Lot 116: MG A 1600 FHC

The MGA replaced the Midget/ T Series cars in 1955 and represented a complete and startling styling break . The car was officially launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show of 1955. It was eventually replaced by the MGB in July 1962. Over the intervening 7 years, BMC sold 101,081 examples, the vast majority of which were exported (mainly to America) with only 5869 cars sold on the home market, the highest export percentage for any British manufactured car at that time. The design actually dated back to 1952 when MG designer Syd Enever created a streamlined body for the TD Le Mans car of George Phillips. This racing prototype suffered from having a high seating position, due to the limitations of using the TD chassis. A new chassis was designed for the A, with the side members further apart and the floor attached to the bottom rather than the top of the chassis sections. A prototype was built and shown to the BMC chairman Leonard Lord. It was originally turned down as Lord had just signed a deal with Donald Healey to produce the Austin-Healey. Eventually, falling sales of the traditional MG T Series caused a change of mind and the MGA was back on line. There was also a new engine available so the car did not have the originally intended XPAG unit but was fitted with the BMC corporate B-Series type, which also allowed a lower bonnet line. This very late example of the MGA fixed head coupe was acquired, by the vendor, in May 1990 and is said to have been carefully stored ever since. Regularly MoT tested and serviced, the car has not been used as a driving car, on a daily basis and is offered in excellent order, with an MoT through to September 2010. Finished in Old English White with black interior, the car appears to be predominately original and to original specification. It appears to require nothing more than a new and appreciative owner, who will use it as it was intended. Despite the passage of over 4 decades, the MGA is still a beautiful motor car, offering outstanding value.