1958 MG A

We are pleased to be offering for sale a fine example of the MGA. Manufactured in December 1958 in left-hand drive form, the car was one of the many dispatched to North America. With original UK cars being so rare, a good number of cars have been repatriated, with our car returning home in 1994.

Our seller purchased the car in 2010 from Oselli, a classic car specialist. Their advert for the car states that the MGA had been the subject of a body off restoration some 9,000 miles earlier. There are photographs of the work being carried out and this is when the conversion to right-hand drive took place. The then owner kept a running total of his expenditure, which adds up to £17,818.65, a lot of money in 1994.

A huge history file accompanies the car which can be viewed if you choose to inspect the car in person. Selected highlights will follow later in this listing.

The car has been used and enjoyed on high days and holidays, but as our seller is lucky enough to own a varied selection of lovely classic cars, the MGA has languished at the back of his garage these last few years. He feels it is time now for someone else to enjoy the car and it could be you!

Old English White was a popular colour for the MGA and one that suits it rather well, contrasting nicely as it does with the red leather interior.

The paint finish is good, so we can assume whomsoever repainted the car knew what they were doing. This is an older restoration so expect to find a few marks here and there. Pictures 86 and 222 in our gallery does show some small areas of paint bubbling which the new owner may wish to address.

Painted wire wheels are fitted and these look to be in good order. Each sports a Woosung radial tyre, all with plenty of tread.

The hood looks to be a little creased, doubtless from being folded away for long periods of time. Should the hood not be required, there is a simple cockpit cover which can be used instead.

During the restoration, the decision was made to brighten up the interior. Out went the rather dull black, red being the colour chosen for the new seats and door cards.

The seats are in fine condition, with just some slight creasing commensurate with gentle use. A regular application of hide food should help keep them in good shape.

Simple seat belts have been fitted, a sensible addition in our opinion. Driving without any form of restraint is a strange feeling for today’s driver, used to modern safety equipment.

There’s a delightful simplicity to the MGA’s controls. The thin four spoke steering wheel, the delicate gear lever sprouting from the transmission tunnel and three pedals. What else do you need? Nothing superfluous, nothing to distract from simple driving pleasure.

The dash contains an assortment of instruments and there’s even a radio should you fancy some tunes. Better to listen to the stirring sound of that peppy four-cylinder motor as it goes about its business.

The simple white painted boot houses a spare wheel and the mallet for the knock-off spinners on the wire wheels. It’s big enough for a few squashy bags for a weekend away.

We always include pictures of a car’s underside in our gallery and that is the case here. Pause a while and take a look. We cannot see anything untoward.

The engine bay too looks quite presentable. From the rebuild pictures we can see the engine was removed to allow the bulkhead etc to be painted. Many of the components were changed at the time too, hence the large bill for the rebuild.

Our seller reports the car starts easily and drives beautifully, something he is more than happy to demonstrate should you choose to inspect the car in person.

We have already documented the MGA’s early life and our seller is in possession of a huge history file from the rebuild. The car’s then owner clearly wanted to document the work.

It should also be noted that an exchange engine was ordered from Engine Machining Services in Worksop in February 1993.

There is a little MoT history which confirms the car’s mileage in recent years. In 2006 the odometer read 7,990 and this has risen just under 12,000 miles today.

The last test was carried out in August 2016, at 11,318 and there were 3 minor advisories recorded.

In May 2020, our seller consigned the car to RetroMarques, a renowned classic car specialist for some work. The engine was removed to allow the fitting of a new clutch. At the same time a new thermostat was fitted. They also serviced the car on occasions.

Also included with the car is the operation manual and a couple of repair guides. The MGA is a simple car, ideal for the home mechanic to tinker with.

MGAs are always popular and are a delight to both drive and own. Simple, sporty, and stunning to look at, this particular car wants for nothing more, we think, than a loving new owner, keen to have some soft-top fun.

All this loveliness can be yours for a price of somewhere between £17,000 and £21,000, we estimate. Get bidding right away.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Pershore, United Kingdom. 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’.