1936 MG SA

The MG SA, initially planned as an outright sports car, was supposed to compete with rivals from SS cars (later Jaguar) and Bentley. Once Morris Motors limited had acquired the MG company in 1935, the project was changed to a more luxurious and comfortable limousine version which was produced from October 1935. The basis for the SA’s engine was the two-litre unit which Morris already had in production, and which was used for the Wolseley Super Six. The engine's capacity was changed for the SA initially to 2.2 and, from 1937, to 2.3 litres. After the saloon from April 1936, a so-called “Tickford Drophead Coupé” from Salmons & Sons was added and from July Charlesworth offered a 4-door tourer as a third coachwork variant. This MG SA is one of only 696 Tickford drophead Coupés built and was first registered in England on the 10th of November 1936. The history of this rare cabriolet is not known until towards the end of 1989, when it was taken over by an enthusiast from its 20 years previous ownership and imported into Switzerland. The SA was most probably restored by the previous owner but the quality of the work was not convincing, so the new owner started once again. In the following years the coachwork was completely restored and all the mechanical bits overhauled. A photographic documentation as well as receipts for the work are available. In 2010 the SA was taken over by the vendor, who, after a short period, noted further work being necessary. So, in August of the same year, new drive shafts were installed and the rear wheel hubs replaced. At the end of the year, he noted a slipping clutch, and the car was brought to a specialist. He noted that the engines cylinder bores had become oval and needed attention. After a correct replacement engine have been found, both units were dismantled and used to build the engine which is now installed. Well over 28’000 francs were invested in the engine alone. Since then, the Tickford MG has been enthusiastically used and has now added 11’000 miles to its clock. For age reasons the vendor now would like to reduce his collection, and we now offer the opportunity to acquire a rare prewar Cabriolet in good to very good condition with the last Veteran MOT completed in May 2021.