Highlights
- Rare and desirable 1600cc Mk2
- One of only 512 Mk2 Coupes built
- Only 817 miles since high end 2004 restoration by Orchard
- Converted to right-hand drive and registered in the UK
- Rare competition seats
- Engine fully rebuilt by Classic & Race in 2015 less than 50 miles ago
- Comes with a British Motor Heritage Certificate
The Appeal
Syd Enever was a man with a very good eye. His original ideas for what became the MGA were all about aerodynamics to maximise speed on the Mulsanne Straight at Le Mans. Yet his skill resulted in a beautiful road car and one of British motoring's true greats. The MGA was a proper break with what had gone before.
MG continuously improved the A, most notable giving it more power with the Mk2 1600. These later cars make excellent weekend indulgences and long distance classic tourers.
Here is a rarity. Most As, of course, were roadsters. The hard top Coupe is much less numerous, with just 521 Mk2 1600s built like this one.
The rarity is not the only, or even main reason, to consider this car. It spent its life in the USA until 1989, when it arrived in the UK and was converted to RHD. In 2004 it was extensively restored to a high standard by specialist Orchard Restorations. We are told that it has covered just 817 miles in the intervening 21 years. In 2015 the engine was fully rebuilt by Classic and Race. MOT records show it has covered less than 50 miles since that work.
With its smart red paintwork, bright chrome wires and factory-fitted competition seats, this MGA looks long overdue for thorough enjoyment. It would make a great companion on a summer European classic car rally or seeking out one of Britain's brilliant B roads.
History and Paperwork
- Despatched on 25th September 1961
- Registered in 1962
- Converted to right-hand drive and registered in the UK on 10th November 1989
- Mk2 built between March 1961 and May 1962
- Only 521 Mk2 1600 coupes built of which 498 standard versions like this one
- 3 previous registered keepers on the V5C
- In current ownership since 2019
- Comes with a British Motor Heritage Certificate
- Includes Driver’s Handbook
- MOT exempt and last tested in 2013
- 00,817 miles on a five-figure odometer - which was reset during restoration
- MOT records show mileage on June 2013 test was 778 miles
- Engine rebuilt by Classic & Race in 2015 so has covered less than 50 miles since
The Condition
- Paint still presents in good condition, in the MGA's near-quintessential signal red
- Some very isolated bubbles and chips, but these are far from detracting from the car's appearance
- Converted to wire wheels from the factory-supplied disc wheels
- The vendor notes a small crack in the windscreen
- Chromework still contrasts nicely against the paintwork
- All badging is present and correct
- Underside looks in good, solid order
- Interior has been retrimmed and is still in fine order
- Black leather seats with red piping
- No sign of any rips or tears
- Black dashboard in good order with clean, legible instruments
- Moto-Lita steering wheel is carrying signs of its venerable age
- Factory-fitted with heater, windscreen washers and centigrade thermometer
- Speedometer was originally a kilometre indicator - now converted
The Mechanics
- 1,622cc four-cylinder powerplant
- Manual transmission with 4 gears
- Low compression engine
- Engine fully rebuilt and reconditioned in 2015 by Classic and Race
- New air filters in September 2022
- We understand the car to be in excellent working order
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