M.G.A Sports Car

M.G.A. Sports Car - 302

PAGE LAST UPDATED: 15 October 2008

302

M.G.A.

Sports Car

The MGA was such a sexy looking car - of course when I was a kid it just looked old-fashioned next to the MGB but viewing both models in hindsight this is such a better looking car with finely balanced and sculpted detail.

They were made here in Abingdon where I live now, British Leyland in their wisdom closed down the factory in the 1980s and threw away all that heritage and pride which had gone into producing cars like this. Of course by the time Rover Cars had realised their mistake it was too late and the marque is now gone for good.

Still we have a drive through MacDonalds and posh new Police station where the factory used to be so it's not a total loss...

The one on the right was for sale with a Rover 90 that I really wanted. It's a bit of a heap and not worth selling on - it could be a candidate for restoration, I've seen one done with wire wheels and it looked really scrummy. I've stripped off all the old paint, put some wire wheels on it and sprayed it with primer - I used a can of car primer which had gone on very blobby. I think I'll strip it again and buy an air brush, see if that's any better. The wire wheels look really good though.