This section covers the inner structural panels of the MGA body, the panels behind the outer skin that carry the body's structural loads, provide mounting points for the outer wings, support the front suspension pickup points, and hold the spare wheel, battery and boot floor at the rear. These panels are hidden once the body is assembled, but determine the car's overall structural integrity: a sound-looking MGA with rotten inner panels is a car waiting for major restoration, while a car with restored inner panels is the correct foundation for a lasting rebuild.
Front inner structure, radiator duct and front wing mountings
The radiator duct panel and its associated mounting brackets form the front inner structure of the MGA, the duct behind the grille that channels cooling air to the radiator, attaches to the front chassis crossmember, and provides the mounting support for the front wings and grille surround panel. The complete radiator duct panel is the main duct panel assembly, for cars where the original is corroded or accident-damaged beyond repair. The duct panel lower is the lower portion, available as a partial replacement where only the lower section has failed. Rad duct brackets (L/H and R/H) secure the duct panel to the chassis and the front wings, a common MGA rust point, moisture collecting where the bracket meets the chassis.
Rear inner structure, inner wheel arches and spare wheel well
The rear inner structure carries the rear suspension pickup points, houses the spare wheel (on roadsters and early coupés, with the spare wheel protruding through the boot floor), and provides the mounting for the rear wings. Rear inner wheel arches (L/H and R/H) are the internal wheel-well pressings that form the inner face of the rear wheel arch. These are the panels behind which the rear wings mount, and they carry the rear suspension pickup points through welded-in reinforcement. Spare wheel well reinforcement (L/H and R/H) are handed reinforcement panels for the spare wheel well area.
On 1500 roadsters and early coupés the spare wheel protruded through the boot floor, hence the need for structural reinforcement here. The spare wheel well is a known rust-prone area because it's one of the lowest points in the body and tends to collect water. Wheel arch close panels (L/H and R/H) close the rear wheel arch between the outer wing and the inner wheel arch, forming the finished wheel arch shape and sealing against road water ingress.
Sill and F-section repair sections
Sill-to-wheel-well repair panels (L/H and R/H) are handed welded-in repair sections for the transition between the outer sill and the rear inner wheel well. This joint is a common rust point because it traps water, and is a structural area of the F-section (door pillar) assembly that carries the body's rigidity across the sills. Proper repair requires a correctly-shaped pressing welded in to factory dimensions. F-section mechanism brace repair sections (L/H and R/H) are handed repair sections for the F-section (door pillar) mechanism brace, reinforcing the structural joint where the door pillar meets the sill.
Scuttle and windscreen mounting
Windscreen mounting brackets (L/H and R/H) are handed brackets that mount the windscreen to the scuttle. On roadsters, these brackets pass through the body to mount the windscreen's vertical stanchions; on coupés, the windscreen is in a completely different channel arrangement, so these brackets are specific to roadster fitment. A front mounting (FT) bracket is stocked for the scuttle-to-body attachment point at the forward edge of the scuttle. A lower screen repair panel (L/H) covers the lower area of the windscreen frame/scuttle joint, one of the areas where water can collect and cause hidden corrosion damage.
Localised repair pieces
Small repair pieces in multiple specifications (L/H, R/H, front-position variants) are stocked for localised repairs at specific structural junctions. These are the smallest repair-panel items, typically a few inches across, welded in to replace a localised rust-through or damaged area without disturbing adjacent sound metal. A battery cradle cover, spare wheel cover frame, seals and channel sections are also stocked as ancillary items for the inner structure.
Ordering considerations
Inner panel work is the heart of any MGA structural restoration and requires careful inspection before ordering. A thorough body survey should identify every corroded area and determine which panels need localised repair and which need complete replacement.