Lot Ended
Description
Fresh from a total nut-and-bolt restoration and in superb condition
throughout; rare model, one of only 2,111 made; Sebring-style looks and
colour-scheme
Initially fitted
with a 68bhp 1500cc engine, the MGA was upgraded to 72bhp 1600cc spec in 1959
increasing top speed to 101mph. However, for the really committed driver, a high
performance 108bhp Twin-Cam version was also made available from
1958.
Developed by Gerald Palmer using a modified
B-Series engine with a twin-cam alloy head, it also featured uprated suspension,
all-round disc brakes and exclusive peg drive wheels made by Dunlop (closely
resembling those on the racing Jaguar D-Types).
Despite these mechanical refinements and 113mph performance, the
Twin-Cam failed to sell in great numbers, due mainly to its high price. Only
2,111 cars were sold (1,788 Roadsters and 323 Coupes) before production came to
an end in April 1960, the vast majority in LHD for the export
market.
As the Heritage Certificate confirms,
this MGA Twin-Cam Roadster was built in September 1958 finished in Ash Green
with a Grey leather interior. As with most of the Twin-Cams, it was a LHD model
destined for the North American market.
It was
brought back to the UK in May 1990 by MG specialist Bob West, our vendor
acquiring the car some years later and being the only recorded keeper from
import, according to the V5C. Over the past seven years it has been treated to a
total body-off restoration which has resulted in the magnificent example you see
today.
The full extent of the work carried out is
far too detailed to list in full here but is amply covered in many invoices on
file. Coming from a dry State, the bodywork proved to be in remarkably good
condition and needed little more than new inner and outer sills and a new boot
floor. The chassis was equally good and was shot blasted and repainted in satin
black, the body being repainted in the original Ash Green, all this work being
carried out by Myddle Wood Garage of Shrewsbury at a cost over
£8,500.
Like the green MGA Roadsters raced at
Sebring in period, the car had no bumpers when it arrived from America so our
vendor decided to keep it that way, fitting a new Sebring-style front valance
which gives it a streamlined and sporting look. The vendor advises that all the
original bumper mounting points are still present so it could be fitted with
bumpers should the new owner prefer.
The engine
was fully rebuilt, engineering by Hurley Engine Services of Bath who
specialise in historic vehicle engineering. This included fitting a new set of
fully forged high-compression pistons supplied by Arias Pistons of
Billingshurst. New billet steel Kent camshafts were also fitted along with new
bearings, reground crank etc.
Other mechanical
goodies include a Derrington-style tubular 4-branch exhaust manifold, Bell
stainless steel exhaust system, high torque starter motor, rebuilt SU carbs and
a new wiring loom.
The gearbox was also fully
rebuilt and as the original Twin-Cam clutch is no longer available, an MGB
clutch was fitted with the flywheel modified to suit, the crank, flywheel and
clutch all being properly balanced – something that was not possible in
period and is believed to be one of the main reasons why these cars got a
reputation for being mechanically fragile as vibrations tended to upset the
solid-mounted SU carbs and cause fuel-frothing problems which could damage the
pistons. Allied to the modern components and expertise employed in the engine
rebuild, they should make this Twin-Cam far more durable than the way they
originally left the factory.
The
brakes and suspension were all fully rebuilt as was the steering with a new
right-hand drive steering rack fitted and a new RHD dash. The interior was fully
retrimmed including new De-Luxe seats (hard to find and very comfortable) with
Saville Grey leather seat covers and Flint Grey carpets all supplied by Mirror
Trim of Bedfordshire. A new soft top was supplied by Moss of Manchester.
Since the restoration was completed the car has
completed a few hundred shake-down miles and has recently had an oil change but
the vendor advises that it should continue to be used fairly gently for another
few hundred miles before the performance is exploited to the
full.
As you can see in the photos, this rare MGA
Twin-Cam is in wonderful condition throughout and has been starting promptly and
running nicely as we have moved it around on site, with good 60psi oil pressure.
If the new owner has never driven a Twin-Cam
they are in for a real treat and some very satisfying motoring lies ahead - the
standard version just doesn't cut the mustard by comparison!
Consigned by
James Dennison – 07970 309907 – [email protected]