The idea for the MGA came from the 1951 Le Mans 24 Hour race and a special streamlined body created for George Phillips’s racing car, designed by MG engineer and chief stylist Syd Enever.
 
Enever’s streamlined body was developed for a purpose – namely to provide the best possible aerodynamics in an era when such things were still considered a dark art. So, while streamlining was the first priority, the fact that it looked sensational was a happy serendipity.
 
What followed was a demand from MG owners for a car that looked like the Le Mans racer, and thus the MGA was born. Today, it’s one of the Octagon brand’s most collectable models, and with good reason.
 
This one is a Mk 1 Coupé, arguable the prettiest of all MGAs, but wears a Mk 2 grille and has been fitted with the later, stronger and more powerful 1,622cc engine, as found in Mk 2 models. It was bought by the vendor as a project car in 2016 and was restored over the course of a year, being finished on its 60th birthday.
 
After six years of showing the car, the vendor is hungry for another restoration project, so the MGA has to go to free up workshop space. It’s a lovely, restored example that has had over £15,000 spent on it in parts alone.
 

 

 

The cabin of the MGA is cosy and narrow, with a low-slung driving position that gives it the aura of true sports car.

It’s in fine condition, with replacement carpets throughout. The seats were recovered using Newtion Commercial seat covers procured from MG Owners’ Club Spares and are in fantastic order, with a handmade spare wheel cover tailored by the vendor. The dials and gauges are all original and the car still has its optional speaker grille.
 

The MGA looks fantastic in Tartan Red. It has a truly excellent paint finish and immaculate chrome and trim, while the underside is superb. The Dunlop steel sports wheels are also great and have been powder coated in a durable silver finish.
 
All of the chrome and trim is in fine order including a smart aftermarket luggage rack, the only very minor criticism being that there are some very slight ripples under the paint on both front fibreglass wings, which are only visible in certain lights.
 

Under the bonnet you’ll find BMC’s venerable B-Series engine, as found in almost every MG built between 1954 and 1981.
 
But rather than the original 1500 unit, this one comes with the uprated five-bearing 1600 engine, displacing 1,622cc and giving it a top speed of 100mph – a true old-school sports car.
 
Twin SU carbs give it a great soundtrack and according to the vendor it starts on the button, settles to a smooth idle with no timing chain rattle and doesn’t emit any excessive smoke. Plus, if it does ever go wrong, most B-Series parts are available off-the-shelf from the many MG specialists there are out there.

BEFORE YOU BUY 

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