I prefer to watch movies at night rather than stretching my mind into a writing assignment, but when this 1959 MGA 1500 showed up for sale on eBay, I had to forego Reacher to highlight this commendable little roadster. Located in Clermont, Florida, the car is bid to $2025 with a buy-it-now at only $6000. The owner sold his property and must move soon; thus the distress sale. I’ve restored two MGAs and had a hand in a third, so the sore spots on these cars come to mind easily: rust; poor panel and bumper fit; dents in the aluminum doors, trunk lid, and bonnet; front-end damage that ruins the all-important “X” embossed into the front pan; missing parts; electrical goblins; cranky fuel delivery. Here’s a straight body on a running car that needs a battery and has a clear title. See if you agree that this car is worth consideration.

The MGA was produced from 1955 through 1962 in three basic series beginning with the 1500. With a 1489 cc in-line four-cylinder paired with two SU carburetors, the engine made 68 hp until it was slightly reconfigured for an output of 72 hp. The 1500 was sold a few months into 1959. Midway through that year, BMC launched the uprated 1600 with a 1588 cc engine; the final series was the Mark II at 1622 cc’s arriving in 1961. This car’s VIN tells us it’s a 1500. The car has an auxiliary oil cooler mounted in the front pan, an optional accessory that became standard equipment toward the end of production. The four-speed manual will have synchro’s on second through fourth.

Yes, we’re all wondering about flood damage since this is a Florida car. Clermont has the lowest possible flood rating, and then there’s this underside photo to attest to its condition. While this is only about one-quarter of the car, I’m not seeing anything too concerning. The gas tank looks like it may have been restored, even the leaf spring is pretty spiffy. The listing includes several body panel photos – no inkling of rust, not even in the channels where the bonnet and boot lid fit. That doesn’t mean the buyer won’t face bodywork, and the paint job is atrocious, but if I can paint an MGA, so can you.

Looks like the owner began to reupholster the seats; another photo shows that the floorboards are in good shape. The dash is homemade; the original is metal. The steering wheel needs restoration and the windshield is missing its frame-to-body gasket. The console sitting between the seats does not belong to an MGA. The trunk contains parts, but I do not see the missing cockpit trim or the convertible top bows. This is a wire wheel car; I prefer steel wheels but wires are the popular option. The bumpers aren’t perfect but they’ll do, and they fit well as does the grille.

Here’s the MGA at home relaxing. I think that’s a hardtop slung above it, in the rafters – who knows what car that belongs to. Speaking of hard tops, those can be had for this car along with scads of other parts. Expertise is everywhere, too – in the form of clubs, forums, and British car restoration shops. I’ll be the first to admit values have declined, but nice 1500 roadsters will still sell between $20k and $30k. Any Barn Finders think this is a worthy winter project?