1957 MG MGA Coupe – Auction Car of the Week

This is indeed an MG MGA Coupe, but it’s not like one you have seen before. And no, we’re not being so brazen as to suggest you’ve never see a restored example before, because of course you have. And you’ve also probably seen one with wide, racy wheels and other motorsport touches, too. So why is this different? Well, under that bonnet you won’t find the clattering B Series engine of old. Instead, you will find the beating, twin-cam heart of a Mazda MX5. Backing that up is a sharp, direct five-speed manual transmission from the same source. This MG MGA is a masterclass in how a restomod classic should be done.

Originally a left hand-drive model built for export, this 1957 MG MGA Coupe lived in America until as late as 1978, when it was known to be in Pennsylvania. The current owner took it on, here on UK soil, in 2013, and has spared no expense in restoring it to the condition it is in today. There’s a full history file with the car with photographs showing the full build of the car and just how extensive it was. The owner wanted those classic looks, but with a more modern, ready to run power source and given the dimensional similarities, the Mazda engine just made sense. If anything, it has less mass to move in an MG than it does in an MX5.

From the wheels, to the paint, to the brakes to the RHD conversion to the added power steering – everything has been done with meticulous attention to detail. The car wears a Sebring front valance for some added attitude, while the bonnet is a clever mix of MGA and Healey, thanks to the bonnet vent from a 3000. Though it’s worth noting, the engine has twin electric fans, too. You’re never going to overheat in this. The interior is all fresh, too. A sea of period gauges tells the driver everything they need to know, while the adapted ‘snap-off’ hub boss for the steering wheel ensures comfortable ingress and egress.

Built with fast road action in mind, this 1957 MG MGA Coupe is sure to deliver. The engine, which is believed to have covered a mere 79,000 miles, is in standard tune internally. Though externally it does now run on carbs for some period charm. It will no doubt be a strong heart for the MGA, but given the tuning possibilities, there is no limit to where you could take it should you every feel the need for some more speed. And it will do so reliably and without fuss. If only every 1950s car could boast such a thing.

This MG MGA is a glorious, beautifully executed thing. Sure, the heavy-knit jumper brigade may well make guttural, adenoidal noises at it, but let them. Their willingness to dismiss is their loss. To the builder of this car, we offer applause. Some outward box thinking was employed and it has paid off. This is, in many ways, the ultimate MGA. That Mazda engine robs it of nothing and instead only improves what Kimber et al were shooting for with the MG name back when it started. In fact, we’d go so far as to say old Cecil would approve. And you will too, but only if you land that winning bid.