*** Sold on Pre-Auction for £30,500 inc Buyer’s Premium to Eamonn McParland ***
Please read the How it Works page for more information and our Terms and Conditions of sale.
The MGA is a fabulous British sports car that was produced by MG (Morris Garages) from 1955 to 1962.
It was considered a design breakthrough from the earlier MG’s and was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1955.
Interestingly most cars were exported with only 5,869 sold in the UK; this was the lowest percentage of any British car.
Being a 1959 model this car is fitted with the original 1500cc four cylinder engine with a four speed manual gearbox.
As you know, here at Trade Classics we are very particular on reporting the condition of our vehicles, this is to give you, the buyer, total confidence in your bid. Well in this case, when we say concours, we absolutely and positively mean concours. In fact we don’t think you’ll find a better example in the UK today.
This MGA Roadster belongs to a very fastidious owner and friend of us here at Trade Classics; his name is Gary Turner and he’s a proper car guy. Gary has owned and enjoyed many cars over the years, including some very beautiful and rare 911’s.
Last year Gary and his wife made a decision to sell up in the UK and move to Canada for work opportunities. They sold everything from their house to his entire car collection including Porsche 911’s, Porsche 912, Honda NSX, Datsun 250Z and various others.
It wasn’t long until Gary scratched his itch for more cars in Canada, he has since bought a beautiful and early VW campervan, Porsche 911 ST and this stunning MGA – all of which are in concours condition. He’s quickly run out of space, so has decided to consign this beautiful MGA to us. It was shipped back last month, has a V5 application in progress and garaged in Kenilworth near Birmingham.
Gary tells us that the previous owner’s brother began the restoration in 2002 after purchasing the car in Tennessee from the estate of its long term owner and completed it in 2007. There are over £15k in receipts from 1CAAT Limited of Maryville, Tennessee that document a rebuild of the 1500cc inline-four and 4-speed manual gearbox, new SU carburetors, a repaint, suspension refresh, new wire wheels, brakes, and much more.
The car will be UK registered (V5) with period correct registration number. Also for total peace of mind, Gary will ensure the car is supplied with a full MOT even through it is exempt being over 40 years old.
The paint on this car is beautiful and finished in Dove Grey. The restoration is exceptional as the entire car has been painted and there is no trace of the original colour that was Old English White.
Wheels & Tyres
16in wire wheels are fitted, including the spare, and wrapped in period correct Dunlop SP20 crossply tyres. There are no signs of uneven wear.
Bodywork
All panels are free from dents and the shut-lines across the entire car look visibly correct and both doors close evenly.
Paint
The paint is in excellent visible condition. The only slight imperfections we found were as follows: a slight hairline crack in the paint on the passenger side lower part of the rear wing and slightly uneven paint on the inside lip on the lower part of the driver’s door. Please see the images and videos to see the excellent condition of the bodywork.
Glass and Trim
Glass and trim are all in good order. The plastic side windows have slight discoloration as to be expected with their age. A new hood has also been fitted and is in excellent condition.
The attention to detail achieved in this restoration is exceptional meaning the interior is a beautiful place to be.
Seats and Carpets
All in excellent condition and looking factory fresh.
Dashboard
All gauges are in excellent working condition.
Steering Wheel / Gear Stick
Both are in excellent condition. The steering wheel is original and it’s assumed the gear knob has been replaced during the restoration.
We couldn’t take the vehicle out for a dive at the time of our visit as the V5 application was still in progress. However, we did drive it around the courtyard. Gary informs us the car drives perfectly as you’d expect from such a thorough and meticulous restoration.
Engine and Gearbox
The car started fine from cold (see video) and idled correctly both on and off choke. The clutch felt good with a strong biting point at about half way of travel. There were no issues selecting any gear (including reserve) either hot or cold. The engine was rebuilt including a new cam shaft, timing chain, exhaust manifold, oil pump, SU carburetors, and fuel lines. A new radiator, hoses, wiring harness, and engine mounts were fitted along with a stainless steel exhaust system. The four-speed manual transmission and differential were also rebuilt with a new clutch, synchro, and resurfaced flywheel.
Suspension and Brakes
Not testing during our visit, however, Gary confirms both areas perform faultlessly and said the front and rear suspension was refreshed with new rear leaf springs. Brake components including the wheel bearings, lines, and cylinders were replaced too.
The Drive
Not testing during our visit; Gary also confirms the car drives and performs perfectly.
Electrics and Other
No issues.
The car was originally exported to North America and then to Canada by Gary in 2017.
A total of 7,762 miles are shown on the odometer and believed to be reset / correct from the completion of restoration in 2007.
Gary has completed over 4,000 trouble free miles last summer in the car.
There is a large history file of receipts that were collected as part of the restoration from 2002 to 2007 – please take a look at the media file to see full details. The vehicle also comes complete with the Heritage Trust certificate.
Want to see this car like you’d see it in real life, in eye popping 3D 4K virtual reality?
Well you can as we are the only classic car auction house to film our high value cars in glorious VR.
There are two ways to watch:
3D – Mobile Phone
Experience glorious 3D by putting your phone into a VR headset & then click on the text links below:
– Exterior – tap here.
– Interior – tap here.
The 3D VR video will then open in your YouTube app – simply select the goggles button and you’re all set.
Cars don’t come around in this condition every day and as a good friend of mine once said ‘buy mint and you’ll never be skint’. I think that saying certainly applies to this car and paying a slight premium to have what looks and drives like a new MGA in your garage feels like a good investment opportunity.
It’s not just me recognising the investment potential of the MGA, as in the 4th April 2018 edition of Classic Car Weekly they predict it as a ‘Classic Riser’ saying it’s set to become a fantastic investment.
So there you have it, a ‘proper’ British sports car with sound investment potential; what’s not to love.
On a final note, I live only 3 miles away from the car’s location in Kenilworth and happy to organise and join you in a viewing.
ADAM PURRIER
This auction listing was written by Adam from information gained from Gary (owner and seller of the vehicle) and having visited and photographed the vehicle.
If you have any specific questions about the vehicle then please use the comments section below. Gary will receive a notification and will reply as soon as he can.
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Great buyer who is very happy with the purchase. Thanks to TCA for the process.
Hello all,
The car has been sold during the seven day Pre-Auction process so will not be offered at auction this Thursday.
Thanks to everyone for their interest and specifically to Eamonn for buying the car. Well bought, it’s a very lovely car and gold status investment.
Cheers Adam
Kulraj, well done thank you.
We’ve uploaded the invoices from 1CAAT detailing all of the work that was completed during the restoration, they are viewable at the end of the images section.
The videos are really helpful in terms of getting to see the car and show that it’s in perfect running order. I would recommend anyone interested to watch the videos. These do give a correct view of just how good this car is.
Thanks Adam for the complete write up. The car is certainly as good as the write up. The key things are that this car had a ‘frame off’ restoration – and then pretty much every part was either rebuilt or replaced with new OEM. It really is like a car that just rolled off the Abingdon production line.
We have applied for the V5, which will take a week or two to come through. The car does not need an MOT to receive its V5. However, for peace of mind and because I like to have the car checked over independently, I will have the car taken for an MOT. The car will therefore come with an MOT when sold.
I believe Adam is going to post up pictures of the receipts for all the long list of parts. It runs into more than 100 pages – totally over $22k USD – for the parts alone (not including the labour for the restoration).
Thanks for the update Gary – yes we will publish all the invoices once scanned.
Hello Eamonn. The MGA is now ready to be auctioned. The V5 is applied for and MOT in process. Adam will take the detailed photos and prepare the write up.
Please feel free to arrange a viewing. Car is in Kenilworth.
Many thanks Gary for updating me. Kenilworth is quite a distance for me so shall look out for Adams updates and auction start.
Sure thing. Auction will start soon. I know Adam is in the process of photographing the car this week.
Hello… all details are now live (except the invoices that will be uploaded tomorrow). If you need any more info or there’s something else that you want to see that’s not in the media pack then let me know. It’s on Pre-Auction until next Thursday, i.e. if you are interested then please let me know and I may be able to help secure a sale in advance. thanks Adam
Hi, when does the auction commence on the MGA. Thank you.
Hi Eamonn, the listing is now live (just got the invoices to scan and upload). It is currently up on Pre-Auction until next Thursday. So if you are interested in an early negotiation then please let me know. thanks
Quick update. The car has now gone through Southampton, has NOVA certificate and has arrived in Kenilworth. Next up is the MOT and v5 application. Any inspections of the car – just me know here and this can be arranged.
Quick update. Similar to my 912 story. The MGA will arrive in the UK on 5 March. Once Nova cleared, it’ll join the 912 heading to Kenilworth. If any bidders wanted to see the MGA, then it is likely this can happened after the 25 March. No test drives as no MOT/registration at this time – but welcome to view, inspect and run around the yard. My honest view is, have a look at the detailed pictures when they are posted – and you will see that my MGA is just about ‘brand new’ – with everything either new or reconditioned.
It will be obviously to anyone with an interest in MGAs that this car is mint – and drives, runs and performs just like it left the factory. I bought the car ‘blind’ – after checking out the previous owner’s photos and history sheet. He was a heart surgeon in US, who owned the car for 15 years – 10 of which was restoration. The last 5 years it was used sparingly, just local shows, and the stored in warm, dry and humidified garage all of the time.
Seller here. I’m very happy to answer any questions you have on the MGA. It has just gone on the water with the 912 for sale as well. It should be in UK early March. Then NOVA, MOT and V5 to be issued. Let me know if you have any questions.