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MG MGA - lovely one for sale

Hi guys, no link to seller but here is what truely looks like a concours car for sale, looks spot on in every detail, door gaps to die for

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C53471

gordon
g c pugh

, correct clips on pipes, metal cap on master cylinder, painted radio blank plate, can't see door rubbers , I wonder if it needs a tool kit ?????lol


gordon
g c pugh

Gordon

How can a 1956 MGA be concours with wire wheels?

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve,

Why would a 1956 car not be able to have wire wheels?
Clausager mentions wire wheels as an option, but does not say if this was available from the beginning of production. However, he mentions wire wheels on page 86 with a date of January 1956.

Mick
M F Anderson

Mick

Of course it can have wire wheels; I have fitted them on my 1958 1500. However, my Heritage certificate says it left the factory with disc wheels. I would be happy to have a small wager that this car's Heritage says the same. Just raising the old well discussed question about what constitutes concours and originality.

Cheers

Steve
Steve Gyles

If it makes you feel any better Gordon, the heater hose clips should not be wire; the fuel, brake and clutch pipes should not be copper; the front air intake hose should not be clipped; the indicator control box should be silver coloured; the flasher unit should not have a label; the radiator hose should have a "cloth" finish, etc.

Seriously though, this is probably the nicest, most correct car, I have ever seen for sale! Loads of tiny details that are normally overlooked have been taken care of.

Steve, lots of cars were sold with wire wheels! However, I don't suppose many 1500s were delivered with the optional 60 spoke wheels that this car has. My understanding of concours is period/model specification correct rather than specific car correct? Hence the freedom to change colour, LHD/RHD and add options and accessories.

I would be interested in opinions here as I would like to build a concours car. Would the car have to match the heritage certificate? Who would know anyway?
Neil McGurk

Hi Steve, and I thought I was picky lol I far as I know wires were an option from the start of production, my original 56 car had wires from new as per it's heritage cert, it was built march 56


Gordon
g c pugh

Hi Neil I stand in awe at your knowledge, I just hope I haven't started another concours war lol


Gordon
g c pugh

Hi Neil as a matter of interest, as the only part of an MGA I now own is a wire clip, were these not the correct original fittment


Gordon
g c pugh

Re the wire wheels, Chromed wires would have been a "no no" in Concours terms, but painted, yes.
Gary Lock

The really big problem is it's red!! Only kidding!
Bruce


B Mayo

Ok

I sort of hold up my hands, although when I first looked at the advert I also wondered about the wheels being chromed - I should have said so. If wire wheels were an option then, would the later wire wheel back axle have been available in 1956. My 1958 conversion uses the original back axle with modified half shafts etc, and this sets the wheels further outboard than shown in the photo.

MC appears to be painted black!

Great fun, this 'Spotter's Corner'.

Steve
Steve Gyles

You are right Gordon - It is a lovely looking car. I always thought that all the hose clips were wire as well - What should they be Neil? They are usually what is missing from our cars - I always replaced them with jubilee type clips at the first hose change - I think I still have a couple at the bottom of my old tool box - must clean them up and put them back on!
Cam Cunningham

OK, as long as we're being picky, if they are going to advertise a car as being in "concours" condition they should at least SPELL is correctly! Notice this car is proclaimed to be "in perfect concourse (show) condition." A quick check of concourse reveals:
1. an assemblage; gathering: a concourse of people.
2. a driveway or promenade, esp. in a park.
3. a boulevard or other broad thoroughfare.
4. a large open space for accommodating crowds, as in a railroad station.

I don't think this car qualifies.....;)
GTF
G T Foster

Cam,
When you responded "jubilee type clips" you made me curious. I looked it up and indeed, Jubilee is a registered trade mark for a worm drive hose clamp. I'd never heard that before. I've always referred to those as band clamps or aircraft style. Today's new fact!
Thanks.
GTF
G T Foster

The heater hose clamps (not the cooling hose clamps - they were wire) were of steel band type. If you want to see a picture, then all of the cars on pages 53-56 of Clausagers book have the original type clips. My confirmation source is the period engine bay shots from press releases etc.

Neil
Neil McGurk

Hi Neil sorry must learn to read better


gordon
g c pugh

I just look at the pictures!
Neil McGurk

The speedo and tach should be the large print style guage faces for 1956. As well as the fuel guage. Isn't that so? As an early MGA wasn't the turn signal switch white?
David Holmes

Hi David good point it dependes when in 56 it was built as I think they changed some time early on in 1956 to the later style gauges


Gordon
g c pugh

No spare key on the heater shelf!

Steve
Steve Gyles

Hi Steve, well spotted if a little harsh, very miserable at the moment dropped in to see old roadster today, sob, sob


g c pugh

Yep, very nice car. Too bad you had to let her go. Not sure about the Serious Fraud Office personalised number plate!

Steve
Steve Gyles

Hi Steve that's not the only thing those letters can stand for lol, seriously !!!!!!!!off


Gordon
g c pugh

This thread was discussed between 23/02/2009 and 24/02/2009

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