Description
MG MGA Cabriolet Twin-Cam | 1959
Highlights
– 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, five-speed Ford T9 manual gearbox
– Unique Sebring-specification recreation: competition windscreen, sport grille, bonnet louvres, aluminium front valance in place of front bumper
– Engine rebuilt by American MGA specialist James Alcorn (San Diego, 2015), balanced internals, electronic 123 Luminition ignition
– Black bodywork with red leather competition interior, centre-lock Dunlop wire wheels, four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes
– Original body number 68959, chassis YD3 1294, production date 12 February 1959; one of 1,788 Twin-Cam examples built
The seller offers for sale this 1959 MG MGA Twin-Cam, powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, paired with a five-speed Ford T9 manual gearbox.
This roadster has been built up as a unique Sebring-specification recreation, finished in black with a red leather interior. The body carries a competition windscreen, a sport grille, louvred bonnet in aluminium, vented nose panels, and an aluminium front valance replacing the original front bumper. The headrest surround is welded in aluminium to the tonneau, which opens forward rather than rearward. The dashboard is hand-painted steel and the seats and steering wheel are competition specification. The body shows no apparent corrosion. The engine was rebuilt in October 2015 by American specialist James Alcorn of San Diego; it is machined to .020 over with a compression ratio of 8.3:1, and the crankshaft, flywheel, clutch, connecting rods and pistons are balanced. The five-speed Ford T9 gearbox is new, with a first gear ratio of 2.98 and fifth of 0.82. Further mechanical work includes new stainless steel exhaust, aluminium water and oil radiators, electric cooling fan, electronic 123 Luminition ignition and new tyres (185/60×15). The rear axle was rebuilt in 2012 with approximately 12,000 km covered since. Brakes front and rear were also renewed in 2012. The carburettors have recently been serviced.
The MGA Twin-Cam was produced by MG between 1958 and 1960 in limited numbers, with just 2,111 examples built in all body styles, of which 1,788 were roadsters. It was powered by a twin-overhead-camshaft version of the B-series engine, making it one of the first British production cars to use a twin-cam unit, and was distinguished by its centre-lock Dunlop disc wheels and four-wheel disc brakes. The Twin-Cam was considerably faster than the standard pushrod MGA and was intended to compete in production sports car racing, which explains the close association of surviving examples with Sebring and other competition configurations. Its relative rarity and engineering distinction make it among the most sought-after of all MGA variants.
The chassis number YD3 1294 corresponds to a production date of 12 February 1959, and the car carries certificate number 2015/2235 and engine number 16 GBU 2135.
Condition of the bodywork & paint
4 — Very Good. Clean with minimal wear; might need minor replacements for small missing or broken parts.
Condition of the interior
4 — Very Good. Displays only minimal wear and can hit the road any time.
Technical condition
4 — Very Good. Mechanically solid, with potential for minor servicing.
Overall condition
4 — Very Good. Displays only minimal wear and can hit the road any time.
This item is sold on an as-is basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and descriptions of the listing are for information purposes only.
We encourage all potential bidders to inspect the vehicle before placing a bid. Please contact us by phone or email to schedule an appointment.
All auction cars offered have a reserve price. You have only won the item if the seller accepts your bid.
Price changes and errors reserved. The 14-day right of withdrawal does not apply to this auction.
This car is currently located in: Var, France.
This car drives, brakes and shifts.
The car has a French registration. The buyer is responsible for registration in his own country and responsible for delivery and collection of any vehicle purchased at the auction.
The description of this car is, to the best of the seller’s knowledge, accurate and not misleading. Route 66 Auctions requests a range of detail about the car from the seller and performs a level of due diligence. However, potential buyers must independently satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the description. We strongly advise potential buyers to view or arrange inspections as well as conduct any research they feel is necessary before committing to bid or buy.
Please note that it is not uncommon for classic or collectible cars to have received cosmetic repairs in the past, to rectify damage or refresh appearance, and this work may be hard to see even upon visual inspection. Unless there is an explicit statement by the seller to the contrary, please assume that any vehicle could have had bodywork or paintwork. Photographs may not reflect the exact true colour or exact full condition of the vehicle. It is a bidder’s responsibility to assure themselves of the colour and condition of a vehicle, including its interior and the existence of any remedial bodywork or paintwork, before committing to bid or buy.
