This section covers the MGA front grille assembly and its mounting fixtures, the complete chrome-plated brass grille with vertical stainless steel bars, the grey PVC piping between the grille and the front shroud, the central octagonal MG badge, the grille shell mounting bolt, and the complete UNF fastener set for grille installation. The MGA grille is one of the car's most defining visual features, the traditional vertical-bar chrome grille is a signature of 1950s BMC sporting cars and is visible on every MGA made from 1955 to 1962.
Mk I grille, 14 bars each side of centre rib
The Mk I grille assembly (1500 and 1600) is the factory specification for all MGAs up to the end of the 1600 model: a chrome-plated brass surround carrying 14 vertical stainless steel bars on each side of a central rib, with the bars following the curvature of the bonnet and front shroud. This design is shared across the 1500, Twin Cam, and 1600 (Mk I) variants, a common part for all three.
Note on 1600 Mk II cars: from the 1600 Mk II onwards, the grille was substantially modified with the vertical bars pushed back at the bottom toward a more vertical position, and an inner surround panel added between the grille casing and the bars. Mk II cars require the modified Mk II grille, not the Mk I assembly covered here, check the car's variant before ordering.
Grille piping, grey PVC between frame and shroud
MGA grille piping is the grey PVC piping fitted between the grille frame and the front shroud. The factory specification is approximately 48 inches long and provides a sealed, visually-finished joint between the chrome grille casing and the body-coloured front shroud, preventing road water and dust from entering the space between the two panels. The piping perishes over time, becoming hard, cracked and dimensionally shrunken, and is typically replaced during any full grille refurbishment for both sealing and visual-finish reasons.
Central octagonal MG badge
The grille badge (MGA + T-Type, black) is the octagonal MG badge mounted at the centre of the grille. It shares its specification with earlier T-Type MG cars, reflecting the shared badge heritage across the BMC sporting lineage. The badge is die-cast chrome-plated with a black centre, mounted at the top centre of the grille through a rectangular slot in the grille frame. A push-on fix (rectangular, for 2/16") is the specific push-on fastener that secures the badge to the grille through the slot.
Original badges were riveted; modern replacements typically use the push-on fix system for simpler fitment without requiring specialist riveting equipment.
Grille shell mounting
The MGA grille shell bolt is the structural bolt that secures the complete grille shell to the front shroud mounting point. A single grille shell bolt is specified for the factory mounting, careful torque setting is important to avoid distorting the chrome frame or the shroud panel.
UNF fastener range
Complete UNF hardware for grille mounting. 1/4 UNF includes hex-head screws (1/2" length), plain large washers, and locking spring washers for smaller grille surround and piping fixings. 10-32 UNF includes No. 10 plain large washers (0.190" aperture), locking spring washers, and plain zinc nuts (32 TPI), used for smaller grille-mounted items including badge fixings and secondary mounting points.
Ordering considerations
Confirm the car's variant before ordering the grille assembly, the Mk I grille (1500, Twin Cam, 1600) and the Mk II grille are substantially different and not interchangeable. For cars being restored to strict factory-original specification, the correct grille matching the car's chassis and production year is essential for both visual correctness and correct fit against the surrounding shroud and wing pressings. Replace the grey PVC piping whenever the grille is removed, as the original rarely re-seats correctly once disturbed. The central badge is a shared item across MGA and T-Type cars, so the period heritage applies to both ranges.