Found here on Facebook Marketplace in Marquette, Michigan is this 1961 MGA 1600 that obviously saw competition at one point. It’s now a garage find and is available for $5,850.
This seems like quite an opportunity. The car isn’t running, but the motor turns freely, and there’s no visible rust. The red paint under the racing numbers is even serviceable. “Has sat in a garage for years,” says the vendor. Need to get it running. Complete car. Super patina.
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That’s about all we get. Facebook Marketplace posts are rarely verbose. But the car is in as-raced condition, with a single seat, a radio delete and a rollbar. The door graphics identify the driver as Dan Gilliland. This is a guy with a history. A racing bio here shows entry in five events between 1974 and 1981, with three finishes, two retirements, and no victories. His best result was a 12th-place finish. He favored the Porsche 914.
Is Dan related to David and Todd Gilliland, both better-known racers (father and son)? Not sure, but probably not. A 2021 obituary for Dan notes, “Dan was a very good man in so many ways. He reminded me of Teddy Roosevelt. Whatever he decided to try out he did it with enthusiasm. He was always ‘all in’. Earlier in his life it was auto racing, followed by auto cross-country racing.” He was an endodontist (root canal dentist), and had many other passions later in life.
Dan is unfortunately gone but he left this lovely MGA behind. It has Sports Car Club of America stickers, and the designation “FP.” It also has old Michigan license plates, so it was registered at some point. So the buyer has the choice of keeping it as a vintage racer or removing the rollbar, adding a seat, and turning it into a road car. The project probably wouldn’t be all that difficult. The owner doesn’t show any engine photos or make any claims of tuning the 1.6-liter four, so it’s probably fairly stock.
The MGA was not markedly different mechanically from the ancient-looking TD and TF models that preceded it, but the exterior styling finally fit the period. The ’50 TD had some advanced features, including independent front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering, but its 1.25-liter engine produced only 57 horsepower. Still, it was the basis for the aerodynamic body that designer Syd Enever produced for the 1951 Le Mans 24 Hours. The MGA’s best placing was in the 1955 Le Mans, where 12th and 17th were achieved.
Wikipedia provided the photo above of an MGA on the road with its side curtains present. The design took a while to evolve. From the racer, EX175 was produced HMO 6, the first road car and the MGA as we know it. In the place of the XPAG engine in the TD, there was an Austin B-Series powerplant with twin-SU carbs producing 68 horsepower. Power was soon bumped up to 72 horsepower. The MGA 1500 reached 97.8 mph and could deliver 22 mpg. The MGA went on sale in 1955, priced at £844 in Britain. The first cars were roadsters with a detachable hardtop, and a coupe with roll-up windows was soon added by BMC.
The 1600, introduced in 1959, produced 79.5 horsepower. It also sported front Girling disc brakes like its upper-class sibling the Twin Cam, but there were drums out back. The 1600 roadster reached 96.1 mph, and took 13.3 seconds to 60, achieving 24.7 mpg. The price had risen to £940 including taxes. Since the car on offer is a 1961, it is presumably an MGA Mark II, with a 1.62-liter version of the four. There were larger valves and new combustion chambers. Now it had 90 horsepower and could reach 60 in 12.8 seconds. The MGA for sale here offers many possibilities for its new owner, who could also research its racing history.
A great find and possible price!
This looks like a decent car at a decent price. Since it was a race car at one point it would have to be able to pass tech at least when it was raced. If the engine or trans is bad plenty of low cost options. Fuel system, belts and hoses, all rubber, brakes, pointless ignition would be on my list as well as removing the roll bar and a couple of Miata seats. Leave the painting for the next phase if desired.
Agree totally…years back, I had a 1962 “A” that I set up as a racer…
Brooks Windscreens and all….a 2 throat Webber carb made it quicker than average…what fun!
Miata drivetrain donor would be quite nice. It’s so light, nothing but the base fuel injection Miata required for much faster much more reliable and much better mpg than the period drivetrain. A FWD conversion would shave even more weight, and no turbo supercharged nonsense required. It’s not going to win any races or beat the new EV blandmobiles. You’re looking for reliability, fun, sporting driver on a nice day. No roids necessary.
Why spoil a classic? In 1961, this was almost the end of true MG sports cars! Restore, don’t do things that will forever spoil it’s inherent value!
Jules (the MG guy)
I’d buy this thing, get it running, and drive it as is! Such a cool find and the racing livery just makes it better.
Exactly my thoughts Clay…yet some want put Fords V 8s in these soon to be even rarer English beauties! Go figure!
Is a LS swap possible? 😂
Chet, yet it is possible the only requirement is to have your head examined by the shrink at MG Garages! LOL
An 1800 B engine swap is possible, and common. I had such a car in the early ’80s in college. I swear it got 35 mpg, and it was very quick.
Problem is valves and carbs and points: All 3 rarely correctly done / condition at any given time. But the chassis is perfect for a superior Japanese, Swedish or German 4 banger. Even a Datsun straight 6 would be tempting. Anything that can take fuel injection and CDI ignition upgrades without timing chain or valve lash adjustment woes. Tempting even a FWD 3 cylinder Geo Metro. Losing 350 pounds in an already VERY light car, it would be very quick with 40mpg easily. 1500 lbs or possibly less, depending how much emphasis on curb weight is applied. Given it’s been modified, you get to do anything. But god no, please no LS swapper slobber V8 pinko commie garbage thanks.
The irony here is palpable.
This car absolutely needs a 460 Ford, the offering from the factory that uses a special 351 block. Your choice 4-speed or 5-speed. The motor comes a little dear at $16,000+, but 575 hp / 575 ft/lbs is a hard set of numbers to build in a small naturally-aspirated package.
Go ahead and buy it,,,screw it up with goofy engines if you must, just don’t call yourself an MG enthusiast! LOL
FWD? Metro? Datsun 6? OMG
Jules, the MG guy
22R Toyota or the Volvo 4 banger. Bit by bit make it a reliable grocery getter. Do a different roll bar, when everything is gutted including the motor, trans etc. Save it with bead blasting, pressure washing, through oven or hot summer sun drying, primer everything including what can’t be seen. Do it one more primer application after correcting the floorboards and roll bar to get the passenger seat back. The body form is the value. Preservation of it. The drivetrain is whatever starts every time without needing carb overhauls and gas tank flushing. See it as way better than any Harley could ever be. And this it shall be. Done well.
1800 cc MG B,,,engine, less trouble add a Webber Dual Throat carb, it will screem!
OMG Greg…….Lets keep the Swedes and the Nips ot of this British MG picture…geez!
Jules, the MG guy