Silverstone Classic Sale 2018Back to lot listing1958 MG A CoupeLot No.: TBA
Registration: WRM 874
Chassis Number: HMK13/49194
Engine Number: 15GBUH 39627
Number of cylinders: 4 CC: 1500 Year of Manufacture: 1958
RHD/LHD: Right Hand Drive
Estimate (£): 28,000 - 32,000
(+buyer's premium of 15% including VAT @ 20%)
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It’s not very often that the closed coupe version of a sports car actually looks as pleasing as its more glamorous open counterpart, however, with the MGA Coupe this was definitely the case. Launching MG sports cars into the modern era, the new MGA was first seen in September of 1955 at the Frankfurt Motor Show and the traditional upright styling of the T-series had finally been replaced with elegant bodywork derived from MG designer Syd Enever’s streamlined 1952 Le Mans car. The beautifully sleek and understated body was Jean Shrimpton pretty, the equal of anything the Italians had to offer, and even made Jaguar’s XK120 (to which it bore a passing resemblance) look slightly lardy by comparison.
Of traditional body-on-frame construction, the MGA had a notably rigid structure thanks to a triangulated bulkhead design allied to a massively stiff chassis. The 1,498cc B-Series engine initially produced 68bhp but was quickly upgraded to 72bhp and, according to a 1955 road test in ‘The Motor’, gave the car a top speed of 97.8mph with a 0-60 time of 16 seconds and a fuel consumption of 26.7mpg.
A standard model in the range from 1955, the Coupe was available throughout the model's lifetime in 1500, 1600, MkII and Twin-Cam forms. Mechanically identical to the open models, distinctive Coupe features included wind-up door windows, external door handles, locks and extra brightwork. With direct, vice-free, rack-and-pinion steering, and a great racing pedigree, it's no wonder that the MGA has acquired such a devoted fan club over the years.
Production finally came to an end in 1962 when it was replaced by the softer and rather less inspiring MGB. In total 101,081 MGAs of all types were sold, most in Roadster form and the vast majority crossed the Atlantic to the booming US market with only 5,869 being sold in the UK.
This is a rare original right-hand drive, home market MGA Coupe, one of the 323 produced in 1958 and one of the only 828 British Coupes ever produced. It was first registered on 12.12.58 and sold by Graham and Roberts, the BMC dealers in the Carlisle area.
Finished in Orient Red, this is an immaculate example of the model retaining its original engine and gearbox. For the last 13 years, the car has been entered in Concours d'Elegance throughout the country, consistently winning major trophies including Car of the Show at 'MG Live', resulting in an invitation to display the MG, as one of the 16 best cars in the country, on the Meguiars Showcase stand at the Classic Car Show at the NEC. The car has also, year on year, been awarded the NTG Trophy at MG Live for being the best MGA Concours and was also awarded 'Best in Show' at the Kimbolton Show against stiff competition from over 1,000 other vehicles.
The car was entirely restored in the late 1990s and has been subject to continual improvement to present it in as near to, or better than, original factory standard using the recognised authority of Clausagers “Original MGA” as a point of reference. It has been subject to and passed an MoT test each year despite this not being a legal requirement, with the current MoT valid until 8th August 2018. When not in use, the car stands on off-road wheels and is stored in a ventilated 'Car-o-Port'.
The MGA is accompanied by its original 1958 log book, a Graham and Roberts dealer badge, and the correct 1958 toolkit, A detailed list of over thirty major trophies won by WRM 874 since 2006 will be with the car and a copy is available from our office.
As good an example as we have ever offered, this is a jewel of a car that attracts throngs of admirers wherever it goes and is a real 'Best of Breed' contender. Form an orderly queue.
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