What flavor project car is most attractive to you? A running car that you can fix when funds and time allow? A formerly high-performance rat that’s rusting into the ground but costs nothing? Or something in between – a car that is nearly finished but not yet driveable? I like running projects that haven’t been painted yet – like this nearly completed 1961 MGA roadster here on eBay. This car is the beneficiary of an engine conversion that’s very popular – it is powered by a bored-out 1800 cc five-main MGB motor and four-speed gearbox. A number of upgrades in keeping with its vintage character are icing on the cake. Bid to $6,889 with reserve met and located in Westcliffe, Colorado, this car should probably be trailered home though it’s a healthy driver.
A number of videos are included in the listing – all of them reminders of the viscerally agricultural driving experience of the MGA. Its body shivers with the sound of the engine, the gearshift snicks into place in a way you feel more than hear, the rear end whines right up behind your spine. Lovely. And this car has seen major improvements including that rebuilt engine, rebuilt SU carbs, an all-synchro gearbox, a new exhaust, a balanced driveshaft, an oil cooler, an electronic distributor, a heavy-duty aluminum radiator, and on and on! The car still needs a few items installed, but most if not all the parts are included in the sale – and then some. There’s even a spare Twin-Cam gearbox.
The interior requires finishing, but most of the parts are included. I noted from the driving videos that the tach isn’t hooked up and the oil gauge is volatile; the seller comments that the new wiring harness needs to be installed and the car still requires a compatible tach drive. The seller converted the car from steel wheels to wires at considerable expense. A restorable hardtop is included, though there’s no mention of the convertible top or its frame. The windshield glass was broken in a shop accident, and its frame needs to be re-chromed.
The bodywork is not complete. This car received a nose transplant which needs final welding. That’s a tricky bit though judging from the bonnet gap, someone has made a good start (for a veritable library of restoration photos, check out this site). The outer rockers also need welding. The trunk is finished nicely (an area prone to heavy surface rust) as is the underside. The MGA’s doors, bonnet, and trunk lid are aluminum leading to easy damage if roughly handled. But that parts pile contains two extra doors and a spare trunk lid. Has this guy thought of everything? Granted, there’s plenty of work here, and this is a plain Jane MGA without any particular rarity, but the current price seems like a bargain. What do you think?
Buy it at the price it’s around now and you’ve got something to work with without breaking the bank. Mechanical upgrades certainly up the ante on this one.
Good write up, Michelle, and an accurate description of the scenic drive in the video. I don’t know my MG’s from a hole in the ground but this one seems more complete and in better shape than others I’ve seen listed here for more money.
I wonder – would a 6 ft, slightly rotund guy be comfortable in one of these?
My friend Lonnie is 6′ at least and weighs 250 or more, and he drove one for years! His buddy Denny was similarly sized and it was pretty funny seeing the two of them from behind in the MGA, right shoulder to left shoulder, but each leaning slightly over his respective door to give the other guy room, ha ha!
A friend of mine was 6’6″ and drove a MG Miget. He would step over the door and wiggle down into the seat. Once he was in he was fine, but extraction was fun to watch. He also had a 350/four speed MG, that one was scary.
Forced sale? How? The wife upset? Forced to realize that too much had already been spent and unless he wanted cat food on sawdust bread for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it had to go?
I thought that I was the only one with a yellow MGA. I don’t believe that there was a factory original yellow. My 59’s certainly wasn’t. There’s actually a lot of work on this one to get the body components in trim. Gonna take some skill with a welder.
Had a 58 that I put the 1800 engine and transmission in. I remember the swap being fairly easy except the later syncro transmission was too big for the tunnel. Cut it out, mocked up with cardboard and made a new tunnel section with fiberglass. Made a huge improvement in performance.
A long time ago, when the earth was young, an MG enthusiast was moving far away, so was liquidating his collection and a barn full of spares. I was offered a fully sorted MGA with B drivetrain and negative earth conversion for far less than this one and I stupidly turned it down.
Key note: long time ago$$$!
I’m not sure why it needs a compatible tach drive. The photos clearly show an electronic tach labelled ‘positive earth’. It would have originally had a mechanical tach with the drive off the camshaft but that would have gone with the engine replacement.
I’m not sure but those wheels look like they are chromed too which would have made them super expensive. Not sure about the white walls however.