The MGA used a small chrome-shelled lamp unit fitted both at the rear (illuminating the number plate) and inside the car (as the dashboard map lamp). Because the lamp body, lens, cover and bulb are common between the two locations, the same components serve both purposes. This page covers the complete lamp assembly together with its lens, gasket and bulb, applicable equally to the dashboard map lamp role and to the rear number plate lamp.
Original Lamp Specification
The lamp unit fitted to most MGAs is type 467, a small chrome-plated shell with a domed plastic lens. Originally fitted with a single 4-watt bulb, the specification was upgraded to two 4-watt bulbs from 1600 chassis 88844 (March 1960), sometimes referred to as type 467-2. A different lamp type 469 was fitted from 1600 chassis 92679 (May 1960) on cars destined for Switzerland, reflecting that market's specific lighting regulations. All number plate lamp shells are chrome-plated.
Number Plate Lamp Function
At the rear of the car, the lamp illuminates the number plate at night. The lamp is bolted to the rear bumper or to an overrider mounting, with a gasket between the lamp base and the mounting surface to prevent water ingress. The same lamp body and components are used here as for the dashboard map lamp.
Dashboard Map Lamp Function
Inside the car, the same lamp type was specified as the dashboard map lamp, providing focused illumination over the map area when the headlights or sidelights are on. The map lamp is operated by its own switch on the dashboard panel and is part of the original instrument layout common to all MGA variants.
Components
A complete lamp renewal involves the lamp body assembly itself, the bright-finish chrome cover that fits over the body, the domed plastic lens that snaps into the cover, the rubber gasket between the lamp and its mounting surface (for number plate fitment), and the appropriate bulb. The standard bulb is an E10 MES type at 2.2W (clear), used on cars carrying the original single-bulb 467 lamp. Cars carrying the later two-bulb 467-2 specification take two of the same bulbs.
Ordering Considerations
Confirm whether the lamp is being fitted as a number plate lamp (gasket required) or as a dashboard map lamp (no gasket needed). For number plate lamp fitment, identifying whether the car is an early single-bulb specification or a later two-bulb 467-2 specification (1600 chassis 88844 onwards) determines which bulb count is correct. Cars originally supplied to the Swiss market may carry the type 469 lamp instead, these cars are uncommon in the UK and ordering the standard 467 is the right choice for almost all UK-based restorations.