Details again - BL Grp2 arches + copies

[AndyPen]

I recently opened the bag of my genuine Grp 2 arches, and was lining up the front chrome trim yesterday. I think I have finally worked out what the original arches had the indents at the front for. I've noticed a few rally cars left the 'whiskers' off and now I may have found a reason why - the copy arches don't have this front indent, and maybe the later genuine ones didn't have it either?

Been studying cars with these arches for some time now. I've noticed things like how high some people fit them at the front, maybe to accommodate the fact that the copies kind of hang out a bit in the area if you align the lead edge to the bumper rail, which is what I have always been led to believe was correct. I have seen them set low at the front too.

Some are clearly 'sprung' to get inside the lower door hinge as well, then as a result sit back a bit at the front. The genuine ones have the cut out to go over the hinge so don't need to be sprung like that.

I thought I'd share as I'm sure there is a thread or on here already where the poor fit of the originals is mentioned, yet these NOS ones fit extremely well.

When Mk2s came out I guess the front edge was less critical, though a small and slightly odd overlap results. Of course with Mk3s the hinge doesn't matter either, so repro arches don't feature them?

Grp2-Part-no-label.jpg

grp2-n-moustache.jpg

grp2-arches-compared.jpg

[251 ENG]

Can you post a picture of the screw hole bosses on body side ?

[Ronnie]

^
Just splodges of bodge from what I remember.

[AndyPen]

Can you post a picture of the screw hole bosses on body side ?

Can do, both these and another set I have, have grey filler blobs.

[mk1]

Remember there isn't such a thing as "The copies or for that matter The originals".

These arches have been copied & re-imagined dozens of time over the years, some good, some bad & some indifferent. The Original ones, aren't by any means the very best fitting ones, and there are at least 2 types that were sold by ST over the years.

[AndyPen]

Remember there isn't such a thing as "The copies or for that matter The originals".

These arches have been copied & re-imagined dozens of time over the years, some good, some bad & some indifferent. The Original ones, aren't by any means the very best fitting ones, and there are at least 2 types that were sold by ST over the years.

I say originals as I removed them from the BL pack myself Mark, the label is still on one of the bags.

So as supplied by British Leyland is the better description I guess? I have another set without the dimples that I posted before. I got those in the early 70s from my local dealer and there was a manufacturer's name on the bag as well as BL too. I must check that out as no doubt there were a few suppliers as you say.

Anyway, these are the best fit of any I've tried, and here as promised is the inside pic with the dollops of what I assume to be body filler.

inside-of-grp2-arches.jpg

inside-grp2-arches-fr-cu.jpg

[mk1]

Andy, I wasn't suggesting that yours weren't "right".

I was just pointing out that there were AT LEAST two original suppliers of these arches to ST & that there have been dozens of different copies made over the years by different people. Making it difficult to say this, that or the other is "the way" to identify a genuine or for that matter a non genuine set. There is literally loads of different variations, good, bad & indifferent.

[AndyPen]

Been doing some more digging and the part number is correct, though it does have an extra '_A ' at the end of it for some reason? The picture in the ST section appears to have the dimples and hinge cut out too.

I've a few odds and sod from back in the day when I guess they were cracked and damaged regularly. They all have the blobs of filler on the back Simon. The newspapers they were stored in are from the early 70s.

I've dug out the other unused set and the label is almost non existent. The same screws are attached in a BL (so later than BMC) bag, and indeed my memory was correct, as it has this DOMI label. I am therefore guessing that DOMI made these for BL and possibly BMC???

Alternatively, maybe Kristian knows if this is the logo for Danish Overseas Motor Industry, and it was their 'home brand' ???

ST-arch-parts-drg.jpg

domi-sticker.jpg

[kwjcoopermk2]

Domi

Dansk oversøisk motor industri

[AndyPen]

Domi

Dansk oversøisk motor industri

Thanks Kristian, another mystery solved, as that makes them some kind of 'official' product too

[r.tec]

These are mine:

038_7verbreiterung_gruppe2.jpg

c-24a2152.jpg

As you can see the number is C-24A2152

In the group2 homologation paper the no is C-AJJ3316

[AndyPen]

These are mine:
038_7verbreiterung_gruppe2.jpg c-24a2152.jpg

As you can see the number is C-24A2152

In the group2 homologation paper the no is C-AJJ3316

Thanks for posting and I have heard of the number being on the rim of some BMC / BL supplied ones. They seem to fit well

The front has the little overlap I mentioned, which is only a problem when you wish to keep the little chrome whiskers on a Mk1. In that case many space them back slightly with an extra springiness in the arch - it moves up slightly. I would say yours is correct

Can I ask if that is a marker for the hinge cut out at the back please?

038_7verbreiterung_gruppe2_2.jpg

[r.tec]

Hello Andy,

actually I never fitted these arches as I went directly to Gp5 from Minispares. (Funnily enough, in older MiniSport catalogues there was a picture of my Mini in connection with their Gp5 arches! ).

For this photo I only trial fitted them to see how they looked. They were conceived for Mk1/2 bodies but my Mini then was a 1977 with inner door hinges.
The groove at the back was there built-in, supposedly the cut out for the door hinges. At the front I never knew if it was for the 'moustache' of the Mk1 or the bulge in the front corner. But when I see the pictures here in the thread I think it most probable to be for the moustache.

As you can certainly confirm the cut-outs for the screws are on different places left/right which was a bit puzzling for me at first but then I thought nobody cared because main target was to cover the wheels/tyres which was achieved.

The dicrepancy between part-nos on the arches and the homologation paper I think was due to the whole set of the arches was given the C-AJJ-prefix because all sets of more than one part received the AJJ-tag.

Wished somebody could confirm my assumption.

Regards,
Helmut

[AndyPen]

Hello Andy,

actually I never fitted these arches as I went directly to Gp5 from Minispares. (Funnily enough, in older MiniSport catalogues there was a picture of my Mini in connection with their Gp5 arches! ).

For this photo I only trial fitted them to see how they looked. They were conceived for Mk1/2 bodies but my Mini then was a 1977 with inner door hinges.
The groove at the back was there built-in, supposedly the cut out for the door hinges. At the front I never knew if it was for the 'moustage' of the Mk1 or the bulge in the front corner. But when I see the pictures here in the thread I think it most probable to be for the moustage.

As you can certainly confirm the cut-outs for the screws are on different places left/right which was a bit puzzling for me at first but then I thought nobody cared because main target was to cover the wheels/tyres which was achieved.

The dicrepancy between part-nos on the arches and the homologation paper I think was due to the whole set of the arches was given the C-AJJ-prefix because all sets of more than one part received the AJJ-tag.

Wished somebody could confirm my assumption.

Regards,
Helmut

Thank Helmut, that all makes sense Funny about your Grp 5s too

I recall being annoyed that we couldn't buy the Grp2 arches independently, especially as each arch has its own part number. So we always had to buy another complete set!!

I don't think they were designed for looks as you suggest - just a practical way of covering the tyre. Nowadays I think the retro look is rather cool

[kwjcoopermk2]

Hi

I dont think DOMI made them for BMC or BL.

[r.tec]

Forgot to mention: when I bought my set of arches they were finished in a sort of powder blue gel coat.

[AndyPen]

Hi

I dont think DOMI made them for BMC or BL.

Just labelled them when they sold them I guess then Kristian? Still suggests they were dealer approved of course

[AndyPen]

Forgot to mention: when I bought my set of arches they were finished in a sort of powder blue gel coat.

Interesting, I had heard of yellow and even white - those were on a local car built by a BMC mechanic and at first I thought he had painted them.

[kwjcoopermk2]

Yes labelled by DOMI and approved by them