Highlights

• Extremely rare Mercante aluminium body
• Fascinating original documentation
• Owned by one family since 1976

The Appeal

The History and Paperwork

• Manufactured in 1960
• Thought to have been assembled by its original owner
• The first owner sold the car to the present owner’s sister in 1976
• It was then sold to the owner’s other sister in 1982
• Their brother, the current owner, then purchased the car in 1991
• Said to have been running until it was registered SORN in June 2020
• Road Tax and MOT exempt 
• Comes with its valuable registration number: 123 MPL
• Comes with a copy of the MGA 1600 driver’s handbook
• An origin edition of MGA Special Tuning factory booklet also accompanies the car
• BMC workshop manual and parts list
• Handwritten service records
• Photographic record of a cylinder head overhaul in 2005
• Extensive invoices for parts and servicing 

 The Interior

• Simple yet stylish sporting interior
• Diminutive bucket seats
• The seat covers are well worn, and have been repaired with tape in places
• The carpets have been well used but remain complete
• Vinyl covered door cards with small storage pockets
• Plain wooden dashboard 
• Two spare steering wheels included
• A full set of instruments are fitted, and said to be in working order
• The switches are all present and correct
• A spacious rear compartment allows plenty of luggage to be carried
• There is a spare wheel supplied with the car, along with a jack

 The Exterior 

• The Mercante body sits on a tubular steel frame, mounted to the chassis, with aluminium body panels on top
• The original chassis and running gear are said to be in sound condition
• There is a little rust on the steel frame
• Aluminium body complete and in generally good condition
• There are a few areas of bubbling to be seen in the paintwork, particular near the wheel arches 
• Scratches and blemishes commensurate with age
• The car runs on steel wheels which have been resprayed 
• It comes with weather equipment, including a convertible roof frame with an unused hood
• The tonneau cover requires some attention to its fixings
• Side screens are present but require refurbishment
• Standard MGA items included in the sale include doors, bonnet and boot, which are said to be suitable for refurbishment, and feature aluminium skins

 The Mechanics 

• 1500cc BMC B-Series engine 
• The cylinder head was overhauled in 2005 and converted to run on unleaded petrol
• In 1991 a significant suspension overhaul was undertaken with new parts fitted including front coil springs, rear leaf springs, track rod ends, front hub seals and much more
• A new wiring loom was purchased in 1995
• The brakes, including master cylinder and all wheel cylinders were refurbished in 2005
• There is an extensive history file with plenty of invoices for parts purchased over the decades
• A photographic record of work carried out accompanies the car, along with a hand written service record 

Summary