Highlights

Older restoration in smart Brooklands Green
Extensively retrimmed Light tan interior with green piping
Regularly serviced and Waxoiled by specialist Greens
Previously owned by a Vulcan Bomber pilot
Lots of recent expenditure on improvements
Pretty car that runs and drives well

The Appeal

The A was honed to fly down the Mulsanne Straight at Le Mans with maximum speed and minimum resistance, but it found its true calling closer to home, beetling around Britain’s country lanes. These are beautiful and rewarding cars in equal measure.

This lovely Brooklands Green 1500 has led an interesting and much-travelled life. It was exported new to the USA, living in California, before returning here in 1989 whereupon it was converted to RHD and extensively restored. The quality of the work is obvious from the current condition of the bodywork, which has held up exceptionally well.

In the interim, it was owned by a Vulcan Bomber pilot and maintained by a specialist garage, Green. They undertook annual servicing and regular WaxOyling, so the car is in great mechanical and structural condition.

The current keeper acquired the car two and a half years ago and has kept very detailed records of his ongoing maintenance and improvements, totalling around £4,000. Much work has been invested in the interior, which has been fully retrimmed to a high standard in light tan with green piping.

A smart dark green roof and side screens and a thick history file with records back to 1989 complete the sense of a pretty and well kept car.

The vendor tells us:

“It took a while to find the perfect MGA but this car was definitely the one!

“This example handles perfectly. The suspension is set up perfectly and it's a joy to drive in the lanes. Whilst it has an excellent hood, this car really needs to be driven with the hood down to enjoy it's true character. The engine is smooth, idles nicely and revs freely. It pulls throughout the rev range. Disc brakes, a factory option in 1958, bring the car to a halt quickly and in a straight line.”

History and Paperwork

First registered in 1958 in USA
Returned to UK in 1989 and first registered here in March 1990
Current keeper since October 2022
Nine registered keepers since arriving in the UK
Restored on arrival in the UK according to seller and converted to RHD
File of receipts has been maintained from 1989 to the present day
Vendor tells us that this shows extensive service, maintenance, repair, and restoration
Purchased in 2022 from Greens, a small local garage near RAF Scampton, Lincoln (home of the Vulcan Bombers)
British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate
Typed list of expenditure as shown
2 keys
Original steering wheel included
Lots of recent invoices, with some shown in photos
Last MOT expired October 2023 with 71,849 miles on test and no advisories
V5C in current keeper’s name
Registered as a Historic Vehicle so MOT, tax and ULEZ exempt
Genuine reason for sale which is very reluctant

Summary of recent work during seller’s tenure:

Full interior refurbishment
New clutch
Brake & clutch master cylinder
Clutch slave cylinder
Hydraulic pipes and fittings
Front brake calipers
Brake servo
Side window wind wings
Wiper blades
Rear light lenses
Thermostat housing and studs
MG crested alloy rocker cover and chrome cap
Replacement hoses
Chrome dashpot covers
MG crested carburetor damper caps
Exhaust manifold
Electric fan and thermostat switch
Bonnet buffers
Hood frame mounting brackets and studs

Major items replaced in recent years before current ownership:

New hood
Tonneau cover
Wire wheels

Sold with several MGA books:

“MGA: The Complete Story" by David Styles
"Original MGA" by Anders Clausager
"MGA Restoration Guide" by Malcolm Green
The Official BMC Service Parts Catalogue
The Official BMC Workshop Manual
Haynes Workshop Manual

Sold with memorabilia items:

MGA 1:43 scale model in the same colour as USU 878
Three replica MGA metal plaques/signs

The Condition

Pretty car in Brooklands Green with old restoration that has held up very well
Paintwork shows some light aging such as bubbles and marks
Bodywork appears straight and well kept with no reported corrosion
Vendor reports that the bodywork and underside are sound, rust-free, and present well
The underside has been routinely Waxoyled by Greens from 2008 to 2022
The Waxoyl is still intact and offers thorough protection of the underside
Some small patches under the wheel arches have the Waxoyl rubbed off, with only light surface rust present
A small windscreen crack is present on the top nearside, but MGA windscreens are low cost (£149) and easy to fit
Exterior chromework in good order with bright finish
Fitted with rear chrome luggage rack in good condition
The cockpit interior underwent a full restoration just over a year ago with details below
Interior is a particular draw on this car and is finished in light tan with green piping
Recently fitted chrome wire wheels in good order
Recently replaced green vinyl roof in good order with matching side screens
Black tonneau as shown which was purchased recently prior to seller’s tenure

Interior reestoration included:

New leather-faced upholstery
Cockpit rails
Seat belts with snap hooks
Rear cockpit curtain
New carpets
Replacement door pulls
Starter cable
New switches, knobs and buttons
Replacement heater panel
New radio blanks
New speaker grill
Armrest replaced
New rearview mirror
New MG wooden gear knob
USB ports fitted

The Mechanics

1.5-litre (1,489cc) MG 4cyl engine
4spd manual gearbox
Thick history file of regular maintenance since 1989
Described as mechanically very good, with brakes, clutch, exhaust, and electricals working well
The engine runs smoothly with a minor oil leak from the sump, which may need a new sump gasket at the next oil change
The car handles well, with suspension set up nicely, and is a joy to drive in the lanes
The engine is smooth, idles nicely, revs freely, and pulls throughout the rev range
Disc brakes, a factory option in 1958, bring the car to a halt quickly and in a straight line
No reported running or driving issues

BEFORE YOU BUY

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