The MGA – A brief histo ry
Launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in late 1954, the MGA took over from the MG TF Midget for the following model year. Styling was totally different from earlier models offered by MG and production would continue until the MGB came on stream in 1962.
The design was first conceived in 1951 when MG designer Syd Enever created a streamlined body to compete at Le Mans. After several alterations to the design, the board gave their go-ahead and the MGA was born. The new MG was also given a new engine, one that allowed a lower bonnet line. The power unit was the B- Series inline-four that had previously appeared in the MG Magnette saloon and powered the MGA’s live rear axle through a fourspeed gearbox.
The MGA's independent front suspension comprised of double wishbones (with a lever arm shock absorber making up the upper link) and at the rear a rigid rear axle was mounted on semi- elliptic springs. Steering was by rack and pinion and Lockheed produced the MGA’s hydraulic drum brakes. MG’s new sports car was available with either wire-spoked or steel- disc road wheels fitted with decorative chrome hubcaps.
The first model to be introduced was the roadster and this was followed in 1956 by the coupé. The 1489cc engine was equipped with twin H4 type SU carburettors and the unit initially delivered 68hp but this was soon uprated to 72hp. Early road tests indicated a top speed of 97.8mph, with a 0- 60 mph time of 16.0 seconds. Fuel consumption was logged at 26.7mpg and the initial price of the roadster was £844, including taxes.
MG expanded the range in 1958 with the launch of the high-performance Twin-Cam model. This used a high and later low compression version of the B-Series engine fitted with a specially developed cylinder head. These cars were also equipped with Dunlop disc brakes and special steel wheels, as well as a twin-cam logo. Unfortunately the twin-cam engine developed a poor reputation for reliability and just over 2000 examples were built before Twin-Cam MGA production came to an end in April 1960.
In May 1959 the standard model received an upgrade when it was renamed the 1600. Performance from the new model’s enlarged 1588cc B-Series engine was now up to 79.5bhp and minor styling differences were made depending on the market. The 1600 Deluxe version appeared the following year and used some of the special wheels and four-wheel disc brakes left over from the Twin- Cam.
The 'A received one last makeover before the end of its production run and the Mk II and Mark II Deluxe were introduced in 1961. The engine size was uprated to 1622cc by increasing the bore from 75.4mm to 76.2mm and the cylinder head was also given larger valves and revised combustion chambers.
These changes provided an increase in power to 90bhp. The MGA’s rear axle was also tweaked to a higher ratio of 4:1, while external changes included an inset grille and the addition of Mini tail lamps.
Most MGAs were exported during the car’s seven year run and only 5869 cars were sold on the home market. (More than 80,000 went to the USA.) This was the lowest percentage of any British car to stay at home and by the time production ended in July 1962 a total of 101,082 MGA of all variants had rolled off the assembly line.