MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - MGA Le Mans Restoration

For sale on eBay. Photos show a well done restoration that's pushing the price envelope. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MG-MGA-LE-MANS-1961-LE-MANS-TOTALLY-RESTORED-ALMOST-NEW_W0QQitemZ4634929204QQcategoryZ80750QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Martin Straka

It's an interesting looking, although over-priced, car. A bit of a contradiction though.

Near the top of the description he says, "THIS CAR HAS A FULL RESTORATION AND IT IS CLOSE TO PERFECT CONDITION".

Later, in the fine print he says, "...is in general older and used and is not perfect and not every flaw can be listed."

I hope he gets his asking price. Then my car, which doesn't have more flaws than I can list, will be worth that much more.
Andy Bounsall

Maybe it is the flaws which make it valuable. If that is the case, I saw an MGA last week wich would be worth Millons!
bill cook

if its the flaws that count then mine priceless.cc
c callaway

A very nice re-creation and appears to have had a lot of nice work done to it, however, and I realize I'm nitpicking here, it is advertised as a 1961 and later corrected by the seller to be a '62, but with a VIN# of 43/21411 it is neither, as this number would put it's production as sometime in '56.

As it is a re-creation,and a nice one, it had to be put together from parts and the VIN tag was likely taken from another car or the body is from a '56.

FWIW,
Clayton
C. Merchant

The MGA was only raced, by the factory, in 1955 using the relatively stock B series engine. That was the year that the Mercedes team had a slight problem with one of their drivers riding over an Austin-Healey and flying off into the crowd. BMC also lost one of the MGAs, driven by Dick Jacobs.

Later, MGAs were raced at Le Mans and Sebring, but under the management of US dealers or private owners. (Although the factory provided assistance, under the counter, in all cases.)

The source for this information is, "The Works MGs) by Mile allison and Peter Browning.

Thus, the car under consideration could not be a "Le Mans Restoration", nor could it be considered a "Le Mans Replica". The Brits have a great heritage of "Replica" cars built to recreate some form of racing car. For this to be a "Le Mans Restoration", it would have had to be one of the original Le Mans cars of 1955. For it to be a "Le Mans Replica", it would have had to have been built to the specification of the original, factory, Le Mans entries of 1955 or to the specification of the Twin Cam that was entered by a privateer later. This does not seem to be the case here.

The modifications, such as the use of the Weber carbs and the cross flow cylinder head, take it firmly out of either the "restoration" or "replica" category. It falls more into the class of a "what might have been" car than anything that was ever raced.

As to the claim of 190 hp, one wonders what has been done to actually prove such a claim. And, if such a claim is true, what has been done to upgrade the braking, transmission, rear end and handling to support such a 200%+ power increase. The factory systems were never designed to handle such power increases for any length of time.

A very pretty car, from the pictures. But, I would prefer to see a much better description of what has been done to the car. As it is right now, we have a number of unsubstantiated opinions about it and a number of things which would be incorrect on a Le Mans car. As a "Recreation" it is a bust. As a "dream car" it might be worth looking at.

Les
Les Bengtson

Thanks Les. You confirmed my doubts. I was looking for my copy of The Works MGs last night but the wife had me doing chores and I ran out of time. I agree the car is attractive but I was doubtful of it's authenticity.
Bill
Bill Boorse

The car is just someone's idea of a neat period-looking car.

It isn't a race car and he doesn't say it has ever raced.

As for his claim to 190 BHP output, I agree that it is about as believeable as his knowledge of what year the car is (do we go by grille type, serial number...)

You would be very hard put to get near that figure with a pushrod engine, and unless he has a car that is totally undrivable on the street, I suggest that he might have 130-140 BHP, which of course is just fine, but not what is claimed.
Bill Spohn

The VIN is not for a MKII. If my research is correct HDR43 would be a 1500 roadster, Old English White, N America Export, Cellulose Laquer Paint. Chassis #21411 would have been built sometime in 1957. Also it has a 1500 master cylinder and drum brakes.
Bill
Bill Boorse

It would be interesting to know the builder's original "vision" for this car. I recall seeing it for sale in CA three or so years ago(at Fantasy Junction, I think, and I still have the full set of photos of it they had on their website). The car subsequently turned up here in ATL and I took a close look at it at one of our local car shows. The metal work is nicely done, but I never understood why a LeMans "re-creation" (if that was the intent) was done with a MKII as the basis (especially when they put drum brakes on the front). I agree with Les that it is more of a "dream" car or "interpretation." I am also under the impression that the car may have gone through a couple of sets of hands since coming to Atlanta, though not sure.
Chris Sloan

Worth also noting that the originals were all right hand drive and British Racing Green.

Steve
Steve Gyles

It was my understanding that there were indeed 5 MGAs at LeMans and one was painted red.

If this was the same car that was at Fantasy Junction, I know that it was an earler car that 62. Nicely turned out. I think it sold in the area of 20k.
skip

Skip, it's the same car. I have pics of the VIN plate taken from the F-J site back when it was for sale that match the ones given in the current ebay ad.
Chris Sloan

Skip

According to my book 4 aluminium bodied cars were prepared for the 1955 race - the EX182 cars. I believe all 4 were driven down to Le Mans but only 3 were raced. I think they were all green, but there again...

The only red car I am aware of at that time (1955)was MBL 867 (Mabel), the Nancy Mitchell works rally car. It still exists and recently raced in the Le Mans 2005 Motoring Legends event before the race proper.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Saw MaBeL run at the Goodwood Revival last fall, as well. I love that car.
Chris Sloan

Steve - i'm sure your correct. Some where I read there were 5 - 4 entered. More homework for me.

I sent an email to the gent selling the car in question asking if this was the Fantasy Junction car sold a few years ago. I copied his reply below...

No sir, this car was built in GA and has had 2 owner since new. juan

humm! this is getting good.
skip

I am afraid he is mistaken. :)
Chris Sloan

Interesting car. The seller says it's a '62 MKII. The serial number says it's a 1500. The front turn signals say 1600 / MKII. The engine compt wiring seems to hint at 1600 or MKII with the turn signal relay missing. The cowls have a badge (1600? 1600 MKII?)which preclude it from being a 1500. The drum brakes would indicate otherwise.

Anything can be done / redone. I wonder if it is a 1500 frame with a MKII body?

An ID tag swap to match the frame is highly illegal in most states I'm familiar with. I know it is done. I would not touch anything but a parts car with this questionable background.

Still...... It shows good craftsmanship. I like it.

Chuck
Chuck Schaefer

On second thought, perhaps it was built in GA, went to CA, then came back, but I don't think so.

Definitely the F-J car, though. The set of digital pics I have on my hard drive has the car presented in front of the red brick wall that they use for a lot of their inventory photos.
Chris Sloan

Gentlemen, I asked him about the car (he wisely did not post my question on the auction).

His somewhat illiterate response is as follows:

"About the mechanics I get the information from the guy who build it. He check the car in a machine to check the HP. We still have the doubt about the year grill and simbols says mark 2 but may be older the thing is the car is a recreation of a racing car but street leagal"

So the 190 BHP is someone's fantasy number. If it is truly streetable, I'd guess it had around 140 BHP.

The guy selling it really has no detailed knowledge of the specifications of the engine build.
Bill Spohn

This thread was discussed between 26/04/2006 and 28/04/2006

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.