1934 MG PA

The previous owner rebuilt this lovely little PA Midget during the years 2007 and 2014, as a dedicated two-seater trials competition car.

You’ll find receipts for a round £16k in the history file, which attest to the attention to detail it received during the build. These include (but are not limited to!) a full new ash frame and steel panels by Enrique Llinares, a Ken Robinson rebuilt engine (with fresh cylinder block, cylinder head, rocker gear and camshaft, and Phoenix crank and rods with Venolia pistons), an up-rated clutch, and a stronger Morris differential unit.

Vendor Andrew bought this MG PA in July of last year. “I wanted the mechanicals and chassis, as it was my intention to take the body off and build a single-seater supercharged race car,” he explains.

There was only one minor fly in the ointment of said plan, “when I started using it (to go to the beach and stuff like that) I quickly realised that it was just too good to break up and build what I wanted; with a brand new ash frame and a fresh all-steel body, it just seemed ridiculous to do so.”

That stay of execution is offset by the fact that it was never Andrew’s intention to use the car as is, “I wasn’t going to do trialling; I live in the east and most trialling takes place in the west. It will quite happily continue sit in my garage over winter, but it won’t really get used; I would much rather someone buy it and the car get driven.”

His desire to see that happen is coupled with the fact that it’s absolutely ready for that, “it’s structurally and mechanically spot on,” he says.

There’s very little that’ll make you prouder to be British than the front profile of an MG PA Midget – its positively cambered, bluff radiator fronted and stiff upper-lipped visage is just so gloriously endearing.

In fact, you can apply that to any view of the car. Our photographer returned from snapping it absolutely beaming about both the driving experience (more on that later), and the warm-hearted reception that the car received by all and sundry.

“It’s not concours, but the paintwork is smart for a trials car,” states Andrew. “While it wouldn’t stand its ground in a parade of immaculately turned out PAs, it does appeal as a car you aren’t afraid to use, scratch or compete in.”

That means nice smart Black over Green paint (with a few marks here and there, such as the worn area where the driver’s elbow has rested), brightwork that’s generally free from pitting and matching powder coated and painted wire wheels. The stainless steel exhaust system is nearside mounted and runs just under the passenger door.

Of course anyone in or around the vintage, classic and modern classic game knows that old metal can be easily made shiny, so it’s what’s underneath this car that’s most important and that fresh ash frame and newly painted chassis both ensure that it has sag-free doors and an absolutely solid structure on which its corrosion free panels hang.  

The PA’s competition focus is clear from various addenda that include a bonnet strap, fuel tank-mounted twin spare tyres, rear and front tow loops and front-mounted timing marker.

To top things off it has a quirky and very individual copper-wired manual water system, which isn't actually part of the cooling system, that also acts as a radiator mascot – glorious.

That competition focus continues inside. “The dashboard is well away from being original,” admits Andrew. “As it has that big rev counter, which makes it all in the wrong place for a PA.”

It does however make it perfect for competition, and it’s been marked accordingly with 1700rpm in 3rd and 1200rpm in 4th gears both producing 30mph. The speedometer (pah, who needs one of those) is currently disconnected.

The interior (including the seats) was re-trimmed during the rebuild and as can be seen in the Photo Gallery below it remains in fine fettle. There’s also a full-length double-duck tonneau cover, but no usable hood, hood frame or side screens (again, pah, who needs those!) – although one of the originals is present and could be used as a template.

You’ll also find a fire extinguisher mounted in the passenger foot well.

“Driving-wise, the steering is good and there’s a lot of double de-clutching,” says Andrew. “But once you’ve mastered the car it’s great fun. It can keep up with traffic on 40-50mph roads with no issue (once you get to 60mph odd it’ll weave a little), and 3rd and 4th gears are pretty much the only ones that you’re going to use.”

A quick look underneath the bonnet reveals that it has quite a few mechanical additions, which improve both its daily reliability and trials competitiveness; these include a 009 electronic distributor (the original is included, but requires rebuilding) and a manually controlled electric cooling fan. While further digging around will also reveal an auxiliary Facet fuel pump.

It’s certainly worth getting down and having a look underneath, as this is where this car scores very heavily. There, you’ll find it to be a picture of absolute health. It’s also worth knowing that the brakes were re-lined and the steering overhauled during the re-build.

The PA also comes with a box of spares and other original parts.

You’ll find a number of pictures from the car’s re-build included in the history file, as well as numerous invoices for works completed and parts. These date from both the time of rebuild, but also from the current vendor’s ownership.

The most important of these are the £1645 paid to renowned pre-war car woodwork specialist Enrique Llinares (1/9/08) and the multitude to Slough Grinding Services that same year.

As with any restored car prospective buyers can take their time and nose thoroughly through these, while those of a competition bent can begin to gauge its competitiveness from the array of components used.

There’s also a “P” and “PB” Series Midget instruction manual along with the vehicle’s V5 document.

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

We can confirm that Andrew’s assertion that this car is mechanically “spot on” is entirely on the money. It starts on the button, and just does everything you could possibly want it to. Peppy, urgent and mischievous it’s a little scamp of a thing and we’re utterly enchanted by it.

The vendor has taken what is an eminently useable road and competition car and during his own time with the car continued to gently improve it. As stated, he’s pulled back from his original intention of turning it into a single-seater racer because it’s just too damned good.

It’s not a concours PA or one that adheres to absolute limits of originality, but it is a charming, usable and capable little example and one that can easily be used on the road or in the heat of battle.

£19k to £26k should see this little pre-war scamp find a deserving new home, and then the decision of exactly what to use it for can be made – may we recommend perky Sunday pub transport, with a soupcon of competition thrown in?

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located at The Market’s Abingdon headquarters; 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.