Replacement ignition keys, supplied as key blanks suitable for the column-mounted ignition switches fitted to classic MGs from the British Leyland era, are one of the small practical items that any long-term owner eventually needs. Original keys get lost over the decades of ownership history; locks get changed during restoration and the matched key sets become incomplete; a new owner inheriting a car often finds an assortment of keys that no longer match each other; and the spare key that lives in a drawer somewhere often turns out to be the wrong one when needed. The BL Ignition Keys section gathers the key blanks and the key-cutting service that solves these problems.
The Key Code System
Classic-MG production used a series of standardised key codes during the BMC, BL and Rover years, the FS-series codes for the smaller locks, the FP-series codes for the larger barrels, and the various other code prefixes that identified specific lock patterns. Each lock barrel was stamped with its code during manufacture, and the matched key was supplied with the car when new. The code is typically still legible on the lock barrel if the barrel can be inspected, the ignition lock barrel typically has the code stamped on its body, visible when the steering-column shroud is removed and the lock barrel is exposed. With the code in hand, a matched replacement key can be cut to the correct profile.
Key Blank and Cutting Service
Replacement keys are supplied either as uncut blanks (for owners who have access to a key-cutting service or who want to take the blank to a local locksmith) or pre-cut to a specific code (for owners who have identified the code from their existing lock and want a ready-to-use key). The key blanks are the correct patterns for the BL-series locks used across classic-MG production, typically a slim flat key with the appropriate cut profile to suit the lock-barrel's internal pin arrangement. The cut-to-code service produces a key identical to the original specification, allowing operation of the appropriate lock with no need for any adjustment to the lock itself. For matched key sets where the same code is used across multiple locks on the car (ignition, doors, boot), one cut key operates all of them.
Application Coverage and Lock Renewal
The standard codes cover the locks used across the chrome-bumper MGB, the rubber-bumper MGB, the Midget, the MGA, the MGC and the wider classic-MG range. Where a car's locks have been mixed during its history (different codes on the ignition, the doors and the boot), the technical team can supply matched keys for each code, or a complete lock set with new barrels and matched keys for owners who want to return to a single-key operation. Lock renewal, fitting a complete new set of lock barrels matched to a single fresh code, is the appropriate approach for cars where the lock history is unclear or where the original locks have become unreliable; the renewal includes the ignition lock, door locks (where the application has separate door locks), and the boot or fuel-filler lock as appropriate. The technical team is available to advise on the right approach for a specific car.