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 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 – though it was slow in gestation as British Motor Corporation boss Leonard Lord was originally against it. 

He’d just signed a deal with Donald Healey to create Austin-Healey and he didn’t want to upset the new arrangement by launching new sports cars under a different brand. 

But soon after, sales of the more traditional MG models, which were critical to BMC’s export success, were in freefall. So Enever’s design was revisited and signed off.

It made its debut at the 1955 Frankfurt Motor Show and still looked way ahead of its time even though the Le Mans car had appeared four years previously. 

Yet despite its incredibly modern looks, the MGA was actually quite traditional underneath, with a separate body-on-frame chassis and the 1,489cc OHV B-Series engine taken directly from the MG Magnette saloon, offering a modest 68bhp. 

As the MGA evolved, it was made more modern and faster, with disc brakes and a Twin Cam engine appearing as part of the model’s evolution, while a Coupe was added to the range soon after launch. 

It’s the early convertible models that are considered the prettiest and purest examples, though, and that’s what we have here – a genuine right-hand-drive ’58 MGA 1500 in Tartan Red. A very smart survivor, freshly imported from South Africa.

One of the reasons this car has survived as well as it has is because it spent most of its life in South Africa. 

The current owner used to live and work there in the motor trade so is well connected to a lot of classic car specialists in the region, from which this MGA was sourced.

It has since been repainted and retrimmed in Tartan Red with Biscuit leather, with a bare metal respray to ensure the best quality.

The seller has completed all of the import and duty paperwork relative to the car so there are no additional taxes to pay, while the DVLA NOVA notification and original South African registration document are included. 

It will be supplied with a full UK MOT, as although the car is exempt from testing the vendor wants to reassure the buyer that it is roadworthy.

He is also happy to help the buyer register the car in the UK if that’s where it remains after it is sold, as the process is very simple and costs less than £100 to complete.

Rot-free MGAs are rare things indeed, especially in right-hand-drive. But the fact that this car came from South Africa and lived its entire life in a warm and dry climate means it has survived with no rotten panels at all. It’s good underneath, too.

The paint isn’t original – far from it, in fact, as it has recently benefited from a full bare metal respray. 

Most of the chrome is original and although parts of it are slightly deteriorated, there’s no major rust or pitting – just a gentle patina that really suits the look of the car. 

The painted wire wheels have all been refurbished to an excellent standard, with knock-on chrome spinner. 

While the real appeal of an MGA convertible is wind-in-the-hair fun, there’ll be times where you need the roof, especially in the UK.

The hood on this car is fully functional and the mechanism is in fine order, while the fabric is in excellent order.

The interior will really help sell this car – it’s finished in a pale tan ‘biscuit’ shade and while not original it looks superb, with a matching central armrest, door cards and dash rail. 

Deep pile grey carpets and a spotless red painted dashboard complete the car’s look and it’s in wonderful order. All of the dials and controls work as they should, and there’s also a secret electrical cut-off switch as an anti-theft measure. We won’t say where it is, but it’s a useful way of keeping it away from the wrong hands. 

It also has a chrome three-spoke sports steering wheel, though this is missing its central boss and we can’t help but think that a lovely wood-rimmed Mota-Lita or similar would really finish it off beautifully.

Something for the new owner’s wish-list, maybe?

Under the bonnet you’ll find BMC’s venerable B-Series engine, as found in almost every MG built between 1954 and 1981. 

Because this is a 1958 car it gets a modest power increase over the earlier MGAs, from 68bhp to 72bhp, which gave it a top speed of 96 mph when new and a 0-60 time of just under sixteen seconds – about the same as a modern city car, but back in 1958 that was a decent enough turn of pace. 

Twin SU carbs give it a great soundtrack. 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. 

It has just been serviced, with fresh filters and leads, and starts on the button with no apparent running issues, while a short test drive confirmed that the clutch, gearbox, steering and brakes all appear to be in good order.

This is a really charming example of the MGA in absolutely lovely order. It looks a million dollars and has an absolutely gorgeous interior to match the striking red bodywork. 

It will make an incredibly beautiful show car, and being an original right-hand-drive example it has more appeal than an ex-USA car that’s either LHD or converted. Perfect classic summer fun and a sensible future investment.