HRG Rocker Cover

[dinglem]

I just sold an Imp shell to somebody and during the conflab he told me he had an old Mini rocker cover lying about and pulled this out. He said he'd like it to go to somebody who appreciated it so gave it to me for nothing(!)

Could somebody please fill me in on these... quick search tells me there is a Downton link and that they have been reproduced recently but this is obviously an original. The guy took it off 'an old Mini i stripped years ago...'

[china]

The cap looks the right size for an original. Check the underside of the cover for a raised cast number,if there is a number there you can be sure it is worth a kings ransom.

[Dr S]

thats lovely, don't over restore it. I'd just give it a going over with some autosol or similar.. If you want to pass it on I'd be tempted!

[dinglem]

Can they be dated at all?

[china]

There were two types of HRG badges showing different addresses. The badge on your cover is the later of the two. If you check out Mark Fosters web site there is some info listed there, a great place to start your research.

[dinglem]

The cap looks the right size for an original. Check the underside of the cover for a raised cast number,if there is a number there you can be sure it is worth a kings ransom.

Number is 4750 0 and then BA

[china]

Thats the one,You have yourself a piece of rare history.

[dinglem]

Thats the one,You have yourself a piece of rare history.

Great! Now i just have to talk the wife into thinking she wants a replacement period rocker cover...

[dklawson]

thats lovely, don't over restore it. I'd just give it a going over with some autosol or similar.

Interesting point. As a sidebar to the real topic of this thread, what is the general thought here about a part like that used as part of a restoration or rebuild? Many people like a bit of patina on rare parts and old machinery in general. If you were restoring a car and wanted a rocker cover (or other period part) like that, would you just clean it up enough to use or try and return it to its "as new" appearance from back in the day?

[china]

I think it would depend on the application it was meant for, for example if it was a full on total restoration i would try and return it to it's former glory. If it was on a project that did not warrant a full restoration, just a bit of spit and polish then just clean it. My theory is that way it would look in keeping with the rest of the project.

[rich@minispares.com]

not all the genuine hrg ones have the casting number inside - I have two that don't.

your example is nice, its very rare to see an original one that has a decent, well fitted badge on a plinth that's the correct size, on most of them the plinths are wrong, so the badges (if they are fitted) are squint, or overhang the edge. its also not had a multitude of holes drilled in it, which is nice to see.


I would get yours soda blasted, that would get rid of all the 'bloom' and restore it to a nice matt silver finish (obviously, cover the badge up!)


new caps can be got from c&s which are identical to the originals (and very high quality)

HRG went bust in mid 1966, so any hrg covers are old, prior to this they where the only alloy cover fitted to Downton engined cars (bar the super rare FJ type) if the customer requested such a thing - post 1966 they started to use the slopey front murcott (mg metro) type covers.

I think the 'BA' inside stands for 'Birmingham alloys' they did loads of casting work for everyone, Rolls Royce, Arden etc etc - its a very common mark.


they are a lovely cover, the big shame with the originals is that when fitted to a mini the badge is at the back of the engine, so it looks a little strange.


a very nice find though, and a great story that goes with it!


p.s


and that's a great plate you have on your stiletto!!!

[Dr S]

Personally I like a bit of age on me bits. I've no desire to wipe away all the age and try and make it better than new. I re use the old bolts, old chrome,vinyl where I can to make it feel right

[mk1]

Nice freebie!

As Rich has already alluded to HRG were a well respected engineering / motor manufacturing company who were by the mid 60's on their last legs.

they went from making things like this



To things like this



In just 10 years. There are at least 2 sets of casting boxes & 2 sizes of cap used on original HRG Items. 1 with the casting number visible, and one with no markings at all. By the time they went out of business, there were very few covers that were being produced with a badge on, the badged ones are MUCH rarer than the plain ones. Personally I suspect that some of these rocker covers were manufactured after the demise of HRG, probably by a third party, but I have no definitive evidence of this.
Recently Rich has been offering a limited run of these, & very nice they are too.

The "Downton Connection" is often well over egg'd. Downton Wiltshire NEVER sold ANY alloy rocker covers AT ALL! Daniel Richmond considered them to be "not required" so they were not available. Richard Miles (Downton) London Ltd. Did offer Alloy rocker covers off the shelf, these were in the early days HRG ones, but they did offer other types at one time or another including the JV Murcott (Minifin) ones mentioned above.

Yours is a nice cover with a good history, personally I would not restore it, but each to their own.

[dinglem]

thats lovely, don't over restore it. I'd just give it a going over with some autosol or similar.

Interesting point. As a sidebar to the real topic of this thread, what is the general thought here about a part like that used as part of a restoration or rebuild? Many people like a bit of patina on rare parts and old machinery in general. If you were restoring a car and wanted a rocker cover (or other period part) like that, would you just clean it up enough to use or try and return it to its "as new" appearance from back in the day?

Tis a good question. I was careful to retain a few time-weathered items during the resto of our car; initially i thought the headlining looked terrible with glue showing through it, but the guys on here talked me into retaining the original for the build which i have done. My seats are original too. Rear view mirror and steering column cover are badly sun-faded but i love them for that. It still has that old car smell which i love every time we get in. To get the right parts for it is a priority for me. I was in a rush to get the car ready for my wedding so we fitted reproduction bumpers and over-riders to look good on the day and the wife loved it.... but in my mind i knew they weren't original so i have since sourced a pair of genuine 5 bolt bumpers and corner bars and fitted those. The wife has no idea why i did it and why i spent the money getting them straightened and re-chromed, but i am glad i did as i knew they weren't 'right'.

I've fitted Speedwell gauges also - i have several and some have been restored to as-new, but i chose to fit unrestored ones with peeling needle paint as they suit the interior more. I've also left the headlight rims unrestored (just polished) as they all seem to add to the look and feel of the car.

Not sure what i'll do with the rocker cover yet though.

[dinglem]

not all the genuine hrg ones have the casting number inside - I have two that don't.

your example is nice, its very rare to see an original one that has a decent, well fitted badge on a plinth that's the correct size, on most of them the plinths are wrong, so the badges (if they are fitted) are squint, or overhang the edge. its also not had a multitude of holes drilled in it, which is nice to see.


I would get yours soda blasted, that would get rid of all the 'bloom' and restore it to a nice matt silver finish (obviously, cover the badge up!)


new caps can be got from c&s which are identical to the originals (and very high quality)

HRG went bust in mid 1966, so any hrg covers are old, prior to this they where the only alloy cover fitted to Downton engined cars (bar the super rare FJ type) if the customer requested such a thing - post 1966 they started to use the slopey front murcott (mg metro) type covers.

I think the 'BA' inside stands for 'Birmingham alloys' they did loads of casting work for everyone, Rolls Royce, Arden etc etc - its a very common mark.


they are a lovely cover, the big shame with the originals is that when fitted to a mini the badge is at the back of the engine, so it looks a little strange.


a very nice find though, and a great story that goes with it!


p.s


and that's a great plate you have on your stiletto!!!

Actually the shell i sold which lead me to the rocker cover in question was that Stiletto, so the reg is now destined elsewhere....!

[dinglem]

Some great information here guys. Many thanks indeed to those who have replied

[rich@minispares.com]

if your just wanting to smarten up the cover, coarse wire wool soaked in WD40 will get the worse off, then go over with fine and it will look great

[mk1]

The restore to new or keep the patina debate is a good one, I have started a new thread on this very subject.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11101

[dinglem]

Well, I am pleased to say that my rocker cover turned up in the post today

It looks a tad sorry for itself but is intact and was free(!) and i am really pleased with it. The plate looks original with the original rivets still in place which are holding it down nice and tightly. I was told to look on the underside of the filler cap to see if that was a hard to find original also. Pic below. Does this look correct to you guys?

hrg received.jpg

hrg filler cap.jpg

[dinglem]

Close up shots.

hrg filler cap2.jpg

hrg plate.jpg