No matter which version of the story Cinderella you read or watch, the core of it is that of inner beauty shining through despite obstacles. You could say that the story of this MG MGA is similar to that of Cinderella. This former beauty needs a proverbial Prince Charming to bring out the best in it. Do beautiful items with hard luck stories easily sway you? If so, this 1957 MG MGA for sale on Facebook Marketplace may be worth an extra look. This long-term Atlanta storage locker refugee appears to be relatively restorable as far as vintage MGs go, and the price is right at just $4,750. Thanks to T.J. for locating yet another project car for the readers!
We all know the story about how instrumental the importation of MG sports cars in the prewar period was in making Americans fall in love with this type of vehicle. Starting in 1946 with the TC, MGs integrated themselves into the new postwar automotive culture that soon bred races, gymkhanas, and other exhibitions of driving far removed from the leisurely highway loafing that we were so used to. A succession of slowly evolving MG models following the logical naming pattern of TD and TF came after the TC’s reign was complete. By the early fifties, MG was at a crossroads. Their cars, somewhat antiques already when they hit the shores in 1946, were becoming downright primitive.
That change arrived in 1955. The MGA was a radical departure from the full-fendered look that people associated with the brand. In contrast, the new car was a sleek, modern sports car body modeled on a race car the company helped a privateer named George Phillips develop for the 1951 running of Le Mans. The lines penned by MG designer Syd Enever for this one-off racecar were copied closely to make the MGA.
Yet under the skin of Phillips’s MG was the driveline and chassis of a TD using the same body-on-frame construction. To make the MGA, that narrow chassis had to be widened to set the driver deeper into the car. The rest of the car was not terribly different from the three previous models despite the sleek body. To be fair, sports car development moved at a snail’s pace during this period and MG’s primary goal was financial survival. This popular design change allowed MG to survive a turbulent period for British industry. Over 101,000 of these gorgeous sports cars were produced before the much more modern MGB arrived.
The car you see here is a 1957 MGA roadster. MG made coupe and roadster versions along with a twin-cam engine option during the MGA’s production run. Coupes and twin-cams (which could be had in either body style) are seldom seen. This car, a standard roadster, sat in a storage locker in Atlanta for almost 20 years until the seller rescued it. In the ad, the seller is very forthright about the car’s condition. We are told that the car is mostly complete and has likely never been apart. There is no rot in the frame, but the outer rocker panels have enough corrosion damage that replacement is needed.
It seems that the seller started on the car by removing the seats to replace the wooden floor. It was there that they stopped, and a close look into the driver’s footwell in the third picture from the top shows damage to the footwells. The seller did retain the seats, however. There is also minor damage in the battery trays to contend with as well. The engine is currently locked up despite a questionable 55K miles on the odometer. As you would expect, the seller has pulled the plugs and added some penetrant in the hopes that it is just mild corrosion keeping this engine from returning to life.
If you are looking for a project car but have limited funds for the initial purchase, this car may deserve a closer look. MGAs have always commanded prices commensurate with their beauty. They are not hard to restore given their body-on-frame construction and the availability of parts from the aftermarket. The ad’s tone conveys that the seller knows the car needs a lot of work, but they want it to be restored. It is easy to get sentimental over something that has the potential to be so beautiful. The $4,750 price may have some leeway in it if the seller knows the buyer is serious about restoring it. It won’t be a cakewalk, but think of the fun you could have making your own version of the Cinderella story with this MGA. What would you do with this MGA? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Lot of rust to go through on that cakewalk. Fender seam rust is the clue that every where else is going to have rust. Going in price not too far off but the parts and panel repairs aren’t going to be cheep.
No birds here. Should be “cheap”. Can’t spell that early in the morning.
That’s a Texas front license plate so I wonder if it could be the one my first brother in law tried to give me in 1971….but my dad wouldn’t let me bring it home.
Rust is the devil with these cool little cars. Some people spend a LOT of money repairing all that to put the car back into sound condition. The trick is to find one that grew up in a rust free environment. BUT, if you do the price skyrockets.
Can’t agree with that “price is right comment”. In tip top condition, stock ’57 MGAs are worth mid $20K. Getting this one to that condition will put you under water quickly. Rust repair, bodywork, re-chroming or replacing brightwork, interior, engine restoration, and mechanicals are available but not cheap. Unless someone buys this as a labor of love (been there, done that…), or as a beater, the price needs to be significantly lower.
With all that surface rust one can bet the frame is toast as well. If the battery trays are damaged the paper thin frame is compromised. If it is a do it yourself project expect to put 12K+ into it and 2 years of part time work.With past experience in rebuilding two of them it would be worth the challenge If I were thirty years younger I’d tackle it at the listed price.