52 Years of Entombment: 1959 MGA 1600
When MG went from their full-fendered but charming MG TF to the gorgeous but more modern MGA, the difference was striking. Decades later, enthusiasts are still on the hunt for a solid example to drive and enjoy. If you are looking for a relatively nice starting point for an MGA restoration or a solid car with gobs of patina, then take a gander at this 1959 MGA 1600 Roadster for sale on Craigslist in Jersey Shore, New Jersey. The asking price for this relatively solid little sportscar is $7,800. It is said to be close to being drivable by the seller and is relatively free of rust. Is this a car to fix as you go, or a good candidate for restoration? Thanks to Mitchell G. for the tip!
One of our pet peeves here on Barn Finds is how ads are written. It seems that few ads are written with an eye toward clarity and thorough documentation of the vehicle being offered for sale. This is especially frustrating when it comes to Craigslist ads. On that particular forum, the seller has almost unlimited space for pictures and a concise description of the vehicle. The seller in this case has done an admirable job posting photographs of the car and its problem areas. The description, however, needs one of those Star Trek universal translators to decipher.
We are told that the seller is quite knowledgeable about these cars, and digging into the description proves that to be true. It is the back story, however, that is most interesting. This 1959 MGA shared a basement with a 1957 model for a remarkable 52 years before being rediscovered. As it sits, the car has 42,568 miles on the odometer. While it is impossible to know if that is the true mileage, the seller tells us that they are close to getting this car back on the road.
According to the ad, there is rust yet to be dealt with in the car. The area under the bottom of the trunk lid (or boot in English talk) currently shows corrosion bubbling up under the paint. We can also see some rust in the third picture, which highlights the rear-end area. The seller gladly tells us that this car has no rust behind the bumpers either. We are also advised that the chrome is good with no pitting. That alone can save you thousands.
The two pictures above reveal why the long period of being confined to a basement was a good thing for this car. If you are going to have rust in a convertible, it is going to be in the floors and the trunk. While I do have a few questions about what I see in the cockpit photo, there appears to be nothing that would prevent you from driving and enjoying this car with its current patina proudly displayed.
Mechanically, the car is one of the standard 1,600 CC inline-four models and not one of the rarer twin-cam engines. Before feeling sad about a lack of horsepower, this is pretty much the same engine that soldiered on in the MGB series. There are plenty of speed parts for these engines up to and including a supercharger that you can get from Moss. If you built up a stout four-banger and added a modern manual transmission to take advantage of the power band for such an engine, then I think you might surprise a few folks. Before you get there, you will need to clean out the fuel system and braking system. The seller has kindly furnished a new set of tires and the carburetors have already been rebuilt.
In all, this is a nice MGA with a lot of potential. While the asking price may not end up the selling price, where else can you find one that has been stored indoors for so long?
Would you restore this MGA or drive it as-is? Do you see any flaws that might be deal breakers? Please share your thoughts and opinions in the comments.
Auctions Ending Soon
2006 Ford Mustang Saleen S281 SCBid Now1 days$15,000
2002 Subaru Impreza WRXBid Now4 days$100
1975 Chevrolet Corvette ConvertibleBid Now4 days$3,000
1964 Ford F-100 Camper CustomBid Now4 days$500
2006 Jeep Wrangler SportBid Now6 days$4,000
Comments
As mentioned, the MGA was a radical departure from the spindly T series, and my math tells me, it was stored in 1971, so what, 12 years of driving, and racked up a lot more than 40K. The underside tells the story. Rust, leaking rear axle, and wheel seals, well worn interior, this car has mileage in excess of its speedos mechanical limits. Bondoed and painted along the way, it’s clear, it was someones baby, and they couldn’t part with it, so it sat, until now. The steam has fizzled on British roadsters, if the Midget posts tell us anything, and less and less people will want something like this. A shame, fun cars for a different time, and the MGA was best you could get.
This is a 1500 not a 1600 as it has none of the 1600’s features (different taillights, parking lights, no 1600 badging, etc.). A 1600 engine could have been swapped in, though the ad makes no mention of that, but that wouldn’t make it a 1600 without the other 1600 features including front disc brakes.
Also serious wear on the pedal rubbers especially the clutch. Maybe 140K miles?? Replacement sheet metal floors.
MGA floors are plywood.
This would be a good project for Michelle. It would bring back a bunch of good memories.
He talks a lot about the engine… and not a single picture of it.
I know reading ads can be challenging, but I find the Facebook marketplace ads to generally be the worst with little or no description of the car being sold.
This MGA looks like a good get it going and enjoy it project. It is generally much easier (cheaper and faster) to get a car running than to make it all pretty. And if you make it pretty you then have to worry a lot more about the things that make it unpretty.
I would certainly take a lot closer look at the structure and rust before buying it or driving it. Some of those undercar pictures look pretty crusty.
i just have to put my 2cent in.tail lites change was 60 ,did any one read numbers matching car ? car was titled as a 59 , rockers only rust and no bondo on any part of those wings . crusty to the eye on a picture not as bad as pic shows . as stated ,IT WAS A SOLID LITTLE BUGGER TILL 10 MINUTES AGO, SOLD FOR LISTED PRICE ,YES I SHOULD HAD DONE A BETTER JOB SHAME ON ME , ITS SOLD
For what ever it’s worth , I think that’s a more than fair price for one of the most attractive “affordable” cars ever made. Dad had a 58 (?) Coupe in the mid 80s sold her just shy of my being old enough to drive. Would love to have one
The taillight change came with the change to the 1600 engine, not the 1960 model year. There are 1600s registered as ’59s because the 1600 was introduced in May 1959, but most ’59s are 1500s. Good that your car sold, but it’s a 1500 not a 1600.
“It is said to be close to being drivable by the seller and is relatively free of rust”. Relatively free of rust??
The undercarriage is full of it and the trunk pan has the tin worm chomping at it. Relatively speaking….I think not.
mr. tiger66 ,then why is the big number 1600 on block??& learn your tail lites 55 up to 59 same 60 was the change .1600cc had zip to do with it .this is a very early addition ,no hard feelings, if i put the next one up you all hub cap polishers will have a field day ,
You are incorrect, sir. Your car obviously had an engine swap.