The MGA cockpit capping set finishes the leather and Vynide trim rolls along the cockpit edges, door tops, rear quarters, the top of the facia and the front edge of the rear tonneau panel. Reproduction sets follow the original construction and are supplied in the colour and piping combinations that match the principal MGA seat schemes.
Original Specification
The original cockpit edges were finished with trim rolls on wood or cast aluminium bases (the rear quarters and front of the door trim rolls moved from wood to cast aluminium from mid-1956). Door top and rear quarter rolls were covered in leather, while the facia top and rear tonneau front edge rolls were finished in Vynide leathercloth. Each carried piping towards the outer edge, with colours matched to the seats and seat piping.
Choosing the Correct Combination
Reproduction sets are offered in the principal colour and piping combinations that pair with the standard MGA seat colour schemes, black with black, red or white piping; red with black, red or white piping; grey with grey piping; and the lighter magnolia and biscuit colours with their matching piping. The factory rule was that capping piping matched the seat piping, so the seat colour and seat piping fitted to the car determine the correct capping set.
Ordering Considerations
Confirming the seat colour and the seat piping colour before ordering is the single most important step, capping sets ordered to a different scheme will look out of place against the existing seats. Where the seats are also being re-trimmed, both items can be specified to the same scheme at the same time. Capping sets and seat covers in matching specifications produce a properly co-ordinated finished interior.