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MGA MGA ART on WHEELS

texas_bugeye

Jedi Knight
Offline
Ok I went to an all english car show with my humble presentable little bugeye. Met some nice people and saw some great cars. And then there it was what Has to be the prettiest
LBC.An MGA man that car has the nicest lines I have ever seen There appears to be no right angle body lines on it anywhere it just flows in to endless curves, closed loops geez that is so cool. Sort of like a big bother to the bugeye So I have the Itch to find one my question is what should I expect in the line of cost.
1 A basket
2 a roller
3 Driver
4 Restorded
are parts inline with other MG's?

Go ahead I'm sitting hit me!!
 
I can't argue with your assessment of the car. I felt the same way the first time I saw one, and today I'm a proud owner. It's a great car to take through the hills on a warm, sunny day. Handling is about on par with MGB, although power is a bit less.

As for price, a basket case can be had for a $2-4K, depending on how bad it is. A museum car will bring in around $30K. A solid driver with a few blemishes (your average MGA on the road today) is probably worth around $18-20K. Finding a solid and reliable MGA that isn't restored is nearly impossible these days, but if you get lucky, one like this would be worth about $12K.

Mechanical parts are basically the same cost (and sometimes the same basic part) as early MGB. MGA-specific items will cost a bit more, but still reasonable compared to many other classics.
 
Still my favorite Car....Had my red one since I was 14, and we were lucky enough to find a very solid unrestored driver in 98 for a very good price that is now my wifes daily driver from april through november....When taken care of an maintained it's more reliable than my modern vehicles. Earlier today it had a bit of a run in with a ford expedition in a walmart parking lot...rear bumper is toast, but no other damage! :smile:

Steve is pretty accurate with the prices...If your really serious about getting one I'd do it fast, recently they seem to be become more and more popular, especially since alot of the higher end lbc get outta reach(big healey's)
 
As with anything else pay particular attention to rust.

IMHO, the panel replacement on them is a bit more tedious then most other LBC's.
 
But Pat! It's compensated for with wood floorboards! All ya need is a jigsaw. :devilgrin:
 
texas_bugeye,

Five years ago I spent $4,500 on my 'project' 57 A... I owned one back in the 60s (the picture to the left) and always loved the lines....


MGA%201.jpg



It now looks like this.... after 5 years and many $K....

smaller%20front.JPG


SIMON... ONE OF THESE DAYS... I will come over and check it out...
 
texas_bugeye,

I would, in any other circumstance, suggest a driver that you can drive while restoring...

However, based upon my recent experience, any MGA that you buy will probably need a major restoration anyway unless you buy one at the top end of the price range so accurately articulated by others....

That, as they say, is my two cents worth....
 
I fear I will have to just enjoy the ones I see at shows for now as the time needed to sort one out is just not in the cards now. However A freind in MPLS who hordes anything british says he will part with a convertable 57 when I'm ready. now thats a freind!! maybe in a year I'll have the space and time. Its tucked away next to a Thames delivery
and a Hillman heck it will take a month of sundays to get to the darn thing!I have been in that buliding a dozen times looking for cortina ansd sprite stuff and never even saw it!
 
Here is our two MGA's...The red 58, owned since 1970...Hardly ever driven anymore.

And the 61 MGA, owned in 98...daily driver/beater...very original and solid, needs paint bad...Handles more crap than my moderen vehicles and is just as, if not more, reliable.

284243_28_full.jpg



284243_20_full.jpg
 
R6MGS,

Very nice stable.... The red puppy looks too good to be true... Makes me sorry I painted mine black... and the white one is eye-candy....

There is just something very pure about driving an A or an early B..... But then, I like driving go-karts too.... :wink:
 
Thanks for the compliments.....The white one is more like and eye sore up close though :wink:

I don't mind driving go-karts at all, can't wait to get my 'new' europa drivable to see how it compares.
 
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