Highlights
- Rare Coupé variant
- Body restoration including new sills and boot floor
- Overhauled cooling, ignition, charging, and braking systems
- New 60-spoke painted wire wheels with Continental Contact tyres
- Believed matching numbers Californian car in original Mineral Blue
- MOT valid until October 2025 with no advisories
- Former Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique entrant
- Drives very well with excellent oil pressure and temperature; a car to be used and enjoyed
- Front and rear suspension rebuild
The Appeal
Derived from Syd Enever's streamlined TD Le Mans car body, the MGA represented a huge leap forward over its T Series predecessors. This was the first outing for the soon-to-be legendary B Series engine, and the advances in performance and handling were significant.
MG built nearly 29,000 Roadsters, but Coupés are rare, making this lovely Mineral Blue example one of just 2,759 ever made.
The vendor tells us:
"The car is a North American export (California) believed to be a matching numbers car. MG never recorded body and engine numbers, however, the VIN, body and engine number are all consistent with a 1958 car. The car comes with the original Californian licence plate and documentation relating to importation to the UK. The body is painted in its original Mineral Blue.
MG built nearly 29,000 Roadsters, but Coupés are rare, making this lovely Mineral Blue example one of just 2,759 ever made.
The vendor tells us:
"The car is a North American export (California) believed to be a matching numbers car. MG never recorded body and engine numbers, however, the VIN, body and engine number are all consistent with a 1958 car. The car comes with the original Californian licence plate and documentation relating to importation to the UK. The body is painted in its original Mineral Blue.
It previously completed in the Monte Carlo Classic Rally (2014) Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique.
This is a very solid MGA with all the expensive body repairs completed to a high standard and a mechanical overhaul. The car was inspected by an MG specialist prior to MOT. The car is MOT’d (28th October 2025 with no advisories) and drives very well with excellent oil pressure and temperature.
"On the road, the car drives very well indeed. The steering is light and precise, the suspension is firm but comfortable, gear changes are smooth and precise. A car to be used and enjoyed"
History and Paperwork
- Registered in 1958, originally a North American export (California)
- Believed to be a matching numbers car with consistent VIN, body, and engine numbers
- Comes with original Californian licence plate and importation documentation
- Previously competed in the Monte Carlo Classic Rally in 2014
- MOT valid until October 2025 with no advisories
- Exempt from MOT and road tax
- V5C present in the current owner's name
- New number plates
Two sets of ignition and door keys
Spares included in the sale:
- Heater, hoses and blower control panel were removed but comes with car
- MGA Haynes Manual and restoration book
The Condition
- Bodywork restored with new inner and outer sills, closing panels and lower wing sections replaced
- New boot floor
- Wings, sills and boot painted in original mineral blue
- Correct door buffers
- Excellent panel gaps all-round
The bodywork/paint exhibits some imperfections: small ‘dings’, minor scratches, blemishes and chips and colour variations - The vendor advises bidders not to expect a Concours paint finish, but it is, in their view, very presentable
- New 60-spoke painted wire wheels and Continental Contact tyres
- New high-quality carpet throughout the interior
- New door cards, footwell and rear arch panels covered in new vinyl
- New door seals
- Seats frames cleaned and painted
- Seats are supportive and comfortable
- Dashboard removed and recovered in new vinyl
The Mechanics
- 1.5-litre B Series inline four petrol
- Four-speed manual gearbox
- Engine in fine order with excellent oil pressure and smooth performance
- Engine is reportedly in excellent order: oil pressure is ~80psi cold, ~65psi hot
- The vendor notes that the engine runs smoothly and pulls very well
- The previous keeper stated that the head had been refurbished by Peter Burgess (Econotune) but the vendor says they have no documentation to confirm this although have no reason to doubt it since the car drives so well
- The rear scroll does not leak oil profusely unlike many MGAs
- No overrun on switch-off
- New timing cover gasket
- Spin on oil filter
- Oil and filter change
- Cooling, ignition, charging and braking systems, front and rear suspension overhauled
- New windscreen washer pump
The vendor provides the following:
Electrical:
- New voltage regulator
- Refurbished dynamo and new fan belt
- New MGA starter switch
- New ignition leads
- Electronic ignition fitted by previous owner
- Single 12V battery with cut-off switch
- New front o/ s sidelight plus various fittings/ seals as required
- New dip switch bracket and switch
- Car is negative earth
Cooling system:
- New original radiator (not cheap modern replacement) sourced and fitted with high efficiency core
- Correct fan installed
- New hoses
- New water pump
Braking system:
- New master cylinder (with correct raised cover)
- New rear wheel cylinders, bleed screws and new copper pipes and unions as required
- New front brake pads (car had been previously converted to front disc brakes)
- New clutch slave cylinder
- Fresh DOT4 fluid
Suspension:
- Front suspension rebuilt including new bushes (rear wish bone arms), new swivel pin seals, new swivel joint seals/ distance tube/ washers/ bolts. New wishbone arms, new lower swivel joint o/ s
- NOS front shock absorbers
- Rear springs sandblasted and repainted
- New drop links
- New bushes (spring eye, rear shackle, spring seating) and hardware
Drivetrain:
- Four new 60 spoke painted wire wheels and new tyres fitted
- Tracking set
- O/S rear hub seal replaced
- Gearbox speedo drive seal replaced
- Gearbox oil change
- Rear axle oil change
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions..
✓ We request that a non-refundable fee be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's fee. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence.
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