1959 MG A Twin Cam

Exported to the USA in 1959, it was owned by an American MGA guru in the ‘States in the 1980s, it was then reimported into the United Kingdom in the late eighties. An extensive restoration followed, including some significant re-work by the renowned Twin Cam expert, Peter Wood in the early 1990s. This restoration was supplemented by a later, bare-metal respray in 2002.

The quality of the work undertaken is evident; even 14 years later, the car won a Concours d’Elegance in 2016. The photos really don’t do the car justice and so viewing in person is highly recommended to best appreciate just how good this example is.

The current owner, a member of the BRDC, has owned the MGA for three years and tells us that it is in excellent condition.

The paintwork is still in near-perfect condition following a full respray and comprehensive Waxoyl treatment in 2002 (which cost in excess of £5,000) and a small amount of remedial work in 2015. Worth noting are the panel gaps, which are even and tight and, we suspect, better than they would have been when the car was new…

The boot lid sports a wonderful period-style chrome suitcase rack, which is in excellent condition, as is the rest of the chromework. The front fog/driving lights are the correct type and are authentic to the period.

The steel Dunlop wheels, complete with chrome ‘knock-off’ spinners, are in good condition, although they do have a few small dents on the outer rims. They are shod with matching Michelin X radial tyres.

Stored in a dehumidified, insulated garage, the car comes with a folding fabric roof and a new tonneau cover, the latter having been purchased in 2013.

The interior mirror, dashboard and central controls haven’t been over-restored and sport a wonderful light patina. The instruments have clear, well-marked dials and good glass and chrome bezels.

The steering wheel is in fine condition and is original, as is the Motorola radio. However, the gearknob is modern and shows the new five-speed gate. In our opinion, this could do with being replaced something from the period, which would be more in keeping with the rest of the interior.

The black leather seats are piped in red and show only gentle creasing, commensurate with the car’s light use since restoration. A matching padded centre armrest has been fitted, which adds considerably to the comfort and comes into its own on longer journeys.

The car has original period hand operated Pyrene Junior fire extinguisher, located in the passenger footwell.

Peter Wood rebuilt the twin-cam engine in 2005 to low compression specification, which eliminates the early issue notorious with the MGA twin cam. It now runs very well and is a joy to drive. It sits in a beautifully clean and well-appointed engine bay.

The car has been sympathetically updated with the installation of a five-speed Ford ‘Type 9’ gearbox in 2012 by Oselli. This is well-acknowledged to  transform the car’s usability. The original, working gearbox and propshaft are included with the vehicle in case the new owner wants to refit them.

The underside of the car has been beautifully preserved thanks to the professional application of a good quality chassis paint in 2005. It is utterly solid and completely rust-free.

The car comes with an original period tool wrap containing all the correct tools.

We have seen few cars with the depth and breadth of paperwork that comes with this example. We’ve only photographed the most recent and the most relevant because, frankly, it would just take too much time for us to shoot everything! All the receipts are split into ownership periods from the 1990s onwards, and are exceedingly comprehensive!

It also comes with a photographic record of the car’s restoration, a large number of old MOT certificates, the original driver’s handbook, service parts list, and a charming notebook that records the past few previous owners’ journey details, fuel purchased and repairs made.

The British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate details the car’s original specification and build date, confirming its authenticity.

Please visit the ‘Records’ section of this listing where you will find a large number of invoices and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has an impressively comprehensive service history, plus over 70 photos showing all parts of this MGA.

With a wonderful provenance and true prize-winning condition, this MGA Twin Cam is one of the very best examples for sale on the open market today.

And, make no mistake, the market prizes good MGAs very highly, and their price has been steadily rising over the past few years as people start to understand how undervalued these lovely little cars are. Ideal for either light competition, continental touring, gentle Sunday runs or even future concours shows, this MGA would make an ideal entry car for the discerning enthusiast who is looking for a multi-role sportscar.

Given the current buoyant Twin Cam market, we expect this example to sell for between £39-45,000, which is very fair value given its condition and prize-winning potential. The reserve, as ever, is lower.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen in Oxfordshire; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.