Member Gallery – MGA Roadster

1960 MGA 1600 Roadster

This 1960 MGA GHNL 73339 came to me from Indiana about a year ago. She is painted big Healey silver blue, although she was originally iris blue. All the numbers match, but unfortunately I don’t know her history previous to 1981 when the Namgar number was assigned. My daughters have named her “Victoria” but we all call her “Vicky” for short. Vicky starts right up every time and drives smoothly, turning heads along the way. Since we’ve gotten our MGA we’ve discovered 5 other MGA owners living within 3 miles of us! Safety Fast!

I purchased this beauty at the end of October and unfortunately have only had the opportunity to drive it a half dozen times.

The Old Girl Awakened after a 44 year Slumber. In August of 1964 my girlfriend Judy and now my wife of 47 years was looking for a car to commute to college. We found a 1959 Red MGA at a local Chevy Dealership for $1,000. Having a real sports car, we joined a local sports car club. The club put on rallies and field trials (gymkhanas) at local colleges and short tracks. We were hooked. From 1966 to 1970 we ran the MGA in many field trials winning several state championships. Feeling our oats we moved on to hill climbing in PA. In 1971 we decided to retire the MGA using its drive train to power a 1962 TVR. So in 1971 the old MGA was put up on jack stands under a tarp while we raced a Mini Cooper, a Renault in IMSA, a Honda Civic and finally a Trans Am Camaro in SCCA. The MGA was dragged with us during the buying and selling of 4 houses. When we retired in 2005 and moved to our current home in NC, we decided to bring the Old Girl back to her former glory (Actually a lot better!). In 2010 we started the full frame off restoration. How bad (RUSTY) could it be spending its last 39 years on jack stands in the back of the garage under a cover? As we all know under British Vehicle Manufacturing Rules: If you can’t see it, you don’t have to paint it! Our idea was to bring the car back to a 1950s/60s racing style with vintage bomber seats, a cut down wind screen and racing wheels. The car also has some hidden updates like a 5 speed gear box and 4 wheel disc brakes. Several people have asked us if we plan to vintage race her. “No, the “Old Girl” will be used for British Car Shows and getting ice cream on warm summer afternoons.” The car is finished but never done. Anyone who is thinking of restoring an old British car, I say go for it! Take your time, plan ahead and buy parts only as you need them (anyone need 3 alternator brackets?).

This is Bob Muenchausen’s ‘56 MGA roadster. It is basically all original body and frame, running gear and drive train from the clutch back. It was restored minus the original engine which had parted company from the car years before. It has had a 2 liter conversion 3-main MGB engine in it since restored in 1980, and a couple of other modern conscessions; an electronic ignition conversion, a high efficiency radiator, Dayton bolt on Wire wheels. Another attempt to keep ‘em on the road and to enjoy. Bob is a member of the Idaho British Car Club (Boise), The MG Car Club (England), as well as NAMGAR.

A lovely photo of our “Boulder Car” (named by our son when he was 4 years old - we have no idea why) in front of our home in Denver, CO.

I was originally bitten by the MG bug as a kid in High School. A 1956 MGA replaced my ‘56 Chevy and life was never the same again. A bunch of years and a slew of cars have passed since those days but memories of the MGA have never died. Scanning the MG ads on Ebay this past spring produced one that caught my attention: “1960 MGA, red, mint condition”. A little negotiating and a trip out to Long Island, NY and it came to live in our garage. First outing of the season, on the 4th of July, the crankshaft broke leaving us stranded in a lovely little town in Northern, Michigan. What was to be our top down, wind in your hair summer ride spent nearly the entire summer in the shop getting the engine totally rebuilt. Better than new now, we managed one last fall outing before having to put it up for the winter…to the same little town in Northern Michigan. The previous owner did a respectable job of restoring the car including new upholstery, carpet, top, tires, Chariot Red paint, bumpers, etc. This time around, I won’t be so quick to sell it. GHNL91047

Sometimes I can’t believe it’s mine when I see it across a parking lot. The paint was already 17 years old in this shot. I have a deep respect for the fella who shot it. His son did my MGB 10 years later and it’s ready for a re-spray. That kind of experience is priceless.

The first harbingers of spring in Texas….Pink Magnolias in bloom.

Here’s a photo of the car we bought from Jack Kurkowski at GT-24 in Lake Tahoe. You might remember it as his Blue car. He drove it to the meet and then back to my house in St. Louis to drop it off. The car is a great driver and we take it out almost every evening as it is just a blast to drive.

Did some diving in Yap in 1997 bought the plate….been on the MGA ever since

It’s been just over a year now since we bought our ‘60 MGA. The car was about 85% done when we acquired it,but with a very cooperative wife, and with the guidance of local club members, that small task has been a pleasure. I cant begin to tell you all the stories of the fine people I have met since becoming an MG owner, but what I can tell you is that “preservation of the marque” is alive and well in Dallas Texas. My wife decided to name my little turquoise beauty, Winky, after the terrier in the movie “Best in Show”. All the best intentions in the world, mind you… Needless to say, “taking Winky out for a spin” or “..polishing Winky”, are not the easiest things to explain in front of strangers.

Here’s David Schneck and his daughter Jenna in their 1956 MGA. This car is recently back on the road after a 2 year frame off. It still needs upholstery work but in the mean time Dave and his family are having great fun with it. Photo on right was taken about two years later.

This is a 1960 MGA Roadster. The vehicle is owned by Deb Fortin, and thus the license plate reads: “DEBIS A”.

She’s never been “Best in Show” but I love her just the same. I bought this little gem just to play with in 1988. I needed to get back into English. I have owned a Mark 7 Jaguar, XKE series 1 coupe, 1957 MGA, Morris Minor, AC Bristol (Best Car ever built), and raced an H-Modified Crosley special in the 60s. When I needed a sports car fix I went back to the old reliable MGA. I have been restoring as I drive for 17 years. Speaking of “Poetic License” This one says it all, Hawaii plate, 58 MGA. Poetry in Paradise. By the way those are 5.5” Minilite wheels with 215X 65X15s mounted and they fit with plenty of room. No rub in hard corners ever. They are real conversation starters. Everyone expects to find a 289 under the hood.

Here is our 1960 Alamo Beige roadster, NAMGAR register 5029. It was completed on 25 January 1960 and dispatched to “North America”. I found it somewhat forlorn with a “for sale” sign in a gas station outside of Pittsburgh in 1993. The original color was Old English White. When restoration was started in 1995, my wife Suzanne and I couldn’t decide on a color. We weren’t inspired by the original white. I was leaning toward the popular red, but Suzanne said there were already too many red MGAs. (My friend Chuck in Phila. says “There’s a reason for that!”). While attending MG Indy 96, we saw an Alamo Beige roadster and we both agreed on the spot that it would be the color for our MGA. I don’t know who’s car that was on the show field at Indy, but it was an inspiration. I finally finished the car in the spring of 1999. It is a joy to drive since. Hope to see you all at GT 25 in 2000. Don Stewart - Pittsburgh, PA

“Maggie” She has had a complete restoration in 2004. Gary is a member of the Canadian Classic MG Club ( British Columbia ) The MG Car Club ( England ) as well as NAMGAR.

The car sat out in a field for 18 years. It had a Ford Pinto engine and transmission. A frame off restoration was performed, and an MGB 1800 cc engine was installed with racing headers and a Weber downdraft carb. The car was painted a light dove gray with a red leather interior. A burl walnut dash was installed with the original instruments refaced in magnolia white. The car has been entered in eleven shows since completion and has one one third place, one second place and 9 first place awards. Its a ball!!

Shortly after I bought my car, a friend sent me a clipping about a new club devoted to MGA’s. I, of course, joined right away. I bought the car in 1975, drove it home, and started taking it apart. It took ten years for the restoration to be completed. I drove it back home about a week before the annual meet in Connecticut (1985?) I have only driven it about 300 miles per year since. It is a complete body off rebuild. All metal replacements in body and complete engine rebuild - 10 thousandth over on pistons and rings, 10 thousandth on crank. It runs excellent. It started in spring with first turn of key. Body is excellent. Only drawback to complete show quality are unbuffed paint in engine compartment and trunk, and I did not use the best quality carpeting, though they are still in new like condition.

Am attaching a photo of our 1959 MGA. This car was an ebay purchase a little over a year ago. I had seen the car but didn’t know if it would run or was drivable. The paint, body, interior were all in great shape and the tires were new. Other than being covered in dust it looked very nice and I thought if someone went to that much trouble to make it look nice it must be decent mechanically as well. Plus the car was just 4 miles from where we lived. I started watching the bidding and thought it going for a reasonable price so jumped in and started bidding. Of course the price started going up. I finally put a final bid in, turned off the PC and went out to mow the lawn. Returning an hour later I learned I was the high bidder! I also learned the right rear tire was locked up and the batteries were bad. To make a long story short I ended up putting almost as much cost under the car as what I paid for it. It had not top or top frame and no tonneau cover or side curtains. All were purchased new along with the luggage rack and fender mirrors. The car is now a very fun car to drive. We joined NAMGAR on the advice of a friend and am glad we did. MGA! is a terrific magazine and the membership packet included a list of other members in our state.

Joe bought his first MG in 1958 during his Junior year in High School. It was a ‘53 MGTD. He then traded the TD in for a ‘58 MGA in 1962 while serving in the US Army. After getting married and starting a family, he was forced to sell the A for a more practical passenger car, but he never forgot that feeling of driving an MG. In the early seventies he was lucky to find a ‘50 TD that needed a good home and a total restoration. He and Lois did a body off restoration, and upon completion, found it to be an award winner in shows. During that period, Joe also bought a ‘54 TF and ‘48 TC. The present MGA was bought six years ago as a basket case, and after a body off restoration, has been an award winner as well. Joe and Lois once again enjoy those weekend drives along scenic roads and showing off their work at British Car Shows when time permits.

This ‘59 was acquired from the estate of a family member from Ohio. Very solid vehicle from a late 80’s restoration. Other prior history is unknown. Major upgrades to this daily driver are a 5-speed trans, rebuilt, balanced engine with a hotter cam, oil cooler. Great fun running it on track days at BFR in Northern Illinois. My wife, Jan, happily presents the vehicle for your viewing pleasure.

With the sunset over Lake Michigan in the background, the MGA sits in our front yard.

This car has spent the last 37 years on or near the Michigan State University campus. This is a recent photo taken in front of the mascot of MSU.

We purchased this car in January 1995, GHNL83824, 16GA/U/H 15103 , and totally restored it between August 1995 and January 1999, to full original specifications. Kees (my father) first drove an MGA when he lived in Florida in 1974/1975. We drove close to 7000 miles since the restoration and it only seems to run better and better.

500+ HP Supercharged V8 w/5 speed manual transmission. 4 wheel disk brakes, 4 wheel independent suspension. All steel body with steel Turbo Carrera fenders. I’ve owned this car for over 35 years. It is dependable and a kick to drive. If you see me at a meet, ask me for a ride! (If you dare)

This is my MGA GHDK43158, at the 20th University Motors Summer Party in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Our ‘58 MGA has been in the family (and my father’s garage in CA) since 1992. I was 15 years old and he insisted that if I learned to drive the MGA stick shift, I could drive anything. About 10 years ago I told him that whenever he was done with the MG, I wanted to keep it in the family. He spent the past 4 years fully restoring it to perfection, including an upsized 1800cc MGB engine w/ syncro transmission. Last month (Jul ‘13) he shipped it to my home in Austin, TX. This car is a tribute to my father’s lifelong love of MG’s. He has restored multiple TF’s, this MGA, and the one still parked in his garage, the ‘52 Arnolt Bertone Convertible.

Inherited from my father after four years of restoration. He taught me to drive stick shift with this MGA 22 years ago, and I told when he was done with it, I’d like to keep it in the family. It now has a 5-speed syncro transmission and an upsized 1800cc MGB engine.

I purchased the car in Fall of ‘96, GHNL 88844, 16GAU18839, it was restored in the winter of 93-94. As luck would have it the “A” came along at the right time and was in very good shape. These pictures were taken in Spring of ‘97. I’ve been working on little things to get it as close to spec as possible. I’ll leave the non-standard BRG paint job, it fits the car well.

The rescue of MGA occurred on Wednesday, July 5.She was found in a small town in North East Texas, in a ‘workshop’ of a fellow ‘car lover’. However, said car lover didn’t have the time, patience, know-how, or inclination to take care of the poor baby. Boo-Boo was rescued by her present custodian, Melana Gardner (note the initials )- against her (and husband Bill’s) better judgment According to records, said MGA is a 1961 1600 MKI, built in August 1960, delivered with a blue top & tonneau, heater & whitewalls She is now known as ‘Boo-Boo’- for obvious reasons Boo-Boo is now happily housed with two other MG’s- a 939 TB Tickford, and a 1948 TC, formerly a vintage racer. Of the three, Boo Boo is in the best shape- as she actually runs (Ms Tickford is undergoing a frame up restoration, and Racer is a basket case, andawaits being returned to his former glory.) Boo-Boo hashad an all new brake system installed, and a general tune-up, and is now ready to receive a new windshield and seats. She will soon be running like the wind again Alas, poor Boo-Boo will need to take a number and get in the queue for her frame up restoration, estimated to begin in about year 2003 (After Racer). She can’t wait to go to her first official MG Gathering and run with the big dogs Melana Gardner, Keller, TX

We did some slight modifying to the MGA after we bought it. Installed a 1800 B engine and a Ford 5 speed. The car is a blast to drive.

The Roadster was last registered in 1969 and had been sitting in his Father-in-law’s garage since that time. Restored to active duty with the help of several family members, the car sports all original dash gauges and accouterments including an optional Smith heating system and telescopic steering wheel. During the 60’s, it was the primary means of transportation to NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston, where Mike’s Father-in-law was employed. Mike says “now that he’s retired, I can get all the technical consulting necessary for keeping the car running and looking great.”

Norm Carroll’s 1500 1958.

The photo is of my wife, Pam, in uniform as a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, next to our “Coast Guard Blue” MGA at the conclusion of the Bowie, Maryland, Memorial Day parade. I drove the car, also in uniform as a retired Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander, as part of the Asphalt Angels car club contingent. This was the last shot on the roll of film so a photo of me will have to wait.

Your MGA makes a great platform for a Hallowe’en display. I put a creepy looking dummy in mine with spooky music. Kids love it because it is authentic.

Pick up day for the baby in February 2003 block and tackled onto the trailer and off we went. Minus 30 degrees and blowing snow, there was 12 inches in my driveway when we got home after a return trip of 250 miles. Car had sat on four flat tires for three years after a failed restoration.

Purchased in 1965 as second owner. This picture was taken at completion of the frame off restoration in 1991.

I purchased this car around January 1992. It’s chassis number is GHNL91651. The car was a chrome yellow when I purchased it and I have driven it pretty hard - from New Jersey to Indianapolis, Michigan, Minnesota, Canada, Virginia, North Carolina etc. In the fall of 2001 I started the restoration and just recently (May 2003) got it back on the road in it’s new BRG paint job. I will be driving the car to Oregon to GT 28 in just a few short weeks.

That’s me in the photo. Owners: Robert Carr & Holly Bird - Palm Harbor, FL. Chassis Number: GHNL2/109059. Engine Number: 16GC-U-H8847. Build Dates: May 24, 1962 thru June 7, 1962. There were only eleven MGA’s produced after this car. It is currently the last car registered in the NAMGAR membership, and the last certified by the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust.

I purchased my 1956 MGA Roadster just prior to my birthday in 1996. A long and painful restoration was started, and I first drove the car in the summer of 2000. While not perfect, this car is a driver and I drive it whenever I can. Since 2000, I have logged over 15,000 miles in the A. In April of 2004, I drove the car (with luggage trailer in tow) to Arizona from Kentucky. I toured Arizona with an Arizona European Car Club, driving over 1,000 miles in Arizona alone. The round trip totaled over 5,600 miles, and my only delay was one flat tire in Texas! I hope to drive the car to GT-30 in Michigan, then to my new home in Pleasant Grove, Utah.

Photo taken at local car show in Linden, Utah

The first MG was purchased in 1970, it is the 1958 red MGA. The MG was restored over a period of 3 & 1/2 years. The complete restoration was done by my father & I (everything from the engine/trans. rebuild to paint & interior). I was only 14 years of age @ the time of purchase. The MG was driven daily to high school, college & first full time job from April 1st to October 31st for the first 6 years following the restoration.

The 1961 MGA, registration #5694 was purchased for my wife Lynne who got the British sportscar “bug” in 1979. She bought a beautiful ‘76 Spitfire & drove it for several years until we decided to marry & sold it to buy her wedding dress! Her MGA was purchased in June of 1998, the car had been sitting since 1985. The ‘A’ was originally from Paris, France (owned by a movie producer) & brought to Toronto, Canada in the late ‘60’s. I have rebuilt the hydraulics, brakes & fuel lines & it now runs like a clock. The wheels on the car are obviously not original & have to go!

This car is in it’s driver state. The 3rd cylinder stopped firing so I pulled the engine and purchased a rebuilt 1500 engine from a 57 abandoned project. I decided to do a little paint work before installing the rebuilt motor. The minor paint work became, “It would really be a crime to not take this off the frame.” I’m sure you all know that story. I vowed to never disassemble the car because I wanted a driver. Well I drove it for 2 years after a year of hard work. Now on year 3 I am working fast to get this ready for St. Paul. I’ll be bring two novice MGB owners that caught the bug. Cheers, Scott Willis 1959 MGA, 1957 MGA, 1973 Triumph Bonneville

Attached are two photos of my MGA, one with the competition wind screen and one with regular windscreen and top up. I recently converted to wire wheels after 22 years of “thinking” about it. I had first joined NAMGAR back in 1979, thus the low number, and then went dormant until about three years ago. I really enjoy the MGA! Magazine and tips.

This car has always been garaged in Rhode Island. Purchased originally in Seekonk, MA.

Produced in August of 1960. I have always been interested in MGs, first T Series cars, then MGAs. When this car became available, in 1968, I was fortunate to be able to buy it. The car was located in Frankfort, Kentucky with 57,000 original miles. After 34 years of ownership, the current mileage is 125,500. A few years ago, I was able to contact the previous owner and learned that I am the third owner. After some twenty years of ownership, I became more interested in the MGA and it’s history, joined NAMGAR and have attended GTs including the Cavalcade of MGs in Indianapolis in 1996. The car has been well maintained and has undergone body, engine, clutch and transmission restoration, it has rebuilt lever shocks, rebuilt wire wheels by Dayton, new SU carbs, and a simple coolant recovery device, recommended by a NAMGAR member, seems to have cured the “normal” MGA overheating. The MGA now makes its home in South Carolina and seems to enjoy the flat land of the Low Country and I enjoy ten months of top down driving each year. If you are on Hilton Head Island, give me a call.

Several years ago, I started casually looking for an MGA. My search began in earnest while in the UK on business about a year and a half ago. I soon realized that I would have better luck looking here at home in the US; in fact, last fall I actually found my car here, where I live, in Wilton, CT! My “new” 1960 “A” now keeps my wife’s “B” company in the garage out back, and we both drive our MGs whenever we can. (I’ve been an MG fan ever since I bought my first MGB back in 1969, while the “B” that my wife drives is the one that made her an MG fan.) While this MGA was in pretty good shape when I bought it, it still has a little way to go. Working on it keeps me busy - and every once in a while, I ask my wife to “tell me again why I love old British cars!”