The centre armrest sits on top of the rear tunnel carpet between the seats and is an integral part of the finished MGA interior. Reproduction armrest kits are made to the original pattern and supplied in the colour and piping combinations that match the principal MGA seat schemes.
Original Specification
The original armrest has a Dunlopillo foam base, upholstered in leather on the top surface and Vynide leathercloth on the borders, with piping running around the edge of the top. The roadster armrest top has two pleats running front-to-back, while the coupé armrest is plain, this is one of the small detail differences between the two body styles. Colours were matched to the seats and seat piping throughout production, so the armrest was always co-ordinated with the rest of the interior trim.
Colour and Piping Options
Reproduction leather armrests are offered in black (plain, with red piping or with white piping), red and grey, covering the principal combinations used on original MGA interiors. The armrest piping should match the seat piping as fitted to the car, since the two items were always specified as a set when the car was built.
Ordering Considerations
Confirming both the seat colour and the seat piping colour before ordering is the single most important step. Where the seats are also being re-trimmed, the armrest kit can be specified to the same scheme for a consistent finish. Roadster and coupé owners should also note that although the armrest shell is largely common, the roadster pattern carries pleats on the top and the coupé pattern does not, verifying the correct body-style specification before ordering keeps the finished result period-correct.