A tool roll is the on-board solution for keeping a usable toolkit in the car, the spanners, screwdrivers, pliers and emergency items that turn a roadside problem into a minor inconvenience rather than a recovery-truck call-out. The chrome-bumper MGB had storage specifically intended for an on-board toolkit behind the seats, and the proper home for that toolkit is a rolled-canvas tool roll that protects the tools and keeps them organised.
Period-Style Canvas Tool Rolls
Period-style tool rolls are made from canvas or heavy cotton duck, with sewn pockets sized for the spanners, screwdrivers and small tools an owner is likely to carry. A typical MGOC tool roll has 15 compartments organised for a complete on-board kit, 7" combination pliers, spanners in 3/4", 11/16", 5/8", 9/16", 1/2" and 7/16" AF sizes, a spark plug wrench and brush, Phillips and slotted screwdrivers, a feeler gauge set, a tyre gauge, a circuit tester and an adjustable wrench. The roll lays flat for tool selection, then rolls up around the tools and ties closed with cotton ribbon or canvas straps. The styling is unchanged from the on-board toolkit rolls that were original-equipment on many British classics, appropriate for cars where originality is the priority, and entirely usable as a working tool.
The canvas resists petrol, oil and grease without permanent staining, and a quality roll lasts the working life of the car.
Modern Tool Rolls and Equivalents
Modern tool rolls use synthetic materials, nylon canvas, vinyl-faced cotton, or composite materials with magnetic fastenings, for owners who prioritise function over period appearance. The pockets are typically sized for modern AF, metric and combination spanner sets, with provision for the screwdrivers, pliers and electrical tools that a modern owner is likely to carry. The synthetic materials resist water more aggressively than the cotton-canvas patterns, which matters for tools stored long-term in a sometimes-damp boot. The modern rolls also typically include separate compartments for the consumable items, a small bottle of fuel-system oil, fuses, bulbs and electrical tape, that an owner is likely to carry alongside the spanners.
What to Put in the Roll
The recommended on-board toolkit for a classic MG covers four categories. Basic spanners (a small AF combination set, an adjustable spanner, and a set of pliers) cover the routine roadside work, tightening a loose battery terminal, adjusting a slipping fan belt, refitting a coolant hose that has come adrift. Screwdrivers (flat and Pozidriv, in a couple of sizes each) handle the electrical and interior items that come up on the road. Specialist tools (a spark-plug spanner, a points file or feeler gauge set, a small set of cable ties and electrical tape) cover the ignition and electrical work. Emergency items (a tow rope, jump leads, a small first-aid kit, a fluorescent jacket and breakdown triangles) are the safety side of the toolkit.
A properly-stocked tool roll, kept in the car at all times, transforms the experience of using a classic on the road.