MG MGA: The Car That Modernised MG's Whole Approach
Before this car, MG's sports cars still looked rooted in pre-war design thinking. This one dragged the brand's styling firmly into a genuinely modern era.
Illustration for editorial purposes
A Genuine Styling Leap for the Brand
Following a run of charming but visually old-fashioned models, this car represented a real generational leap in how MG presented itself — smoother, lower, and considerably more in step with contemporary sports car design elsewhere in the industry.
Generations at a Glance
| Version | Years | Engine | Gearbox | Body | 0–60mph | Top Speed | Price New (UK) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MGA 1500 | 1955–1959 | 1.5L four-cylinder, approx. 68bhp | 4-speed manual, overdrive optional | Roadster, Coupe | approx. 11s | approx. 100mph | approx. £2,123 (1959) |
| MGA 1600/1600 Mk II | 1959–1962 | 1.6L four-cylinder, 79–90bhp | 4-speed manual, overdrive optional | Roadster, Coupe | approx. 12.8–13.3s | approx. 100–105mph | not reliably documented |
Why Almost Every Surviving MGA Has Been Restored
A separate chassis with a relatively simple four-cylinder engine kept the MGA affordable and genuinely accessible, while its smooth, aerodynamically-conscious body gave it a distinctly more modern character than what preceded it. Later versions gained a twin-cam engine option, offering meaningfully more performance for buyers wanting a sportier edge. What that original affordability didn't include was any meaningful rust protection: specialists and owner communities agree that most surviving MGAs have significant corrosion in the body sills — sometimes reaching halfway up the car's sides — in the boot floor, along the floor mounting rails inboard of the frame, and almost always in the battery carrier trays. It's common enough that many long-term owners simply recommend buying a car that's already been properly restored rather than taking on a full rust repair, which specialists estimate can run to well over 1,000 hours of cutting, welding and finishing to do properly.
Why It Modernised MG's Whole Approach
Introduced in 1955, its flowing, low-slung bodywork was a dramatic departure from the more upright, traditional styling of the MG TF it replaced, immediately signalling a modernised direction for the brand. Its commercial success helped set up decades of continued MG sports car development, directly paving the way for the MGB that followed and extended the formula's popularity even further — strong sales, particularly in the important American export market, established MG as a serious international sports car brand rather than a purely domestic British concern.
How Much Does an MG MGA Cost Today?
Well-preserved examples remain a genuinely accessible entry point into classic British sports car ownership, with values reflecting both a healthy surviving population and an active specialist parts and support community that's kept many cars road-worthy for decades. Given the near-universal rust concerns above, a car with documented, well-executed restoration work commands a real premium over an unrestored or poorly patched example — checking that restoration quality matters as much as the car's outward condition when assessing value.
Watch & Explore
More MG Icons
- MG MGB Overview — Classic Icon
Sources: MG Heritage archives, Wikipedia.