1 owner 23k miles recently elevated to the status of rolling artistic sculpture.

1958 MG MGA Show quality restoration with attention to detail Description

Up for sale is 1958 MG MGA Roadster with 23k original miles has been recently elevated to the status of rolling artistic sculpture. This MG was a time capsule that has been correctly restored to near perfect cosmetic condition, with “Safety Fast” like new drivability.

I acquired this MGA near my home, which was one family owned and it was amazingly won in a raffle at a local department store in North Texas in 1958. The car’s original owner conserved this MG by keeping it in dry covered storage in a local garage for the last 60 years and it just came out of hibernation to an exciting new rebirth.

I am a firm believer in letting the buyer know everything about the car and not just letting the photos do all the talking, so if you are interested in this very special MGA’s, very deep, detailed description, provenance and restoration history read on!

A summary of this MGA:

This MGA is a North Texas car with, one repaint and is in excellent condition with extremely low mileage. The original drivetrain has been gone through thoroughly with the head recently rebuilt with the new type valve seals of modern gas. This MG has had no accidents or rust, always garaged kept and never seeing rain, ice, snow, road salt or the sun.

In 2017 this MGA received a ground up frame on restoration on a previous drivetrain and mechanical restoration in 2012 and an extensive professional restoration in 2003. The only modification to the factory look of the car is a set of highly functional vintage rear view mirrors and a new black leather steering wheel (The original steering wheel and original type new Lucas mirrors are included with the car.) that is smaller in diameter, to allow for heavy set, 6 foot plus person to fit into the seat and drive it safe and comfortably.

A lot of time and money was spent on these restorations and it has been in a continuing state of an attention to detail work including many upgrades and refinements since I have acquired it. All of the MG's surfaces are all extremely clean and groomed with highly a highly polished to a mirror like exterior finishes. The wood, leather, vinyl, cloth, carpet, chrome, steel, aluminum, brass, copper, glass, plastic, rubber and painted finishes are all near flawless. The exterior fit and finish are all in good alignment. The interior is stunning with newly restored door and interior cards and new black carpet. It also comes with a new black convertible top, new side curtains, new black Tonneau cover, new wire wheels with new knock off and new tires and all new exterior rubber.

All parts on the car are either new, rebuilt or restored to a very high standard of quality, executed with incredible workmanship, performed by an enthusiastwith many years of experience with the make. Every item on the car is working correctly including all the electrical. The car drives out like new.

All the chrome is original to the car and still looks great; it has a nice single stage black enamel paint job that provides mirror like reflections at every angle. The surface quality also extends to the engine compartment, underside of the car. All the painted finishes are correct matches of the original factory correct color palate and all the cars replacement parts are exact copies of the original.

In 2003 the car received its first restoration with mechanicals update, new paint and interior. In 2012 the MGA received a full mechanical systems restoration. Both restoration were performed by British Auto Specialists Inc. (www.britauto.net) In 2017 under my supervision this MGA received a very complete body on restoration with a sharp eye on conserving the factory originality, period correctness, reliability, drivability and perfection of the material finishes. I have personally invested 500+ hours into the car.

The car has no accident history and is all original, including the body panels, frame, undercarriage, trunk, the wood floor’s mounting point are all totally rust free and with low to no filler from its first re-paint.

The car starts right up and runs strong all day, it is great handling, very smooth acceleration and perfect brakes, it drives and feels and smells likenew. This MGA is currently inshow quality condition and will win trophies at the local car shows and gets attention everywhere it goes and it presence will make you very happy, by gracing your garage.

Due to the 24 image limit in the listing, I have video and other photographs of the car upon request. You just need to send me your request and your email address and I will get them to you quickly. You can also call Brad at 972-207-1115 anytime with requests.

This MG’s Provenance:

This is a one family owned MGA which was passed from father to son and then to grandson. It has always been loved, cherished and pampered.

Star Telegram Newspaper clipping: On Friday June 6th 1958 David G. Pulliam wins a Sports Car through the Pedwin Shoe contest, beating the odds of over 20,000 entries and receiving his new 1958 MG MGA through Lenard’s Department Store in Burleson Texas.

I believe the cars transacting was originally handled by Overseas Motors in Dallas TX. I was told by the family that the car has 23,022 original miles. The MG was driven by Mr. Puliam for about 2 years after he acquired it and then was stored and covered in his parent’s garage for the next 40+ years; While Mr. Puliam went to college and had a career in the Airforce as a fighter pilot during the Vietnam War era. He returned home to settle down and started a family, had 3 kids and a professional career later in life.

The car was stored out of the sun and rain in his parents Burleson Texas’s homes garage in the perfect climate which in turn became a time capsule for this MG. I was told that Mr. Puliam’s Uncle maintained the car for many years while the car was being stored. He would start the MGA on regular bases and drive it around the block every few months in the winter to keep it in working correctly, then during the warmer months he would clean it and occasionally drive it on the weekends throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s,keeping it from deteriorating.

Mr. Puliam finally had a chance to un-pickled the car in the 1990’s when he was entering his retirement years and then drove it in its original unrestored condition for a while then giving the car to his son in 2001, now a very successful business owner and able to give the car the attention it deserved. In 2003 Mr. Puliam’s son performed a very complete restoration on the MG, giving it a new lease on life, with mechanical enhancements, new paint and interior, then only driving it on rare very occasions. He then gave the car to his son (the grandson) in 2012; with about $15,000 of additional of professional restoration work, so it could be driven reliably with style and flair. It then sat in cosmetically good and drivable condition, while he went to college until early 2017, when I acquired it. I purchased the MG from the Grandson and picked the car up at the son’s multi-million dollar waterfront estate that was located north of Ft. Worth Texas and quickly began to restore the car to show quality for the convertible season.

The cars numbers:

This 1958 MGA roadster is all numbers matching and has only 23k original miles since new. This was always a wire wheel car that was built in December of 1957 and still has its original engine and gearbox (Chassis # HDA43 43728, Engine # 15GB-U-H-33874, Body # 53483).

The long list of NEW, RESTORED and CORRECT parts used in the restoration:

• New and restored screws, bolts, washes,

• New gas tank

• New gas tank sending unit

• New gas fuller hose and clamps

• New fuel lines

• New gas filter line and clamps

• New fuel pump

• New radiator,

• New hoses and clamps

• New thermostat

• New water pump

• Newly rebuilt head

• New cam

• New valve springs

• New valve guides

• New valves

• New valve cover gasket

• Newly restored valve cover

• New chrome oil cap for valve cover.

• New head studs

• New modern valve seats for modern gas

• Newly adjusted valves

• New clutch

• New presser plate

• New throughout bearing

• New fan belt

• Newly restored engine compartment

• Newly restored heater box

• New correct 4 inch heater and carburetor hoses and clamps

• New water valve and hoses

• New fuel and oil filters

• New motor mounts

• New axle straps

• Newly restored and painted oil pan with new oil pan gasket

• New gaskets all through the engine

• New and fresh antifreeze, gear oil, motor oil

• New thermostat

• New thermostat with polished aluminum housing

• New lubed all 20+ fittings

• New spark plugs,

• New plug wires/distributor cap,

• New rotor, points, condenser

• New battery

• New battery tray

• New battery mounting cage

• New battery hold down bracket

• Newly rebuilt carburetors

• New air filters

• New air filter mounting gaskets

• New chrome oil cap and valve cover gasket

• Newly restored exhaust system with nice muffler and chrome tip

• New starter

• New generator

• New flasher

• Newly rebuilt Tach

• New turn signal switch

• New wheel bearings

• New axel seals

• New brake lines

• New brake master cylinder

• New brake slave cylinder

• New brakes pads

• Newly adjusted shoe brakes and parking brake

• Newly rebuilt front rack with new boots

• New tie rod ends

• New king pins

• Newly restored Armstrong shocks at all four corners w/new fluid

• Newly refurbished springs

• New rubber suspension Snubber's

• Newly restored leaf springs

• Newly restored rear end with exposed aluminum case

• Newly restored and painted undercarriage, frame and suspension

• New wire wheels - 4 each

• New vintage look radials tires

• New 4 ea. chrome wire wheel spinners

• New rear wheel well splash panel

• New chrome bits throughout the car

• New vintage wiper blades

• New speedometer cable

• New lighting switch

• New high quality black felt door seals and new chrome caps

• New steering wheel (the nice original banjo type is included)

• New antenna (no radio is included with the car)

• New rubber grummets on firewall

• New rubber bonnet pads

• New washer bottle

• New carpet in interior

• New body to bumper rubber body seals

• Newly restored rear view mirror

• New rubber, break, clutch and accelerator pedal pads

• New rubber door seals

• New rubber door impact cushions

• New rubber trunk seal

• New rubber mounting body seal for the grille

• New rubber wind screen seals

• New rubber mounting kits for all 4 exterior lights

• New rubber sealsfor the bumpers

• New chrome headlight retainer rings

• Newly painted interior and floors

• New package tray, battery cover with quick disconnect fittings

• New carpet in trunk including spare tire cover with body seal

• New interior under the carpet and floors

• Newly restored parking brake system

• Newly restored seats, seat hardware

• Newly restored interior panels and door cards,

• Newly replace all rubber on the exterior of the MG

• Newly restored convertible top structure

• New black convertible Top (not installed on frame)

• New trunk tool bag holding belts

• New tool kit bag

• New full Tonneau cover with a rain or screen inserts option (black)

• New side curtains with paper still on Plexiglas

• Newly restored under dash area

• New rubber brake, clutch and acceleration rubber peddle pads

• New exterior mirror (a correct pair are with the MG but not installed)

Note: Most of these parts are from Moss Motors and a few other British parts house and represent items placed on the car within the last 100 miles that car has been driven

Items included with the sale:

• The original MGA banjo type steering wheel in good shape

• 8 keys with 2 new MG logo fobs

• A clean car cover

• A big box of spare and used parts

• The original restored jack handle mounted in the clips above spare

• The original MG jack,

• Nice wire wheel and spare tire with hold down

• A wheel chalk

• Original lead tipped antique mallet to remove spinners

• Antique red hand tire pump

• Original manual starting rod handle

• Large roll of antique English tools with spanner and wrenches and more

• 2 round Lucas type side view mirrors typically attached to the wind screen or forward fenders (not installed)

• Beautiful new convertible top in the box, (never used, 30 min EZ install to the frame)

• New side curtains never used with manufacturers paper film over the clear plastic, so no scratches

• Beautiful black full Tonneau cover with rain or screen insert

• Fire Extinguisher mounted behind passenger seat

• The original 1958 Texas Black license plates that If you live in Texas can be used on the car

• Large group of records including receipts newspaper articles on the car and the original owner's manual

• Work shop manuals

• Euro style black front license plate that reads “1958 MG MGA”

• A SCCA Knock off medallion mounted on the license plate.

• A US 1959 Indian Head Buffalo nickel found in the car during restoration and now mounted on the dash as a good luck piece

The Engine:

The engine area has a near concurs level restoration with a jewel like quality. All the surfaces are freshly painted and restored to like new. The1500CC engine is all stock and numbers matching and was professionally refurbished in 2011. The lower half of the motor is original, but the whole engine was gone through. The head were rebuilt with all new products and has the correct seals for modern premium gas with a 9 to 1 compression ratio. The engines static compression ratio is 125 pounds across each cylinder. I just re-adjusted the valves and the engine runs silky smooth, the 12V battery is new and charging system works fine.

The engines oiling system was also enhanced with a better designed oil pump. The oil gauge reads 65 PSI when cold and 60PSI when at normal operating temperature and RPM. The crank received the modern Scroll Seal from Moss Motors, so it is not a bad oil leaker. It still will leak a small amount oil, but not when the engine is running.

The carburetors were just rebuilt and have nice black and chrome carburetor cleaners. The generator and the voltage regulator were recently re-manufactured, new Lucas starter and new fuel pump. The car is still running the stock point system that I just replaced along with spark plugs, cap with wires, cap and rotor and coil.

The radiator is new and engine has been flushed and all hoses replaced, along with a new water pump, thermostat, thermostat housing and belt. Engine runs cool with no overheating at all. To complete the engines show quality appearance, the engine is freshly painted MG red engine paint. All the correct hoses, original type fan belt used. The engine has beautiful aluminum components, brass fittings, bolts, washers, hardware, copper pipes, all with polished patinas.

The Transmission and Rear-end:

The transmission has no issues and no tendency to come out of gear under acceleration. All the gears are lapped In perfectly and you get flawless shifts every time and in it makes a beautiful humming sound, The transmission has an all new clutch, pressure plate; throw out bearing, new gear oil and no leaks. The rear end carrier gasket was replaced and recently repainted leaving the carrier in exposed aluminum and now has no gear oil leaks.

Undercarriage:

The metal that holds wooden floors to the frame are original as well as the wood floors and all are in excellent condition. The outer sills, wheel wells and frame are all in perfect repainted restored condition. The outermost edges of the undercarriage are perfect alignment showing no past damage. The underside of the MG looks like a new car at near Concurs level. The battery boxes are still intact with the one that holds the battery is new.

Suspension, Steering and Braking:

The cars steering and suspension is all new and rebuilt. It feels good in the corners and at freeway speeds. The suspension has no excessive movement or unwanted noises or rattles it is all tight, drives straight and brakes straight. This MG also has brand new wirewheels with new vintage look radials tires, new tubs and new knockoffs that are perfectly balancedand would cost asmall fortune to acquire them. The original shoe brake system is all newand was recently adjusted. I just lubed and adjusted the fly away emergency brake system.

The Lucas Electricals:

The cars wiring is original and in very good shape, it has shown no past issues with overheating or melting. All the electrical items and the car are working correctly including the heater fan, wipers, horn, turn signals, brake lights, head lights and high beam switch, the map light, wind screen washers, switches and pulls, all dash instruments and the lighting inside and out, starter, regulator, generator and fuse box work correctly

Exterior Body:

This is a North Texas car that has rarely left the garage in the last 60 years. It has never seen rain or salted roads, sono rustever. This MG has and has no accident history. It has never had any major damage to the body, so little to no filler and it’s still on its 1st re-paint. The car was repainted for the first time in 2003 to its original black color and is still in very good condition with only minor flaws. I had the doors repainted a few weeks ago because of some door dings the previous owners wife’s did parking next to it in the garage. Also due to the car being so low the ground, I have also repainted the lower front valence panel. Overall the paint has a good shine, but has some minor blemishes and touch ups that can be seen from about 1 ft. away from the body if you search for them. The doors gaps, bonnet and deck lid are straight and they all have the like new dual click when closed and all have good gaps. The windscreen glass is original in perfect condition without any rock chips, and the rubber under and around windshield is new. The chrome is all original and still in good shape with only minor flaws .All of the exterior rubber is new including the one that holds to the front and rear lights. The side curtains and convertible top are new and have never been used or install.

Interior:

The dash is 100% original with all working gauges, (some of the gauges were refurbished). All the chrome, painted finishes, rubber, knobs, buttons, fastener, snaps, switches, pulls and light bulbs all look great and work correctly. Also the under the dash area and pedals were all restored and have new rubber pads, carpet is band new the seats and interior panels and surrounding pads were replaced in 2003 were all recently cleaned and restored.

The fresh fluids and lubrication:

All fluids have been changed with fresh:

• 20w50 engine oil and filter

• New type synthetic DOT 4 brake fluid

• 90w gear oil in the rear end and 90w120 gear oil in the transmission

• ATF in the dash pots

• 20w motorcycle fork oil in the lever shocks

• 50% mix of water and green antifreeze

• I lubed the doors, bonnet and boot hinges

• I applied lots of white grease to the wire wheel knock-of splines

• I also lubed all 20+ lubricator fittings on the car, so it is ready to be driven and enjoyed for some time to come.

Start Up:

The MGA runs and drives like new. You turn the key, hear the fuel pump tick, pull the choke out and pull the starter switch and the engine fires right up. It runs very strong and does not smoke or have any major oil leaks. Once the engine warms up after a few moments you push in the choke and off you go. Engine idles around 800 RPM; the oil pressure is a strong 60+psi.

Drive out:

This MGA is an enjoyable experience to drive briskly and has that perfect baritone exhaust note that does not require a radio. The motor is perfectly tuned and adjusted and will spool up quickly to 6000 RPM without hesitation with very silky smooth acceleration. This car gives you excellent feed back to the steering wheel with precise handing. The suspension has been completely rebuilt and feels like driving a new car. It has no excessive movement or unwanted noises or rattles it is all tight and drives straight. The brakes stop well on emergency breaking, very straight and full control until lock up. The car stops quickly with no pedal fade after multiple hard brakes. The original 4 speed transmission is lapped in perfectly and makes a wonderful noise as you accelerate. The transmission shifts precisely and has no unusual gear shift noises. The low mileage transmission does not have any of the common issues found on abused units, like popping out of gear under acceleration. The gearbox is the factory original 4 speed unit and all four gears and reverse work perfect. It gets also gets over 30 miles per gallon of gas. It is very reliable and can be driven long distance with-out malfunction.

The honest disclosure details:

• The exterior paint has minor flaws a few dings and imperfections but still looks great.

• The chrome is all original and still very nice but a few areas are starting show their age.

About the owner

At age 11 I restored my first car, a 1959 Bug Eyed Sprite. I was bitten by the British bug early on in life; over the last 45 years, I have owned and restored over 400 antique cars of all makes and types. I am not a dealer but, I have sold 12 highly restored, museum quality, antique convertible show cars from my collection to places around the world on eBay in the last 3 years. I have had wonderfully experiences with all the buyers and received 100% positive feedback on all of them. You can call me with any questions or to arrange a pre-buy inspection, call Brad at 972-207-1115.

NADA Value:

In closing:

This MGA is in way above average condition. Overall this 60 year MGA is in a state of high level two restoration and it can easily be taken to level one, concours condition. Everything on the car works correctly and it is in near perfect shape with excellent workmanship. To replicate this 1958 MGA in today's world you would spend countless hours and it would cost way more than I am asking.

This MG MGA represents a great collector value today and will only increase in the future. If you are the adventurous type, I feel confident that you can get into this MGA and drive it from Dallas to anywhere in the USA without an issue. I believe in giving the buyer lots of value in the equity of the car I am selling and making it a win-win for both parties. Having reviewed all the other MGA on the market it is my opinion that this MGA is one of the best on the market at any price and worth much more than my asking price of $34,500 or OBO. Compare the rest, but if you are looking for the best, this is one!