MG Sports Cars

engine swaps and other performance upgrades, plus "factory" and Costello V8s

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88v8
Ivor Duarte
Gloucestershire UK
(1050 posts)

Registered:
02/11/2010 04:29AM

Main British Car:
1974 Land Rover Lightweight V8

Once there was a 59 MGA
Posted by: 88v8
Date: August 24, 2022 10:10AM

And then someone who thought the world needed another Cobra started an ambitious project involving a 283 and a lot of bodywork... until like so many projects, it ran out of puff.

MGA 283.jpg

Did it ever run with this drive train? I'd guess it did, so maybe it's just the body mods that ran it aground.

MGA 283.1.jpg

Anyway, waiting in San Francisco for its prince charming, yours for an ambitious $5,000 obo on CL.
[sfbay.craigslist.org]

Ivor


40indianss
don foote

(83 posts)

Registered:
08/01/2013 04:35PM

Main British Car:


Re: Once there was a 59 MGA
Posted by: 40indianss
Date: August 25, 2022 01:22AM

Ruined what could have become a mga restoration or restorod. Not even worth$1000. Want a cobra…buy a kit


BWA


(345 posts)

Registered:
04/13/2010 08:13PM

Main British Car:


Re: Once there was a 59 MGA
Posted by: BWA
Date: August 25, 2022 10:11PM

All is not lost if the right person buys it and finishes it.
Check out this video of a heavily modified TR3.

[www.youtube.com]

Yes it is a shame that cars get butchered and left to rot away in someones garage or back yard.
I hope someone buys this and puts it on the road.

That TR3 eventually was sold on BAT

[bringatrailer.com]

Byron


BlownMGB-V8
Jim Blackwood
9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042
(6507 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 12:59PM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS

authors avatar
Re: Once there was a 59 MGA
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: August 26, 2022 10:30AM

The nose could be restored to MGA, the flares could stay. The engine conversion, if well done could be a plus.

Unquestionably the MGB is a better car than the AC Ace (Cobra). The A is better in some ways and not in others, as they were direct contemporaries. I personally think it's a mistake to try to make a Cobra out of an A but I can understand the attraction. It seems more of a short term infatuation to me which helps explain the unfinished projects.

I think it could make a rather attractive car with the MGA nose restored. Considering what A's are going for these days it could be a steal. Or it could just be another project that never gets done. That mostly depends on how well the engine conversion was done.

Jim


88v8
Ivor Duarte
Gloucestershire UK
(1050 posts)

Registered:
02/11/2010 04:29AM

Main British Car:
1974 Land Rover Lightweight V8

Re: Once there was a 59 MGA
Posted by: 88v8
Date: August 28, 2022 04:36AM

Well I would guess that it was all done and running, once.
Then it was prepped for paint and primed, then it sat.

The current seller got it going, see that plastic fuel pipe zipped to the dynamo, then decided it was too much work. My guess.

As you say, it's a maybe.
Maybe worth a phone call.

Ivor


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