MGA’s are a beautiful sight with a smooth low slung body design and a convertible top, but this MGA is a factory built Coupe. The Coupe has such an interesting style and shape. Being listed as rust free, and priced at $11,800, we are intrigued by this less than common MGA coupe. Find it here on craigslist out of San Francisco, California.
Cousin to a tractor engine, the A series engine is present and runs. The seller is including many engine parts with this MGA so the next owner can make it a driver again. The inner fenders, and the firewall have surface rust, and the firewall looks to suffer from a small amount of pitting. The engine bay isn’t the most inspiring, but there does not appear to be any terminal rot.
Ironically, the cabin does not look that different from the engine bay. It appears there is much surface rust present, and that the dash is a little shabby to say the least. The “hot rod” steering wheel isn’t doing this interior any favors either. Though not the most beautiful interior, we don’t see any light through the floors, so perhaps this MGA is more solid than it appears from the photos. The exterior of this MGA is black, and it looks to be about a 20 footer. The interior of the trunk is red, so we are guessing this MGA has been repainted at some point. The front bumper is rusted and there may be a dent in the passenger front fender. Also we noticed the lack of wires wheels on the back of this MGA. Hopefully the seller has a full set of wires to include with the sale. This MGA could be a simple project for someone, if they wanted to take their time and restore it later. The interior could be sorted, and this MGA could be a driver. Drivers are great as rock chips, bugs, and even an occasional rain aren’t the end of the world like it would be with a restored car.
MGA’s are great cars, and though we prefer the standard convertible version, there is something alluring and interesting about the Coupe. You don’t see coupes all that often, so it would certainly draw attention no matter where you went. Would you pick up this MGA coupe? What would you do, restore it, or make it a nice driver?
They didn’t call these cars the “lobster pot” for nothing. Very hot inside during the summer.
This is not a $12000 car. I wouldn’t go over $5000. I have a 59 and looks a lot better than this. But it is a good project car. Even with miss match wheels
12,800 if it doesn’t need the body removed to do the frame justice. , lines , seals, bearings, brakes, it could be a jem of a car.
B series engine. A series is in the Spider and Mini.
And it’s not just a matter of having a set of wire wheels to put on the back…it’s different axles as well…
IMHO, the seller bought the car and parts from previous owner who amassed all the parts to restore the car, but ran into an issue. “flipper”, not that, that is a bad thing. THat or, seller truly amassed the parts in the past two months and then found out something is really wrong with the car and is dumping it.
A lot of the interior “rust” is glue but there still is a lot of rust inside for an enclosed car. Might wonder when it wound up under water……Way too much money.
“Cousin to a tractor engine”.
Not the MGA, you are thinking of Triumph.
The early MGB shared this engine …. so a later MGB engine ought to fit. Complete MGB engines are plentiful and cheap. The most of the parts and virtually all of the body metal for the MGA is still being manufactured. This is not a “deal” but the price is “fair”. A restored example is roughly $30,000 in Canada.