Where can I buy an MGA Coupe rear window seal?

MGA Coupe rear window seals are currently out of stock at all major MG specialists simultaneously. Check Moss Motors, Brown & Gammons, NTG Motor Services, MGOC Spares, and Scarborough Faire regularly — they restock in batches. For immediate options, search eBay for NOS examples or contact a rubber profile specialist who can match the seal's cross-section from the old unit. Rimmer Bros also carries MG catalogue rubber seals and may have stock. Maxpeedingrods is another source worth checking.

Are MGA Coupe and MGA Roadster rear window seals the same?

No — they are not interchangeable. The MGA Roadster does not have a rear window (it's a convertible with a folding top), so it has no rear window seal at all. The MGA Coupe (fixed-head hardtop, 1955–1962) has a completely different rear glass seal profile. Make sure any source you contact knows you're working on an MGA Coupe specifically, not a Roadster.

Can I use a universal rubber seal for my MGA Coupe rear window?

Not recommended. The cross-section profile of a rear window seal must match the specific groove in the body surround and grip the glass correctly to form a water seal. Universal windscreen rubber seals have a generic profile that almost certainly won't match the MGA Coupe's specification — the result is water leaks into the cabin and boot. Use the correct OEM-profile seal or a quality reproduction from a specialist who stocks MGA catalogue rubber seals. Generic rubber from a hardware store will leak.

How much does an MGA Coupe rear window seal cost?

When available from a main dealer or specialist, expect to pay approximately £40–£80 / $50–$100 for a quality reproduction or NOS seal. NOS (new old stock) examples on eBay can run 2–3x that amount depending on condition and seller. Custom rubber profile companies will charge based on minimum run lengths and setup costs — typically higher per unit but the only option when main dealers are out of stock. Check CarSpanner's supplier directory for current pricing from listed specialists.

Who manufactures MGA Coupe rubber seals?

Moss Motors produces many MGA rubber seals in-house or commissions them from UK manufacturers — they are one of the primary sources for MGA rubber seals when in stock. Brown & Gammons sources from UK manufacturers with long-established tooling. Some specialist rubber profile companies (for example, Martin Robey for body rubbers, or specialist extrusion firms) can reproduce the seal's cross-section from a physical sample if you send them the old seal for matching. MGOC Spares (MG Owners Club) stocks parts to correct original specification through the club's parts department.

MGA Coupe Rear Window Rubber Seal — Where to Find It

The Problem

The MGA Coupe rear window rubber seal is one of the hardest MG parts to source right now. At time of writing, every major supplier is simultaneously out of stock — a frustrating situation that leaves restorers mid-project with nowhere to turn.

Moss Motors, Brown & Gammons, NTG Motor Services, MGOC Spares, and Scarborough Faire are all showing no stock. This isn't a supply chain glitch — it's a genuine gap in availability that has persisted long enough to become a known issue in the MGA community on MG Experience forums.

If you're working on an MGA Coupe (1955–1962, fixed-head hardtop model), this guide walks you through what the seal does, where to check for stock, and what to do when you can't find one.

If your car is still watertight with its existing seal, do not remove it just to replace it — handling an intact original seal accelerates its degradation. Wait until you actually need to fit it before hunting it down. But start checking suppliers now so you know when stock becomes available.

Classic car detail showing the kind of weather sealing and glass-to-body fitment critical in vintage coupe restorations — Correct window seals are essential for weather tightness and preventing the chassis rot that plagues classic British cars. Courtesy Unsplash.

What You Need

Before contacting any supplier, make sure you're asking for the right part. The MGA has two body styles and they are not the same when it comes to rear window seals:

The MGA Coupe (fixed-head, 1955–1962) has a fixed rear window (backlight) sealed into the body with a rubber profile seal set into a channel around the glass aperture. The MGA Roadster (convertible, 1955–1962) has no rear window — the folding hood stows behind the seats and the rear bodywork is open. If you're restoring a Roadster, you don't need this part at all.

The seal itself is an OEM-profile rubber extrusion that runs around the full perimeter of the rear glass opening. It has a specific cross-section that must:

1. Seat correctly in the body surround groove (the channel around the glass aperture)
2. Grip the glass at the correct compression to form a weatherproof seal
3. Be cut to the correct length or be available in the correct continuous length for the Coupe's aperture

The cross-section profile is specific to the MGA Coupe. Do not assume a rubber seal from another MG marque — MGB, MGC, MGB GT — will fit. It won't. The body profiles are all different.

Where to Look

Here's the current supplier picture. Stock status changes — check back regularly with all of these. Suppliers typically restock in batches and there's no reliable forecast for when the next batch arrives.

Supplier	Location	Status	Notes
Moss Motors	USA	Out of Stock	Primary source; manufacture many MGA rubbers in-house. Check back — they restock periodically.
Brown & Gammons	UK	Out of Stock	Established MG specialist. Contact them directly to ask about restock ETA.
NTG Motor Services	UK	Out of Stock	UK-based MG specialist. Worth calling for current stock status.
MGOC Spares	UK	Out of Stock	MG Owners Club parts department. Check their website or call.
Scarborough Faire	USA	Out of Stock	US MGA specialist. Good source for MGA-specific parts when in stock.
Rimmer Bros	UK	Check site	Broad MG catalogue. Affiliate link — check directly for current stock.
eBay	Global	Varies	NOS examples occasionally appear. Premium pricing expected — typically 2–3x specialist prices. Search with your part number to find what's listed.
MG Experience Forum Classifieds	Community	Varies	Member-to-member sales. Post a Want To Buy — the community responds. Worth checking the classifieds section regularly.
Maxpeedingrods	UK	Check site	Rubber seal search. Uses affiliate link — check via CarSpanner for current stock.

The main dealers are out. But stock status changes — a supplier that has nothing today may have a shipment arrive next week. Set a reminder to check Moss Motors, Brown & Gammons, and NTG every few days.

Workarounds

When Main Dealers Are Out

Custom Seal Fabrication

Contact Moss Motors directly. Even if their website shows no stock, call or email their parts department. They manufacture many MGA rubbers in-house and may have availability through their trade desk that doesn't appear on the public site. Ask specifically about restock ETA — if it's imminent, you can wait.
Rubber profile specialists. Companies that manufacture custom rubber extrusions can match your seal's cross-section from a physical sample. If your old seal is still intact (even if it's hardened and cracked), send it to a specialist who can match the profile. Martin Robey is one known source for body rubber profiles; local rubber extrusion companies may also help. You'll need to provide a length measurement.
Match from the old seal. If you're replacing a perished seal, keep the old one — even a fragment. A rubber specialist can use it to determine the correct cross-section profile for a replacement. The critical dimensions are the groove-fit width and the glass-grip flange height.
Forum WTBs (Want To Buy posts). Post in the MG Experience classifieds and the MGA-specific forum sections. The MGA community is active and members frequently have parts caches or know who does. A polite, specific WTB post with your car details gets responses.

Do not use generic universal windscreen rubber. The cross-section profile of a universal seal will not match the MGA Coupe's glass aperture groove. It will look like it fits. It will seat loosely and it will leak. The cost saving is not worth the water damage to your interior and boot.

CarSpanner's Approach

We're Tracking Availability for You

CarSpanner monitors supplier stock for parts that are hard to source — and the MGA Coupe rear window seal is exactly this kind of part. When you ask us about your MGA, we'll check current distributor availability, point you to the right contact at the main dealers, and flag alternative sources including custom rubber profile options.

If you already have the old seal, send a photo of it — including the cross-section profile visible at a cut end — and CarSpanner can help identify a profile-matched alternative from a rubber specialist.

For more on MGA parts sourcing and how to verify part compatibility before buying, see our OEM vs NOS vs Reproduction guide. To get specific sourcing help for your MGA restoration, start a conversation with CarSpanner.