Export, or perish. Here in the US, we forget the impact that two world wars and a depression wrought on Great Britain – and we forget that the UK government made exports to the US an imperative. Earning dollars in the rich US market figured heavily in Britain’s recovery, and the MGA was more than a bit player in this theater. Except – it almost wasn’t. After the merger between Morris and Austin formed the British Motor Corporation, Leonard Lord was pressured to develop a sports car to sell in America. With slender funds and little time, Lord found his solution in the form of Donald Healey’s Healey 100, sold under the Austin-Healey badge. Concentrating on the development of that successful sports car almost sidelined the MGA forever, but as BMC gained its financial footing and the din from MG fans became intense, the company finally opened the gates for the MGA’s launch in 1955, beginning with the 1500. By 1959 the motor was upgraded; the 1600 proved just as popular as its older sibling. Here on craigslist is a 1960 MGA 1600 roadster project for sale at $11,500. This car is located in San Marcos, California. T.J. found this survivor for us – thanks!
This car has been parked for three decades, but the motor turns by hand and on the starter. Its compression reads 80-75-125-85, on the low side in three cylinders. Once running right, the 1588 cc four-cylinder Austin B-series engine will produce about 70 hp. The engine breathes through twin SU carburetors and puts power to the wheels via a four-speed gearbox (no synchro on first). Plenty of upgrades are available for this powertrain – including a swap to an MGB 1800 – but this car is represented as a survivor with all-original equipment; that might behoove the new owner to keep it as is.
The interior is aged, with cracked seat surfaces, a nest formed in the armrest, and upholstery peeled off the door caps. The steering wheel has lost part of its covering. But all the gauges, switches, and indicators are intact. The trunk still contains the spare, spare wheel cover, and starter crank. Its painted surfaces are clean. Though we see many MGAs with carpeted trunks, the factory delivered the cars with paint. A tonneau cover and side curtains are included.
The underside photos are dark, but what we can see is tidy. Lurking under here is independent front suspension, a live rear axle, and rack and pinion steering – making the MGA popular with vintage racers.
Photos in the listing don’t show the entire body of the car but what we can see is dent-free – no small feat since the doors, bonnet, and trunk lid are aluminum. Rust is said to be minimal. Solid steel wheels are my favorites, but many prefer wires. Is this 1600 priced well? The tip-top of the market for a 1600 roadster is around $40k. The cars are simple, and parts are plentiful. White over black isn’t going to light hearts afire, but this car has promise.
Had a near-identical ’60 for a while. Pleasant car. A friend praised the cleverness of the “hidden door locks” [there are none] and mine was duded up with a good-quality Moss interior. The arrival of my son made a Jetta GLI more practical, plus it was faster, handled better, used less gas, and had a trunk. The MGA ended up in Japan. Be happy it has steels. Fellow club member quit autocrossing his 1500 because even a mild event would pop spokes in the wires.
Maybe at half the price. You’re looking at an engine rebuild or at the very least, a major valve job and a full interior with no indication of the top’s condition or the wiring harness, or any hidden rust…and probably tires.
Yeah, they’re easy to work on and you don’t have to worry about rusted floor boards since they’re plywood. But rot in the sills, trunk or quarters can get really expensive. Had a 59 that I redid with some effort so I know what I’m talking about.
My cousin had a 58,he let it sit outside in the elements on a trailer for years and ruin,had a tarp over it for a while but we all know they don’t fare too long in mother nature,sad
With the nowadays prices for Britisch parts (after Brexit). And the almost double prices for bodywork and paintshop 11000 is for one MGA project far to much, also noticing the in Europ almost collapsed market for oldtimers after the fear for more and more environmental rules.
Pitty it looking as a nice project.
Drove a 1957 when in college in the late 60s. Non synchro 1st gear was a pain in the rear. Electric fuel pump was behind the seats under a cover and I would have problems with it stopping pumping sometimes and I carried a long screwdriver and would reach back and tap it when it started sputtering. But I got married and sold it and bought a 69 Chevell SS. Too bad us old guys didn’t keep all those cars in a barn somewhere. Ha
Because I’ve never paid the asking price for a car, I think this is a realistic starting point. The panel gaps look very straight, and the underside photos are reassuring with regard to potential rust issues (as is the fact that appears to have been in stasis in that same spot in California for 30 years). If it is indeed rust free, knowing it needs everything, I’d part with 8500 for it. A good restoration requires a good restoration candidate – and so far, this one looks very solid.
rust is not a problem in floors. rot is. they were wood inserts in my cat. Hood, Decklid, and doors were aluminum. not unibody until the B model but rockers and front and rear pans could be rusty. Loved my car but wife and kid became a issue. only room for 1
Asking way too much. You better figure 3-5k just for mechanical. Another big chunk of change for the interior and probably twice last to make it pretty, not top of the line. I figure it’s worth about 4-6k where it sits.
The only examples I’ve seen in that price range lately are a lot rougher, with previous body repairs, fresh dents, and rust.
I have had 3 of these. All 1500s and 2 with cracked heads. Put a Riley 1500 in 1 and Datsun 1300 heads on the other 2. They had better water jackets and ran cooler and didn’t crack the valve seats.
My 59 had a cracked head too, but I had a great machine shop in Greensboro, NC weld it. They do diesels all the time and it was nothing for them to fix it. Ran great afterwards.
most of the cracked heads are due to a faulty dual gauge that gives a wrong temp reading so the heads get warped or cracked when it gets too hot and the owners do not even know about it. also radiator issues and water passeges inside engine get blocked over the years also contributing to this. I have never used any heads other than MGA heads but the datsun head may be a interesting proposition provided you can tell us what model datsun engine the heads came out of that fit the MGA block perfectly. The only datsun head i replaced was aluminium and i am sure a lot of MGA owners are eagerly waiting for your response.
sorry a reply meant for you was posted under Eric 13 cars. sorry about that
I would buy this MGA in a new york minute and soak that engine in seafoam for a week and fire it up with some fresh gas and a new oil change and the stuck piston rings will loosen up bringing the compression on all 3 cylinders to over 100. Then put some brake and clutch kits and drive the heck out of this car. This is a very solid car and i would just give it a good wash and not even polish it and keep the patina intact. go to my garage and get a MGA seat bottom and i will have less than $ 100 in a driver quality running MGA 1600. dont see MGA’s like this everyday specially from the west coast. I have a identicle white MGA 1600 now which came from cali and had the same patina and other issues described here but they were not an issue to a qualified British car machanic like me who owns many many MGA’s and other british cars. it has got a 15 head on it that means this could have a 1500 engine in it rather than a 1600 engine but it still is a worth while project which will not take years to bring back to life.
I don’t remember the model but it was in the mid 60s. There was a 1200 and a 1300 ifmt old memory serves. The 1200 didn’t work, only the 1300. The 1300 was a copy made under license I think.
Seems to be optimistic on the price. You can find decent runners in the $15K range, and there seems to be quite a few up for sale in the $25-30K range that appear to be fore sale for a long time.
I love the MGAs – probably my fave MG. But it seems like they are next to follow the TD/TF in price softening as the generation who have first hand memories of them in their youth are downsizing or leaving this mortal coil. I think there will always be interest in them, but just not at a 1:1 replacement ratio.