What’s your definition of an “outlaw” car? I think of Emory and Singer Porsches, and a comment made on the Pelican Parts forum – that the term arose when someone dared deviate from the accepted orthodoxy established by Ferdinand Porsche. I never hear “outlaw” associated with other makes; instead, I hear street rod, rat rod, resto-mod … Here we have a 1956 MGA 1500 with a rogue-ish personality, christened an “outlaw” by its seller. Mechanically maintained, this car’s cosmetics could be viewed as an alternative to a restoration, so the driver can drive – or as a stepping stone to later improvements. The sale is prompted by a situation some of us can relate to: many projects, not enough time. T.J. found this devil-may-care roadster for us – thanks T.J.!
This MGA was stored for 45 years before its resurrection began in 2011, extending through three owners. Work included refreshing the engine, rebuilding the SU carbs, a brake overhaul, new water, fuel and oil pumps, that immense radiator you see, a new stainless exhaust, electrical updates, and an assortment of other odds and ends. I corresponded with the seller who believes the engine is a 1500 cc, the BMC B-series four-cylinder originally fitted to these early MGAs; he added that the car runs strong. Compression appears to be even and adequate all around. The gearbox is a four-speed manual, with no synchro on first. The MGA was never configured with overdrive, though ambitious owners have swapped in early MGB overdrive units.
The interior has seen some attention, with new seat foams and new vinyl upholstery. The cockpit trim is slightly damaged. The car has an aluminum tonneau, as well as a tan vinyl version. The instrument panel is worn, but all the gauges and switches are present. A few parts are included with the car, including the front valence, bumpers, and their mounts. A Brooklands windscreen is fitted on the driver’s side; the wiper blades have been removed. No word on the weather equipment. The trunk is missing its spare but retains the hold-down apparatus.
The black paint won’t win you a concours award, but it’s uniformly ratty all around. I love these black-painted steel wheels. Several photos of the underside are included in the advertisement here on craigslist, and they all show off recently-replaced parts. The seller is asking $17,500; the car is currently garaged in Englewood, Colorado. Outlaw or not, this MGA could be a wonderful entry to the world of British roadsters – and its rough cosmetics are an invitation to drive without caring about its paint, where you park it, when to wax it, or any of the myriad other concerns of a show car owner. A slightly lower price might ease the route to a new owner – what do you think?
Outlaw car, you say? That will depend greatly on what you think an outlaw is. Well, one I can think of, and that’s a black Firebird or a 1940 Ford. Orange Charger comes to mind. Any of the same Jack Webb cars the perps drove, we saw week after week.
Not being a fan of black cars, this is no exception. The black seems to hide the beautiful lines of the MGA. It was designed to be green, and by golly, should remain green, I feel. Wheels too. Images show MGAs with aftermarket mags, and really looks sharp. This looks like a car from the ghetto, unless that does something for you. I’d love a MGA, in any color except black. Someone did a lot of work here on an already nice car.
Agree on the wheels. I also agree on the paint job which looks thick enough to sand and polish up to a decent look. Always liked bright colors on on sports cars which would put me to putting chrome wire wheels on this one to offset the black paint. If it’s rust free it would be a good car to have.
That looks like a fun car to cruise the beaches with
“This looks like a car from the ghetto, unless that does something for you.” This comment is way out of line!!!
Maybe it does nothing for you.
relax!
I apologize if I offended anyone with that remark.
@HoA- The ghetto comment is not a good look.
Designed to be green? Then why weren’t MGAs ever offered in British Racing Green from the factory? The only original greens (Tyrolite Green, Island Green, Ash Green) were light, “mintlike” greens and then only on the 1500. No greens at all for the 1600/1600 MkII.
These do look good in BRG and it should have been a factory color, but it never was. Black (an original factory color) with a red interior looks great on these as does BRG with a black interior (I’ve owned one of each, back when they were just cheap used sports cars).
never been a British racing green, officially Brooklands Green
Thanks for that, but in laymen’s terms, British roadsters were always green. Like red Italian roadsters or blue Cobras, other colors just didn’t look right. Today, I’d bet the farm, most folks that want a British roadster will want a green one. I would.
Green=British, Red=Italian. Blue=French, Silver=German, White=American. That was the color scheme selected for International racing back in the late 1940’s by the governing body, FIA. I may have the name wrong. I think the colors carried over to early Grand Prix races.
I’m agreeing with Howard and Bob. Way too much black going on here. That paint is THICK!!! Maybe it coud be wet sanded, compounded and buffed out. Or just go with a brighter color to show off the lines.
Black is the point and, in part, the raison d’etre for the moniker.
I had a black MGA used original. I had it repainted in Germany in Feldgrau. You get tired of black.David Kelm
All I see here is a not great MGA and (a (mis-use of?) language from the seller which has worked in that we are talking about.
Semantics can be very hard to pin down., often being just in the eyes of the beholder. I wouldn’t call a million dollar Singer an outlaw and don’t think they’d see it that way either.
I kinda like it. But then again I like any MGA that can get down the road under its own power. I would leave this car as it is, but I wouldn’t pay his asking price either.
I had a 57 MG my sophomore year in college, It didn’t last too long. A Hot Rodder with an MG just didn’t work. However,if it would have looked like this one, I am sure I would have kept it longer.
As an MGA enthusiast right down to the cotter key placed in the lowest point of the car–the hole in the bell housing– as a titration point for oil drips, this car without front and rear bumper shows the lines of the car that COULD HAVE BEEN- with a bit more attention to the iconic Scaglietti-like torpedo fender lines, that was greatly anticipated prior to its original successful sales history of British Invasion. My last gasp restoration-in-process- 59 Coupe- will be to re-attain this iconic lighter and nimble look- as I depart from tradition–as have so many- with these affordable and highly underrated design marks. I am reaching out here to see if anybody had seen my Brilliant Saturn-yellow MGA Sedan delivery that I custom built in 1971 and sold to an enthusiast in Fullerton Ca around the same time. Lost to the sands of time, I am sure! HA!
Lovely lines – and looks great with the steel wheels – please don’t put any chrome wire wheels on it!
I working on a Berkeley “Outlaw”. Yes, I’m crazy. ……………….Jim.
Great look! I drove a black ’59 F100 through the 90s without painting it.
Seller has come down to 16,800.
Great looking car. I think I’d see if I could get some shine out of that paint. If not, British Racing Green it would become. Like the paint, I can live with the wheels but chrome wire wheels would be sharp.
Doesn’t anyone want to put a V8 in it? Who cares what color it is.
Love this car just as it sits, and black as it is. And the steel wheels are perfect. Looks like a driver to me, isn’t that what it’s all about?
A bit pricy though …
I agree with you – I love it as it is, wheels included. Only change I might make would be to recover the seats in the same dark red as the cockpit trim.
There’s a lot to be said for a paint job that you don’t have to minister to every time you take the car out.