In the 1930s and 1940s, MG established a world-wide reputation for producing small, neat, two-seater sports cars with lots of character. By the 1950s, however, the traditional styles on which they had concentrated were beginning to look dated, so MG enthusiasts were delighted when the all-new MGA was announced in 1955.
Compared with the long-running T-series cars, which it replaced at Abingdon, the MGA was different in every respect. Not only did it have a new, broad-based chassis frame, and a modern and very stylish body, but it was the first MG sports car to use BMC (Austin-based), instead of Nuffield-based running gear. All previous MGs had used engines derived from Morris and Wolseley family cars, while the MGA used engines which had been designed for use in new BMC family cars.
Inspiration for the MGA originally came from a special body which MG built for a T-series model to race at Le Mans in 1951. It was refined and made more ‘production’ over the next four years. Smooth where previous MGs had been craggy, wide where they had been narrow, and roomy where they had been cramped, it was an elegant leap into the future.
Sitting on a new, squat and very sturdy chassis frame, the new MGA body was the first all-new MG styling since the arrival of the Midgets in the 1930s. Built entirely from steel pressings (though wooden floor boards were retained), it married a sloping version of the familiar MG grille with a flowing, sexy, shape. |
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The engine was a tuned-up BMC B-series, previously used in the MG Magnette sports saloon, and although traditionalists complained about this at first, it proved to be just as tuneable as any previous MG power unit. Even when rated at 72 bhp, it gave the MGA a top speed approaching 100 mph, while up to 100 bhp was available in racing form.
The MGA not only looked beautiful, but also had a soft ride, very good roadholding, and seemed to be stuffed full of ‘Abingdon magic’. It immediately began to outsell any previous MG car, and when a neat bubble-top coupé, with wind-up windows, was added, the range was complete.
A beautiful car with good roadholding and a soft ride. They were the first MGs to use BMC engines as opposed to the Morris and Wolseley in previous models. Over the years the MGA was progressively improved: the 1600 of 1959 had a larger engine and front disc brakes, and finally the Mk II of 1961, which had 86 bhp and a 101 mph top speed. For a time, too, there was even an expensive, difficult-to-maintain MGA twin-cam, with a unique engine. A great car was needed to improve on the MGA, and the MGB was just that. In seven years, no fewer than 101,470 MGAs were built, then an Abingdon record.
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