Description
This special-bodied MG was designed to evoke the Bentley and MG Brooklands racers of the 1930s. With its highly tuned XPAG engine, low kerb weight and light rack and pinion steering, it performs well on road or track. It has been displayed at MG meetings and has featured in a magazine article (MG Enthusiast Feb 2009). It’s in great condition and has recently had an engine rebuild and cosmetic and ergonomic improvements. It generates a lot of attention wherever it goes!
Engine:
* 1250cc XPAG modified to MG Special Tuning Stage 2. High lift camshaft, larger valves, twin SU HS4 carburettors, 9. 3/ 1 compression ratio, extractor exhaust manifold mated to MGTD stainless steel exhaust system. Electronic ignition module.
* Just rebuilt with new big end bearings (+12 thou), new cam followers (+20 thou), new timing chain, new gaskets, spin-on oil filter and fresh oil. Engine power output is approx. 70 bhp giving excellent performance.
Cooling:
* MGYA radiator, shortened and re-cored, automatic electric cooling fan, upgraded to MGTF thermostat housing and plumbing, new hoses and filler neck. Maintains a steady 170°F even in hot weather.
Running gear:
* MGYA gearbox upgraded with MGTD remote extension, standard MGYA brakes and MGYA refurbished chassis with reduced width outriggers. The gearbox is slightly noisy but works well with excellent synchromesh. Standard MGYA differential and brakes. 550/ 16 cross-ply tyres, all with good tread, the front ones being brand new. Twin Lucas SLR700 long range lamps fitted with LED bulbs. Automatic reversing lamp and flashing direction indicators.
Body:
* Modified MGYA bonnet, aluminium bulkhead, ash-framed body with fibreglass outer. Car weighs 720 kg (200kg less than an MGTD!). Fold-down windscreen with working wipers, Brooklands aero screens mounted on custom made plinths. Steel cycle-type mudguards. Custom made luggage rack (easily removable).
Interior:
* MGYA seats rebuilt with lower backrests and re-trimmed in two-tone leather. Space for spare wheel behind seats. Re-carpeted in green velour type carpet. Original MGYA instruments with extra rev counter and temperature gauge. Note, time clock does not work and rev counter is erratic. Small diameter Moto-Lita steering wheel. High quality canvas tonneau cover with centre zip. Starting handle, wheel brace and fire extinguisher included.
Supplied with a fascinating folder of magazine articles, letters and receipts.
This is a private sale from a classic car obsessive reducing his collection! Feel free to contact me with any questions. Viewings welcome. Please note that the registration number is specified as non-transferable. Thanks for looking. Built by MG enthusiast Martin Evans in the 1980s based on his MGYA saloon chassis (very similar to a TD chassis) and featured at MG events at Silverstone and is the subject of magazine articles, the YA Special is based on 1930s MG and Bentley Boat-tail designs. I acquired the car as a non-running project as the flywheel bolts had sheared, the windscreen was cracked and the petrol tank was leaking. After months of work, all these items have been fixed, the engine having been rebuilt with mostly new nuts and bolts of the correct high tensile specifications. As the engine had done few miles since its original build, the bores were unworn but the cam followers were worn out and replaced with new along with the big end bearings which showed slight signs of white metal damage.
I also decided to improve the driving ergonomics by fitting a remote extension to the gearbox and moved the handbrake lever backwards. This is a great improvement over the original build. Finally I fitted Brooklands aeroscreens mounted on custom made plinths for track use.
