Heritage body shells provide a complete new body for Midgets where the corrosion is beyond economical panel-by-panel repair. Manufactured by British Motor Heritage using almost 100% original factory press tooling and assembly jigs, these shells represent the most accurate and economical method of restoring a structurally compromised car. They are the only body shells produced to the exact specification of the originals, using the same tooling that built the cars at Abingdon.
Four Specifications
Four body shell specifications cover the 1275cc and 1500 production range. The first covers the 1967 to 1969 square-arch chrome-bumper cars (GAN4-60460 to 74885 / HAN9-72041 to 85286).
The second covers the 1969 to 1971 period (GAN5-74886 to 105500 / HAN10, AAN10). The third covers the 1971 to 1974 round-wheel-arch cars (GAN5-105501 to 153920).
The fourth covers the 1974 to 1979 rubber-bumper 1500 (GAN6). The first three specifications serve both right and left-hand-drive vehicles, while the 1500 shell is produced for right-hand-drive only.
Electrocoat Finish
All body shells are finished in black electrocoat primer. The electrocoat process completely immerses the body in a tank of etch primer, with the paint electrically attracted to every surface of the shell, ensuring coverage in areas that conventional spray application cannot reach, including the insides of box sections and enclosed cavities. The electrocoat finish withstands 800 hours of salt spray testing, providing an excellent base for the subsequent application of primer coats and final colour paint. This level of corrosion protection far exceeds what was achievable when the cars were originally built.
Seam Sealer and Sound Deadening
In response to customer feedback, Heritage body shells are supplied without seam sealer applied. This allows owners the flexibility to choose whether to apply seam sealer for road use or to leave it off for concours d'elegance and competition applications where the visible seams are part of the authentic factory appearance. Sound deadening pads are supplied separately with the body shell.
When to Choose a Body Shell
A Heritage body shell is the right choice when the structural corrosion has progressed to the point where multiple major structural repairs, inner sills, chassis legs, floor pans, spring mountings, and A-post bases, would be needed simultaneously. At that level of deterioration, the cumulative cost and time of individual panel repairs often exceeds the cost of a new shell, and the finished result cannot match the dimensional accuracy of a shell built on the original assembly jigs. The mechanical components, glass, trim, and all bolt-on panels are transferred from the old car to the new shell.