1961 MG A - 1600 Roadster

The MG A replaced the TF 1500 and represented a complete break with the design of its predecessor. The car was officially unveiled at the 1955 Frankfurt Motor Show. It was succeeded by the MG B in July 1962. The design of the MG A dates back to 1952, when MG’s in-house designer, Syd Enever, designed a streamlined body for George Philips’ TD for Le Mans. A prototype was built and presented to the director of BMC, Leonard Lord. However, Lord rejected the idea of mass-producing this car, as he had signed a contract with Donald Healey just two weeks earlier to manufacture the Austin-Healey. Falling sales figures for traditional MG models, however, led to a change of heart, and so the design – originally called the ‘UA Series’ – was reconsidered. As it differed significantly from previous MG models, it was named the ‘MGA’, meaning the car was regarded as the first in a new range. The MG A – like its predecessor – was a separate-frame design and was powered by the same BMC B-series engine as the MG Magnette, with power transmitted to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual gearbox. The four-cylinder in-line engine had a displacement of 1'489 cc and initially produced 68 bhp, later increasing to 72 bhp. All four wheels were fitted with hydraulically operated drum brakes. In May 1959, the standard models were also fitted with a revised engine with a displacement of 1'588 cc and an output of 78 bhp. The cars had disc brakes at the front, whilst drum brakes remained at the rear. The MG A 1600 Roadster with optional hardtop offered here was originally delivered to Switzerland and was first registered on 28 February 1961. The early history of this beautiful roadster is unknown, but it was probably acquired in the 1980s by an enthusiast who had the bodywork completely restored between 1992 and 1995. A corresponding photographic record is available and will be provided with the vehicle. In 2000, the MG passed to an elderly gentleman who – as a logbook shows – covered around 5'000 km in it over the following 13 years. Due to the owner’s advancing age, the roadster has been driven very little since 2013 and has spent most of its time in a dry garage. The MG A is currently in good condition. The engine and mechanics are in perfect working order, the bodywork looks lovely and the interior shows the normal signs of wear and tear associated with its age. The most recent veteran MOT took place in September 2026.