1962 MG MGA 1600 MK II Roadster
The MGA is a sports car that was produced by MG from 1955 until 1962.
The MGA replaced the MG TF 1500 Midget and represented a complete styling break from MG’s earlier sports cars. Announced on 26 September 1955 the car was officially launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show. A total of 101,081 units were marketed through the end of production in July 1962, the vast majority of which were exported. 5869 cars were sold on the home market, and the MGA was replaced by the MGB.
In May 1959 the standard cars also received an updated engine, now at 1588 cc producing 79.5 bhp (59 kW; 81 PS) . At the front disc brakes were fitted, but drums remained in the rear.
31,501 were produced in less than three years.
Externally the car is very similar to the 1500 with differences including: amber or white (depending on market) front turn indicators shared with white parking lamps, separate stop/tail and turn lamps in the rear, and 1600 badging on the boot and the cowl.
A number of 1600 De Luxe versions were produced with leftover special wheels and four-wheel disc brakes of the departed Twin-Cam, or using complete modified Twin-cam chassis left redundant by the discontinuance of that model. Seventy roadsters and 12 coupés were built.
Initially, power came from the 1489cc BMC ‘B’ Series engine with twin SU carbs and 68bhp which was soon uprated to 72bhp. In 1958 the MGA 1600 was launched – a high-performance twin cam version with a high compression ratio aluminium head, capacity of 1588cc producing 108bhp and fitted with Dunlop disc brakes all round. Reliability issues plagued the Twin Cam and sales quickly dwindled. A lower compression engine was launched but it was too late and Twin Cam production was ended after just 2 years with just 2,111 examples produced.
Today the car is still presented in its original colours of Iris Blue with black interior and hood. We would describe the car as being in very honest condition cosmetically and on the button mechanically. There are shinier and more restored cars on the market but for a proper enthusiast who cares as much about the history and provenance of a car and wants to continue the fascinating and well documented journey of this MGA into the future, this really is the one to have.
The Mark II was the final iteration of the MGA, and it remains a desirable model among collectors today; this 1962 example is no exception. A beautifully presented vehicle throughout, it is among the last built in the final year of production. This is an excellent opportunity to purchase an iconic British sports car, one to show and enjoy.
