1962 MG MGA 1600 ROADSTER

The subject of a complete ground-up professional restoration, complete with photographic record, in 2011, this genuine UK right-hand-drive Chariot Red MGA MkI 1600 drives beautifully and looks fabulous.

Built in 1960, it has also been the subject of a £5,000+ mechanical refresh a year ago, a comprehensive programme of work that has left it fighting fit and ready to start the next chapter in its life.

Being offered with a sensible reserve, this is your opportunity to get your hands on a very usable 1600cc MGA with a cracking specification for not a lot of money.

Few colours suit the MGA better than red, and this one looks splendid with its refurbished panels and new paintwork. The panel fit is good, and the Chariot Red paint has been applied evenly and to a good standard, and has held up to 11 years’ use well.

The external chromework is very good indeed; if a lot of it wasn’t new when it was restored then it has been re-chromed with more than a usual degree of skill. In fact, the only real patination we can see here is on the supports for the boot-mounted luggage rack, which have the odd spot of rust and mild patina on the front bumper here and there.

The painted steel wheels are beautifully offset by chrome hubcaps, which are all good. The wheels are shod with matching Toyo 310 tyres, all of which have great tread and look to be almost new.

As we will never tyre of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but do give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

The folding hood and frame are in good shape too although we should point out that while the former looks to be new, it is a little stained inside. The fabric itself is all solid though, and free of rips, tears and other damage. The door tops, complete with sliding Perspex windows, are in great shape and look terrific.

Work to do includes repainting the steel wheels, which are showing a little rust. This would be a straightforward job, and one that would reap almost instant results.

There is also, of course, the odd stonechip and blemish here and there, plus the odd small crack to the paint (beside the bonnet on the nearside). None of it is anything to worry about and in no way distract from the way the car presents, but we know a lot of you will be bidding without coming to see the car, so we’re being as honest and up-front as we can be about even the slightest fault. Please see the photos for more details.

The black leather seats are edged in red piping, a traditional finish but one that illustrates that certain pairings become popular for a very good reason. Still firm and free of sags, damage and other defects, they are as comfortable as they look and a matching padded centre armrest adds an uncharacteristically sybaritic touch.

The four-spoke steering wheel (actually, 12-spoke but who’s counting?) is as beguiling in looks and tactility as it is vast in span, and sits in front of a painted dashboard. Fitted with the usual array of dials and switches, they bear only a light patina and are all the more attractive for wearing their years honestly, albeit lightly.

The carpets are excellent, as is the underlying metal floor. The boot is equally solid and well-finished, and is home to the spare wheel and matching new Toyo 310 tyre.

Work to do includes fettling the gearlever and steering column, both of which are showing cosmetic rust to their finish. This is unsightly rather than problematic, but we can see that the new owner will want to get it sorted sooner rather than later given how good the rest of the interior is.

The MGA’s previous owner spent a four-figure sum in April 2019 having Pool Lane Classics Ltd going over the car from stem-to-stern. The main job was to replace a burnt exhaust valve, so the engine was stripped down before being rebuilt with a reconditioned lead-free head.

The owner also took the opportunity to have two new shock absorbers fitted, along with new front brake calipers, discs and pads, rear brake cylinders and a new master cylinder. He also had the car fully serviced while it was there, including new coolant, brake fluid and an ignition system overhaul.

The fact that this little lot only set him back just over £4,000 – a sum that includes two new 6V batteries - goes to the heart of why people love these cars. They’re cheap and reliable and enormous fun per £ invested.

Clearly not one to mess about, he then commissioned the same firm to replace the carbs, which had been found to be leaking. Replacing these set him back almost £1,400, which again isn’t bad for two brand-new SU carburettors and fitting.

As you can see from the video, the MGA now runs splendidly, and starts from cold very well, soon settling into an even tickover. It has a very attractive exhaust note too, which bodes well for long summer runs sans roof when life returns to normal. The owner tells that it runs well, something we can confirm to be the case having taken it on a short test drive, all steering, brakes, engine and gearbox work exceedingly well.

The engine bay is especially well finished, being clean, attractive and very well presented.

The MGA doesn’t have a current MOT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have the car re-MOT’d at the earliest. The cost of an MOT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic car, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

However, the online MOT history shows nothing of concern whatsoever bar a recurring advisory for slight play in the nearside front upper suspension arm.

The car also comes with a photographic album of its restoration, plus a sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained in recent years to the very highest standard.

NB. We know that you will be limiting your social exposure over the coming days and weeks, so please give us a call and we can shoot a personal video of the car honing in on any areas you’d like us to concentrate on. Or, even better, contact us with your mobile number and we can set up a WhatsApp video call, where you can direct us in real-time.

A beguiling blend of classic looks and almost modern handling and performance, the MGA 1600 balances looks and performance better than most of its contemporaries, making it a perennially popular choice for the discerning gad-about-town.

This means that prices remain strong, something that might be a little disconcerting when you’re buying into one but is a fact that you’ll appreciate when the time comes to let it go…

That said, we think this one will sell for between £19,000 and £24,000, which is very reasonable sum when you consider the time and money that has gone into it over the past decade.

This price is partly a reflection of these uncertain times, and partly an acknowledgement that there is still a little cosmetic work for the new owner to do in order for it to fulfil its potential.

Still, while we’re locked down as we are the little fettling it still needs would make for a good excuse to spend some quality time alone with it in the garage, leaving it minty fresh and sparkling when the restrictions are lifted.

This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon. 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: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Footman James for classic car insurance Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car and AnyVan for transporting it.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.

Please note that this is sold as seen and that, as is normal for used goods bought at auction, the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. See our FAQs for more info, and feel free to inspect any vehicle as much as you wish.