The MGA was produced by MG in England from 1955 to 1962. It replaced the MG TF Midget and took a different approach to its styling. More than 100,000 of the little cars were built overall, with the majority being exported to the U.S. and other markets where sports car popularity was growing. The seller describes this 1958 edition as being a project, but it looks too nice for that. Perhaps the work needed is tied to the Buick 215 cubic inch V8 that has replaced the original 4-banger.
We don’t know how this MG came about being fitted with a Buick small block, but things look rather snug under the hood now. Buick developed the 215 V8 (and others with larger displacements) in the 1960s. It was first used in the new Special compacts that Buick fielded from 1961 to 1963, so we assume this engine is from that period. The seller says the transmission is from Buick, too, and is a manual shifter.
As the story goes, this MGA/Buick was running a couple of years ago. The carburetor needs to be rebuilt, so that may be why the car is now on the sidelines. The body and paint look quite nice and have likely been redone and the interior looks tidy, as well. This little car has changed hands at least three times over the years and the seller has a title to go with it.
Once put back in good running order, we assume this MGA will be spritelier than it was when it had a 4-cylinder under the hood. We wonder, though, if the larger engine has changed the handling dynamics of the sporty car. If you’re looking for something different, this MG is in Bay City, Michigan, and is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $10,000. Barn Finder “Ted” found this interesting little machine for us!
Ugh! Why do people ruin cars like this???.
The Buick 215, with aluminum castings, is actually lighter than the B-series four cylinder. It should not hurt handling.
This would have been a cool ride in the 60’s with that Nailhead Buick engine. Nobody would have shed any tears for the missing 4 cylinder.
The 215 is not a Nailhead. I’ve done valve jobs on both back in the day and the 215 is pretty conventional except for the valve covers which are designed to look a lot like those on a Nailhead.
Being an MGA enthusiast- I have to say– Well, OK. actually a bit ostentatious. Not thrilled. Amazing shoe-horn job. Yet the added power I think exceeds the parameters of need for this tiny car. I have seen many Nissan and Toyota 4 cylinder transplant versions and especially the upgrade to 5 speed, and even superior front suspension upgrades from Moss motors. They are all more appropriate-That is—IF a transplant at all is desired. If going V8, perhaps a Big Daddy Roth Rat Fink version would be more era-correct and head turning. I suspect that this re-engineered vehicle may have several overlooked conditions. Heat disipation might be a concern.
Correct. The Buick V8s with front mounted distributors (215, 300, 340, 350, 430, 455) all had angled valves toward the outsides of the heads. The Nailheads (264, 322, 364, 401, 425) had the upright valves toward the insides of the heads.
From here it looks like a well-done conversion. The hood treatment necessary for the carb is in keeping with the original design. I like it.
The MG lump was obsolete when the built the first MGA… It was a miserable 3 main bearing engine that had siamesed intake ports. The 3.5 liter Buick had an aluminum block, heads and intake and was lighter than the MG motor and had roughly twice the power output (around 200 hp with just a good exhaust). The aluminum Buick (later Rover version) was put into MGB’s near the end of their production run. Much better engine to start with than the stock motor.
Obsolete? the B series engine was introduced in the early 50’s and still being used into the 80’s, it was not obsolete in 1955!
Looks like a decent install on the motor and also a GM style steering column. The slab of oak dash and panelling door cards aren’t great and the paint looks well done, but the color does not say MG. Not sure what trans that would be.
Nicely done conversion. Wouldn’t change that but agree the dashboard doesn’t quiet fit the car. Easy fix.
Buick sold the engine to Rover (big mistake on Buick’s part) and the engine was used in many Rover products, especially the MGB/GT V8s, which unfortunately only a little more than 2,000 were made because of the first oil crisis in the early 70s. It is the “preferred” engine swap among MG enthusiasts as the engine is a Rover product.
I refer to the post Nailhead Buick V8s and V6 as the “FD” family,Front Distributor”.
Before we get too critical about the engine transplant, consider that this engine is the one for which Rover bought the license from GM. It’s over 70# lighter than the cast iron B-series four it replaced here, and it was featured in many British cars including the Morgan+8, numerous Landrover/Rangerover models up through 1996, the Triumph TR8, the Rover saloons of the ‘70s and into the ‘80s, AND the MGBGT – roughly from 1973 through ’75-6. Sadly, the MGBGTV8 never made it across the pond. My guess is that had they marketed it in North America, Abingdon’s doors would never have closed.
The rubber-bumpered MGBs had a redisigned engine bay to accommodate THIS engine! Even the engine mounts. So, although this engine never made its way into an MGA, it is a part of the overall MG pedigree. I would venture that just about any engine bay that will accommodate a B-series engine will also accommodate this V8, relatively easily.
Enter the post-2000 years and we have modern four-cylinder engines, under 2 liters, that can blow the doors off most V8s of the ‘60s through ‘90s, but with DOHCs, they are tall enough that fitting into these cars is actually more difficult than the V8s. Another popular swap in MGBs, and even some MGAs, is the 3.4 L Camaro V6. Numerous US companys are building kits for these.
Yup, this MGA needs a spot of cleaning up, but 1500 and 1600 MGAs were a bit underpowered and a lot of folks have converted them to MGB 1800s – and with overdrive gearboxes (5 speed) and 3.9 rear ends, they’re suitable for interstate use when ya gotta get to a NAMGAR GT 1500 miles away in less than three days.
In stock form, these little V8s produced around140-180 hp depending on level of tune, but they’re capable of ever so much more. They can be tuned to over 300 and remain civil and tractable, I’m told.
So, I would not be too critical of this conversion – although considering its condition, I wince a little at the price. For example, making that engine bay presentable is no weekend task. I’ve been there and done that, and it’s something I would not do for less than several thousand dollars. I don’t care for the interior treatment, so that requires some $$$$ for me. And then, let’s remember this is a non-runner also. Some surprises might be in store. While the body looks nice in the pictures, I’m not nuts about the color. I’d prefer something that looks a bit more original. I’d rather keep the modifications a bit more secret, then surprise lots of folks on the road.
Cool little car…..
Yes, cool little car. The Buick motor w/ stick shift suits it well. But as a $10,000 non-running, non-original project?, what is the seller is thinking?
A 218 BUICK in THAT, WOW, tire burner!!!
Doesn’t look as tight as a 390 67-68 mustang