This not so dynamic duo for sale is a pair of 1960 MG MGA 1600s that, at time of writing, are going for a bid price of $2,025 with no indicated reserve. These two cars are currently located in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. A VIN of some sort is listed and miles are filled in, but neither of the two pieces of information seems remotely relevant or accurate. You can view more here on eBay.
Beyond just the two cars being sold is a pile of assorted parts. Two engine blocks, one original 1600 engine, and one 1800 engine are included in the sale. There are three cylinder heads as well. Once you put all of those together, you have three transmissions to choose from to get the car of your choosing moving. However, it will only be one of them because there is only one clean title available.
As one can see in the photos, there are no true interiors to either of the cars. They do have dashboards and steering wheels, so that is a start. From there you will have to source floor panels and pick from a lot of seat frames and side curtains that are shown in the parts photos. The seller notes that this project should be taken on by someone with experience in restoring these cars. It is not a beginner job.
The black car had a roll bar at one time and it will need patch panels here and there. The rusty red car was at one time white, but that was ages ago. It is rusty but has parts that could still be used on the black one. Since there is only one title the seller says both cars each has the potential to be the one restored. A safe choice might be the black one and source parts from rusty red and parts bin included.
Hmm if you are into MGA’s this might be the ticket for you. At very least you have 2 parts cars and lots of parts. if you are brave you could do the best one and have the other for parts. Depends on how much $$$ these go for. Hmm wonder if I could get both of em on my trailer…Well good luck to the new owner. Seller seems very honest and motivated!!
Cheers
GPC
I actually looked into this pair. I have inquired locally about a ’57 running/driving/stopping chassis on original wheels with full original dash instrumentation and bumpers and need a donor shell.
Both are restorable, the important (and expensive) parts are all there and restorable. It would be a pity if one of them would be cannibalized. A beginner can also take a look at it, on mgaguru.com he will find everything he needs to know about an MGA and its restoration.
My wife saw me looking at this and said absolutely not. I have a 57 MGA I bought in 1965 as a senior in high school and a 59 MGA I bought in 1970. She seems to think two in enough. Sometimes I just don’t understand her.
LMAO!!!
Hopefully, there is a usable frame. Floorboard supports and patching structure will be a needed skill.
Floor board are the easiest part as they are water proofed marine ply plywood that rests on metal angels along the perimeter of the frame. The seat runners bolt to that wood and getting the exact dimensions from factory drawings should not be hard. I have done it in the past on the cars of others. The coming around the cockpit is a combination of cast aluminum and I believe oak wood with a leather covering that is just hell to put right. Not really that hard but extremely time consuming to get right.
Just as a note there are NO door locks on these cars just a wire inside the door. If you are not careful about the thickness of the plexiglass in the side curtains they will blow out at about 65 mile per hour. Please do not ask me how I know this. I can tell you is the temperature is far below freezing I do not care how much heat comes from the transmission it is not enough. LOL
Also there is a metal tray behind the seats and below where the top and top frame is stored when down. If in the winter time during a blizzard your brother does not put this back the interior becomes a snow vacuum cleaner for the road. If you happen to have a date that night do not worry you will never have a date with her again. Again LOL – this time I dodged a bullet. Happy Dance, Happy Dance.
These are great cars, MGB engines and transmissions fit easily to give just a little more power. They could use it but for around town, date night and fall mornings hard to find a car better to be driving.
. . . they rest on angels? Wow, they must be getting really tired by now.
I could kill my spelling checker
Always liked the ‘A’s but only had several B’s. If I didn’t have so many projects now I might entertain these 2. Fix one and vintage race the one without a clean title.
Or you find someone who’s selling some “Wall Art”. The vin tag is only screwed to the heater shelf.
Looked at e-bay. Listing expired. 2 days, Dude. Tsk, tsk.
That is a good deal. Given that you can buy all the sheet metal from MOSS restoring the cars is quite doable. A well restored MGA is a $20,000 vehicle in Canada. I don’t know American rules but in Canada cars without a valid “ownership” (i.e. “Title”) can be brought back to the road and a Ministry issued validation completed. This requires a lot of paperwork but it is not impossible or even that expensive.