1960 MG MGA

This 1960 MG MGA roadster was acquired by the seller around 15 years ago and was refurbished and modified as part of a multi-year build. The body was removed from the frame and underwent rust repair before being modified with molded front fenders and door jambs, reshaped bumpers, and integrated taillight bezels prior to a repaint in silver. The interior was fitted with rebuilt bucket seats trimmed in coral leather upholstery as well as a Vintage Air climate control system, a wood-rimmed Nardi steering wheel, and Smiths instrumentation. The powertrain was replaced with a 2.0-liter Ford Duratec inline-four with Cosworth camshafts linked with a Ford T9 five-speed manual gearbox and a Ford 8” rear end. Further modifications include installation of double-wishbone front and triangulated rear suspension with Carrera coilovers as well as Wilwood four-wheel disc brakes, widened 15” Twin Cam-spec wheels, and a Caterham quick-ratio steering rack. This modified MGA is now offered with a removable gray tonneau cover, a soft top frame and side curtains, spare exhaust components, and a clean Missouri title in the seller’s name. The body was removed from the frame and underwent rust repair before being epoxy sealed, primed, and repainted in Lexus Atomic Silver as part of the aforementioned build. The front fenders and door jambs were molded to the body, the lower sills were re-shaped, the windshield frame was cut down by 2”, various body bracings were reinforced, the wheel openings were rolled, MGA Twin Cam-spec louvered panels were installed, and the chrome bumpers, front grille, and headlight and taillight surrounds were modified and integrated into the bodywork. A modified soft top frame and side curtains as well as a removable gray tonneau cover will accompany the vehicle. The 15” Twin Cam-spec steel wheels have been widened and wear Dunlop decals as well as two-ear knockoffs. The Michelin XWX tires measure 185/70 up front and 205/70 out back. The car rides on a double-wishbone front suspension and triangulated rear suspension with Carrera adjustable coilovers at all four corners. Braking is handled by Wilwood four-piston calipers over 12″ cross-drilled rotors, and a Wilwood rear parking brake as well as a quick-ratio Caterham steering rack have been installed. The seller reports that the suspension components have been ceramic-coated. The cabin houses bucket seats that were rebuilt and reupholstered in coral top-grain leather that extends to the upper dash as well as the center console and door panels. The driver-side foot box was widened by approximately 2”, and the floors are lined with brown square-weave wool carpets. A Vintage Air climate control system is installed along with a Tilton pedal assembly equipped with MOMO pedal caps. A wood-rimmed Nardi steering wheel wears an MG center cap and is accompanied by a wood Nardi shift knob. The body-color metal dash houses Smiths instrumentation that includes a GPS-enabled 160-mph speedometer, a 7k-rpm tachometer, and auxiliary gauges as well as an analog clock that is installed in place of the factory speaker grille. The digital odometer indicates 131 miles since the build, and total mileage is unknown. The 2.0-liter Ford Duratec inline-four and engine management system were sourced from Caterham USA, and the engine features dual Cosworth camshafts, according to the seller. A custom firewall was installed, and further modifications consist of an aluminum radiator, a polished air intake and and intake manifold as well as an aluminum fuel tank with an electric pump. A ceramic-coated header flows into a Quiet-Flow stainless-steel exhaust system, and spare exhaust components are included in the sale. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a Ford T9 five-speed manual gearbox that was also sourced from Caterham USA and linked with a narrowed Ford 8″ rear end with 28-spline axle shafts. The frame was modified to accommodate the engine, transmission, and suspension modifications and fitted with metal floor panels in place of the factory wood units before being repainted. Photos from various stages of the build can be seen in the gallery, along with images of the chassis plate taken prior to it being remounted in the engine bay.