The rear outer panels of the Roadster are among the most structurally significant body panels on the car. The rear wings wrap around the wheel arches and form the visible rear quarter, while the rear valance, rear decking, and B-posts complete the structure that ties the back of the car together. On the MGC Roadster these panels are the same as the contemporary MGB Roadster of the 1967 to 1969 chrome bumper period, and on the MGB the rear wing joints were originally lead-loaded where they met the body, with lead-loading discontinued on the rubber bumper cars from 1974, the joints moving further outboard at the same time and the rear valance widened.
Common Corrosion Areas
These are among the most commonly replaced body panels on any surviving car. The rear wing area is particularly vulnerable to corrosion from road spray trapped behind the inner wing, where moisture collects in the cavity between inner and outer wings and is held against the metal by accumulated mud and debris. The boot floor corrodes from two directions, moisture ingress through deteriorated boot seals from above and road spray from the rear wheels from below. The rear quarter panels, the lower sections between the rear wheel arch and the sill, often corrode along the bottom edge where moisture sits against a horizontal seam, and a rear wing end plinth repair section covers the area beneath the rear lamp aperture, a particularly common corrosion site.
Panels Available
Complete rear wing assemblies are available without the B-post in chrome bumper and rubber bumper specifications, in left and right hand fitments, with rear wing repair sections covering the lower and rearward areas where corrosion is most common. B-post assemblies are available in Heritage and reproduction specifications for post-1964 push-button door handle cars, the early pull-out door handle Roadster using a different B-post arrangement. The rear decking panel sits between the rear wings at the back of the cockpit, the rear valance is available for chrome bumper and rubber bumper specifications, and wing beading is available at 5.5 feet per piece. The boot lid is available as a complete Heritage assembly or as a skin, alongside a fibreglass alternative.
When fitting replacement rear wings, careful alignment with the door shut line, sill, and boot lid gaps is essential, as poor panel alignment is immediately visible and detracts from even the highest quality paintwork, and all rear outer panel work should be assessed in conjunction with the inner rear body structure, as the condition of spring hangers, rear floor, and inner wing panels determines whether outer panel replacement alone is sufficient.