1959 MG MGA

Definitely not one for the purist, our latest auction is for a stunning, highly modified MG MGA Roadster Special. Originally built for, and exported to, the United States, it was reimported in 1990 and converted to right-hand-drive.

The car’s first UK owner kept it for nineteen years, spending an absolute fortune over the years, kick-starting the process of turning an already very good car into something remarkable.

In the care of its dedicated owner since April 2009, it is now fitted with a Stage 2 tuned 1860cc engine and a five-speed Ford gearbox plus Koni dampers and vented front disc brakes. De-bumpered too, which adds to the car’s already graceful lines.

Only being offered for sale because the seller has a strict policy of ‘one in, one out’ - and he’s found another special something to add to his collection…

We’re big fans of the café racer look, so welcomed with open arms this delightful, de-bumpered MGA. The panel fit is very good, and the quality of the paintwork is excellent. It’s been very well screwed together too, and the MGA has even been fitted with new door seals to finish the job off.

It really does look utterly glorious and is unmarred by any damage that we can see bar the odd minor stonechip. Even the chromework gleams and needs nothing other than the occasional polish to keep it looking this good.

The fabric hood is in very good shape too, fitting tautly and showing no wear at all much less any rips, tears or other damage – and it all folds away neatly behind the front seats to keep the car’s clean lines when it is furled.

The removable metal door tops are good too, and add to the MGA’s security and versatility. It all looks like it’ll do a decent job of shedding rain if you get caught out unexpectedly, but while the hood frame is solid and works well, it is a little rusty in places.

This is only surface rust, but we can see that the new owner might want to clean it up and paint it to bring it up to the same high quality as the rest of the car. Or, you could just bin the fabric roof entirely and rely on the very neat black tonneau cover for genuine al fresco motoring while shedding some weight.

Sitting on unmarked 15-inch Minilite alloy wheels, the MGA is shod with matching 165R15 Goodyear GT80 tyres, all of which have good tread.

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.

Bullet door mirrors and a chrome luggage rack on the boot lid complete the look.

Problems? None as far as we can see – and we have looked very closely indeed. It’s not concours, as the owner was keen to keep it drivable – but it’s not far off local car show-winning territory, either.

Please take a look at and listen to the video in the gallery, supplied by the seller, to see just how great this car looks, drives and sounds.....

The red leather seats are wonderfully patinated, showing the sort of gentle creasing that just makes you want to jump in and roar off somewhere hot with a loved one by your side. There’s no real wear there at all, and certainly no damage; they’re just utterly glorious and perfectly pitched for the car’s intended use and state of tune.

There’s a useful centre armrest there, too. This might be a small thing but it is one that adds considerably to the MGA’s comfort on long journeys. Heck, there’s even a footrest for the passenger to brace their feet against should the driver get a little too enthusiastic.

The three-spoke wooden steering wheel, which was fitted new in July 2019, looks utterly magnificent and is, as you can imagine, still pristine. As is the stubby little gearlever that pokes out of the transmission tunnel; it sits there in stark contrast to the huge steering wheel but the two combine to give the sort of semi-vintage feel that is a large part of the model’s appeal.

The painted dashboard is in a very good condition, as are the instruments, switches and other controls; even the wiring underneath the dashboard is neatly presented – and it’s the little details like this that go to the very heart of the care and trouble that have been expended in building it to this condition.

The boot is very simply presented but is neat and clean and utterly solid underneath.

Very far from being a standard car, its specification includes a stage 2 tuned 1860cc unit that has been fitted with a four-branch manifold, a Weber 45DCOE carburettor, and a new stainless steel exhaust system. It was supplied by Beech Hill Garage on the 13th of April 1999, and other upgrades to it include electronic ignition and a Kenlowe fan.

The gearbox is a five-speed Ford Sierra unit. This is an accepted modification that transforms the car’s usability – and it’s been freshly overhauled by Solent Gearboxes and Axles Ltd. in August 2019. The work, which cost £763, included a modified laygear and 1st gear kit, plus a new 5th gear and synchromesh. The car was also fitted with a new clutch kit in July 2017.

The MGA sits on a set of Minilite alloy wheels, and the suspension is courtesy of a Koni damper conversion. Vented front disc brakes pull the MGA to a halt quickly and safely.

In fact, the work that has been carried out over the years is too comprehensive to list here. It is all supported by old bills and invoices though, so please make the time to browse through them at your leisure to get a sense of just how well-fettled it is. Be aware though; there are well over 100 listed, so it might take some time…

The engine bay is beautifully presented and is in need of nothing. It’s much the same story for the underside, which is structurally solid and free of rust. Largely painted red, black underseal has been neatly applied to the floor pans to protect them.

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…

The car comes with a number of expired MOT certificates plus a huge sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years plus a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate confirming its original build specification.

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 restored, modified and maintained in the past 30 years to the very highest standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

NB. We know that many of you will be limiting your social exposure over the coming days and weeks, so if you’d rather not go to see the car in person, please give the owner a call and ask if he can shoot a personal video of the car honing in on any areas you’d like him to concentrate on. 

A beguiling blend of classic looks and almost modern handling and performance, this sensational MGA balances looks and performance better than most of its contemporaries, making it a sure-fire hit with the discerning gad-about-town.

This means that prices remain strong, even for highly modified cars like this. This 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 £24,000 and £30,000, which we think is a very reasonable sum when you consider the time and money that has gone into it over the past three decades and the sheer joy it is going to bring its new owner.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the seller in Fareham; 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: 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.