INVESTMENT-GRADE MGA, RARE '59 MODEL, GREAT LITTLE DRIVER, 1.6L I4, 4-SPEED!!

1959 MG MGA Description

This 1959 MGA makes a great case for the traditional sports car. Neither fully restored nor completely original, it also provides the perfect opportunity for the guy who would rather be out driving his cars as intended. And with prices suddenly on the move, these cars will not be getting any cheaper any time soon.Bright red is a great choice for any 2-seat roadster, and the MGA wears it well. All-new following the TF, it brought a modern driving experience to the traditional British sports car and cloaked it in slinky bodywork that owes more than a nod to the great Jaguar XK120 of a few years earlier. As I said, this one isn't a trailer queen and it would be a shame to restore it to that level, because these really are wonderful cars to drive. It certainly looks good and offers patina that has to be earned, not reproduced, and even the old car smell will take you back in time. The bodywork is solid so there are no structural issues, and fit and finish are typical '50s British. Details like the grille and trim are clearly original and could benefit from some TLC, but even left as-is, this is a charming car.The MGA's big upgrade is inside, where it's downright spacious compared to its older brothers. Twin buckets are comfortable and supportive enough for sporting driving, and the red piping is a great touch that fits the car's personality perfectly. Newer carpets remain in decent condition, and the door panels are still simple affairs made of cardboard and vinyl, with large map pockets and basic hardware. After all, how are you going to lock a car without windows, anyway? Handsome Jaeger instruments are easy to read and traditionally British in appearance, and that lovely spoked steering wheel needs nothing more than a pair of string-backed driving gloves to be perfect. This car also includes foul-weather gear, including a recent convertible top and side curtains.The motor is not original, but of the period, with a former owner/speed demon electing to slightly upgrade to the 1588 cc I4, coming in at a gentlemanly 78 HP rating. Dressed in a bright red valve cover and dual side-draft carburetors, it has a snarky exhaust note that vintage sports car fans will adore-you'll blip the throttle and hit a downshift just to hear it whenever you go through a tunnel. It shows signs of regular maintenance, and runs extremely well, suggesting that this car has been properly looked-after its entire life. Linked to a 4-speed manual, it provides a wonderfully entertaining driving experience that combines all the senses, which is exactly the point. Brakes are quite good given how light the car is, and the pressed steel road wheels were standard equipment on US models.Perfect examples are pushing $40,000 today, but who wants a perfect one? Take this one out and drive it! Call now.