Description
One of a kind | 1958 original home‑market car. This MGA has been engineered far beyond the scope of a restoration — it is a ground‑up, purpose‑built road‑race car created with an uncompromising philosophy where every component is chosen deliberately, every system improved intelligently, and every detail earns its place. At its heart is an FIA‑competition‑grade 1820cc engine disguised within an original 1622 block, selected for its compatibility with MGB ancillaries and its ability to be safely bored beyond 1800cc while retaining a period‑correct appearance. The block was chemically cleaned throughout the water jacket, fitted with cup‑type core plugs, and bored to 1820cc using NOS Powermax flat‑top pistons in a glaze‑busted, plateau‑honed finish for optimum ring seal.
The rotating assembly features Pauter steel rods with ARP 625 Plus bolts, a precision‑ground crank (. 010/. 010) with heavy‑duty bearings, an NOS crank damper and a lightened aluminium flywheel. Every rotating component — crank, flywheel, clutch cover — has been independently and dynamically balanced to ISO Grade 6. 30, with four certificates included. The valvetrain uses a Piper BBP285 Ultimate Road cam timed at 107° with full vernier adjustment, short tuftrided followers, long pushrods and a duplex chain. A Peter Burgess cylinder head with 1. 625" inlet valves and bronze guides sits beneath a black alloy powder‑coated rocker cover chosen for durability and heat stability.
Induction comes from rebuilt 1¾" H6 SUs on a homologated FIA‑correct manifold, while ignition is electronic via an Accuspark 45D distributor, performance coil and converted RVC tachometer. A custom stainless 3‑2‑1 tubular manifold feeds a large‑bore twin‑cam stainless system wrapped in gold heat wrap for temperature control and motorsport presence. Cooling is competition‑grade, with a baffled sump, magnetic drain plug, NOS AP water pump with large impeller, front‑mounted oil cooler, uprated radiator and full shroud for significantly improved performance under sustained load.
The gearbox is an MGB unit modified to operate inside an MGA casing, giving stronger internals and smoother shifting while retaining period correctness, paired with a performance MGB clutch for higher clamping force and heat tolerance. The exterior is finished in deep British Racing Green by Steve Cato Restorations, with the chassis and body fully epoxy‑primed and treated with comprehensive stone‑chip protection. A louvred bonnet, Sebring‑style valance, genuine glass racing windscreen and period grille complete the race narrative. The car sits on English‑made 48‑spoke P. J. Hallewell wire wheels in gloss black with brand‑new tyres and tubes. Rear lights use the sleeker American‑market cluster modified to include indicators. Up front are disc brakes, an upgraded servo, performance bushes, new dampers, lowered sports suspension and an anti‑roll bar, with rebuilt gold‑finished calipers adding a subtle motorsport detail. A custom magnetised number‑plate holder allows plates to be fitted or removed instantly for show use.
Inside, the car blends competition intent with period soul. The floors are upgraded to marine‑grade ply and finished in specialist varnish, retaining their original appearance while offering far greater durability. The cockpit and boot benefit from full sound‑deadening treatment. A wooden gear knob and original Moto‑Lita wheel were sourced for their tactile feel, their patina left intact to preserve the car’s story. The start‑up sequence is deliberately mechanical: turn the key, flick the racing‑style ignition switch, pull the starter — ending in that unmistakable bark as the engine catches. An upgraded heater with a high‑power fan makes the car genuinely usable even on a cold winter morning.
With uprated brakes, a balanced drivetrain, performance bushes, lowered suspension and an anti‑roll bar, the car delivers confidence, connection and the presence of a period competition MGA..
I wanted an MGA that delivered the beauty, elegance and purity of the original design, but with the performance, balance and excitement of a period race car. Not a replica, not a kit of bolt‑on upgrades — a car engineered from the block up to be the MGA that should have existed. The idea of combining the MGA’s lines with Healey‑level performance was irresistible, and this car achieves exactly that.
The driving experience feels alive. The balanced drivetrain, the cam’s character, the induction noise from the H6 SUs, the bark from the stainless 3‑2‑1 system — it’s mechanical, deliberate, and deeply rewarding. You don’t just start it; you prepare it. You don’t just drive it; you engage with it. It has the presence of a period competition MGA but remains genuinely usable, even on a cold Norfolk morning.
It’s the kind of car that makes you look back every time you walk away.
