I prefer to watch movies at night rather than stretching my mind into a writing assignment, but when this 1959 MGA 1500 showed up for sale on eBay, I had to forego Reacher to highlight this commendable little roadster. Located in Clermont, Florida, the car is bid to $2025 with a buy-it-now at only $6000. The owner sold his property and must move soon; thus the distress sale. I’ve restored two MGAs and had a hand in a third, so the sore spots on these cars come to mind easily: rust; poor panel and bumper fit; dents in the aluminum doors, trunk lid, and bonnet; front-end damage that ruins the all-important “X” embossed into the front pan; missing parts; electrical goblins; cranky fuel delivery. Here’s a straight body on a running car that needs a battery and has a clear title. See if you agree that this car is worth consideration.
The MGA was produced from 1955 through 1962 in three basic series beginning with the 1500. With a 1489 cc in-line four-cylinder paired with two SU carburetors, the engine made 68 hp until it was slightly reconfigured for an output of 72 hp. The 1500 was sold a few months into 1959. Midway through that year, BMC launched the uprated 1600 with a 1588 cc engine; the final series was the Mark II at 1622 cc’s arriving in 1961. This car’s VIN tells us it’s a 1500. The car has an auxiliary oil cooler mounted in the front pan, an optional accessory that became standard equipment toward the end of production. The four-speed manual will have synchro’s on second through fourth.
Yes, we’re all wondering about flood damage since this is a Florida car. Clermont has the lowest possible flood rating, and then there’s this underside photo to attest to its condition. While this is only about one-quarter of the car, I’m not seeing anything too concerning. The gas tank looks like it may have been restored, even the leaf spring is pretty spiffy. The listing includes several body panel photos – no inkling of rust, not even in the channels where the bonnet and boot lid fit. That doesn’t mean the buyer won’t face bodywork, and the paint job is atrocious, but if I can paint an MGA, so can you.
Looks like the owner began to reupholster the seats; another photo shows that the floorboards are in good shape. The dash is homemade; the original is metal. The steering wheel needs restoration and the windshield is missing its frame-to-body gasket. The console sitting between the seats does not belong to an MGA. The trunk contains parts, but I do not see the missing cockpit trim or the convertible top bows. This is a wire wheel car; I prefer steel wheels but wires are the popular option. The bumpers aren’t perfect but they’ll do, and they fit well as does the grille.
Here’s the MGA at home relaxing. I think that’s a hardtop slung above it, in the rafters – who knows what car that belongs to. Speaking of hard tops, those can be had for this car along with scads of other parts. Expertise is everywhere, too – in the form of clubs, forums, and British car restoration shops. I’ll be the first to admit values have declined, but nice 1500 roadsters will still sell between $20k and $30k. Any Barn Finders think this is a worthy winter project?
Good price for what looks like a good car.
Nice starting point for a winter project…the fenders look to have been slapped back on without any thought of alignment, and the grill is wrong for a ’59, but I’ve seen much worse brought back
The one decent bottom shot suggests a “clean” (un-rusted) chassis… but not enough pics to know for sure. Also looks to have sat out in the weather for a period of time… As the very brief Ebay description says, has the look of an abandoned project. If it was close to me I’d go look at it.
If I didn’t have 3 coupes sitting in my garage/yard now this would definitely be on the list, good price and looks to be a good start…
Old Ed
Is that an early 1974 TR6 in the body shots?
It is certainly a TR6, not sure the year.
RU Sure it isnt an 1959 1500cc MGA, cos it sure looks like one to me!
Yes it is a TR6… If it were for sale, I don’t know if I could resist. TR6 has been on my want list since I was 15 years old. I think they were the perfect sports car. I just never got a chance to own one.
Have had a TR6 in my fleet for some years now… I don’t know if I’d call it “the perfect sports car”, but it is classically British… …with all that entails…
Personally I think the TR6s are the best looking TRs; never owned one but have ridden in some, had that British feel.
It’s at $3600, with 46 watching and 3 days to go. This looks like a really good deal. Wish it was closer. Never restored a British car, but always liked them a lot. TR6 has been a dream since I was 15 years old.
I’d agree this looks a pretty good deal in MGA world. I have 2 As and a TR6, and I’d say I do like the TR6 better myself just because of the power from the 6. Stock they don’t make so much (in the US), but they still have noticeably more torque than the various 4s, and with a few mods can make a lot more power. 150 streetable is certainly easy enough, and that is very hard to get to even in a full race B 1800.
It certainly is a project. Really a case of a complete strip down and start again.
The frame looks okay from what you can see but unfortunately the chassis isn’t the only thing that rusts on these and that rust can be very extensive.
I agree it’s a great example to start your project with but there aren’t any short cuts.
someone took the buy it now price.
The grill appears to be from a 1600 Mk.2