring and the tops of the bumper mount plates.  See manufacturing a sports grille for this modification.

Taking this idea a step further, Stephen has subsequently modified his front end shown further up (LAC 38V) and based on my grille above, has made a few subtle modifications to his to incorporate spotlights and to spray the mesh black to contrast with the green.  See modifying a sports grille with spotlights.

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