North American MGA Registry #1427
North American MGA Registry #1427
When I bought my MGA it had been lovingly maintained by its owner for 28 years but was in dire need of some mechanical repairs and cosmetic upgrades. I tried to keep it as original as possible, but after two years of driving it hard and fast the engine finally died one evening on California's Pacific Coast Highway. So I used this unfortunate event as an opportunity to upgrade the car to be my ideal driver.
I know these types of modifications are considered "sacrilege" by many MGA owners but I feel there are plenty of unaltered, original, stock cars out there. Plenty of "trailer queens" -- perfect, pristine cars that are towed to MG events and meets, lovingly pampered, then presented with their hoods up proudly for all to see how closely the owner has maintained concours-quality standards.
My car could not be more different! Since I drive it a lot (hard and fast), I want it to be perfect for me. I care about originality only so far as cosmetics...the car should not look heavily customized or modernized. It should appear, from first glance, to be an entirely original vehicle. It's only when you open the hood and see the internals that you realize some changes were made to bring the car into the 21st century. My goal was to imrpove the performance, safety and comfort of the car without sacrificing the vintage look or feel.
Most of the upgrades that I performed are pretty standard among MG owners: negative ground conversion, alternator, wider tires, etc. But after having owned several MGBs and loving the electric Laycock overdrive transmission, I wanted to get that same driving experience into my MGA. So with the help of the some friends, the Internet, and Darrin's MG garage in Chatsworth CA, I undertook the unusual conversion to install a late MGB five-main engine with overdrive transmission: in my opinion, the best combination of performance and power for this vehicle, while keeping everything true to British MG standards. Except for the transmission, all the following modifications are "bolt-in," that is, they can be returned back to original condition if necessary.
Five Main Engine from 1974 MGB
Original MGA Accessories:
I searched far and wide for information about the following accessories because there was very little available, either through books or the internet...but what I couldn't find, I'm sharing here as personal experience.
There is little to no reference material on these items in either of the MGA restoration "bibles" by Classauger or Vitrikas.
Restoring a Factory Aluminum Hardtop
Strange Oddity: the Humboldt Hardtop
Even More Rare: Factory Reverse Lamp
Links to other MGA sites
