The MGA is one of the prettiest little British sports cars of all time, even though the hidebound MG traditionalists were enraged at first by its enveloping, streamlined body in lieu of the pre-war-style separate fenders, open cockpit and upright radiator of the previous T series.
While the lion’s share of MGAs produced were sleek roadsters, there was also a run of attractive hardtops that replaced the al fresco driving experience with a higher level of comfort and convenience.
The hardtop provided rollup windows and external door handles and locks instead of the awkward fabric tops, side curtains and inside-only cable-actuated door latches of the roadsters.
The Pick of the Day is a 1957 MGA coupe, one of just 3,326 coupes delivered to North America in 1957 compared with 13,869 roadsters, according to the Rowley, Massachusetts, dealer advertising the MG on ClassicCars.com.
The MGA coupe is a strikingly handsome design, the rounded, upright roof adding a level of tension with the low, long look of the body. The styling overall is well-integrated and very British, looking spare and adventurous.
“This 1957 MGA Coupe is finished in a black exterior with accenting red interior to create a classic look,” the seller says in the ad. “This MGA went through a painstaking restoration which started in the 1980s and was completed and on the road in the late ‘90s. The restoration of this rare coupe is fully documented with receipts and photographs.”
The sports car is “ready to roll,” the seller adds.
The MGA was not as fast as it looked, powered by a simple 1,500cc OHV inline-4 engine that produced 72 horsepower, although that is enough to motivate the under-2,000-pound car. Manual shifting is provided by a 4-speed transmission.
Under its more modern body, the MGA was not all that different from the previous MGTF, with the body resting on a solid ladder frame with coil springs up front and leaf springs in the rear, lever shock absorbers and drum brakes.
The sports car is fairly diminutive, with a 94-inch wheelbase and 13-foot overall length, and enormously fun to drive, the exhaust providing a bold roar and the sporty handling turning back roads into a romp.
The asking price for the rare MGA coupe is just $21,900.
To view this vehicle on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
I love this car and always had a thing for British sports cars. Hope to own one son. Maybe this one. Thanks.
Tim Green
281-687-8250