For what it's worth here is a version I heard:
Some cars were prepped for A/C at the factory but the A/C was installed at the
dealer. An example of factory prep work was the use of special tinted glass
(I forget the name that was stamped on the glass but I had a 71 GT with this
glass AND it had A/C). The reason for not fitting the air at the factory was
because of the import tax that was based on the cars value but not an import
tax on car parts. Thus, the A/C unit could be shipped to the US without
paying an import tax and the import tax on the car was lower because it did
not have the A/C installed.
Fact? Fiction?? I dunno ...
Dr. Doug
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-mgs@autox.team.net On Behalf Of Phil Raby
Sent: Friday, May 22, 1998 6:59 AM
To: MG digest submit; RJohn50603@aol.com
Subject: Re: Air Conditioning Part II
On 22/5/98 9:05 am mgs-owner@autox.team.net said
><< Sorry to disagree, but air-con WAS factory fitted. For sure many air-con
> Bs were dealer fitted but there was a factory fitted unit on offer. >>
>
>Really, where did you hear this? I'm interested in hearing more. Everything I
>learned over the past three years did not reveal this information. I did
>speak
>with quite a few folks about too.
I don't known much about this, but to quote Clausager, who's normally
reliable:
No MGB ever had an a/c system fitted in the factory. However, proprietary
a/c systems were developed in the USA and occasionally fitted to new cars
prior to delivery.
BTW. In the UK, a/c has only recently become common since the hot summers
we've been having over the last few years.
Cheers,
Philip Raby
Editor, MG World
PO Box 163, Bicester OX6 3YS, UK
Tel: 01869 340061 Fax: 01869 340063 Mobile 0467 767361
www.chp.ltd.uk
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