1959 MG A 1500 (SOLD)
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A fascinating history, a thorough restoration, an excellent car, and one of the best we have ever had.
The story: owned since new in Arizona. A soldier at Ft. Huacha (spelling?) left for Vietnam, never came back. Back in 1973. Car was in storage until 2004 when it was purchased by a friend of our's who brought the car east and found the following: odometer showed 19,000 miles. When the engine was disassembled, had never been touched internally, all original inside, original MOWOG pistons, standard bore and crank. With no appreciable internal wear and no need to bore the cylinders of cut the crank. Quite amazing for ANY 51 year old car. But not surprising IF the 19,000 mile history is accurate.
The engine rebuild was very complete...new pistons, high output oil pump, new water pump, completely redone head with hardened (lead free) valve seats, new valves, springs, guides, retainers, new main and rod bearings, new clutch, etc SU carbs rebuilt (new gaskets, cork seals, etc.), new original type air cleaners fitted.
Trans was excellent, diff recently disassembled, cleaned and rebuilt
Body removed from the chassis which was then sandblasted and enameled. Body was very good but there was some corrosion, hence new inner and outer rocker panels. As this restoration started in 2004 and was only recently finished, paint was done in 2008....still very nice as the car has only see 200 road miles since the work was finished. By the time we finish wet sanding and buffing the paint, it will be in show condition.
New interior, seats, carpets, top, tonneau, side curtains, all gauges new or rebuilt, new wiirng, all new electrics, rebuilt brakes, completely rebuilt suspension and front end, new frotn and rear springs, new fuel tank, fuel pump, sender.............
Continuing......new windshield, 6v batteries (a temporary 12v in the trunk), new battery boxes welded on the chassis (had corroded from the original batteries), all rebuilt shocks, most of the chrome is new, Lucas driving lights on the original style brackets, premium chrome luggage rack, not much in this car is not new or rebuilt. Even a new radiator with a modern shroud to increase efficiency of the fan. Wind wings, new seat belts, painted/detailed trunk, new exhaust system. LOTS of small things. Even new voltage regulator, turn signal control box, starter switch, coil, fuse box, etc.
A gorgeous MGA that should be ready for another 51 years of reliable service. And while the 19,000 original miles cannot be verified, the all standard (never bored, crank never cut down) engine does offer some validity, and in the end, who cares as most of this car is 'like new.'
A rare opportunity to purchase a thoroughly rebuilt and restored MGA at a faction of the cost of restoring one from scratch.
