1958 MG Roadster

Registration: HFO 371

Chassis: HDR4348813

Odometer: 17,576

Transmission: Manual

MOT: Exempt

• Manufactured at Abingdon in February 1958, confirmed by Heritage Trust documentation
• Imported from the USA and UK registered in 1995
• Just one owner since arriving in the UK

The MGA represented a dramatic change of direction for MG when it arrived in 1955. Its low, flowing bodywork was a world away from the upright T-Series cars that preceded it, yet underneath remained the straightforward mechanical engineering that made MG sports cars so accessible. The original MGA 1500 used BMC's 1,489cc B-Series four-cylinder engine with twin SU carburettors and a four-speed manual gearbox, with later 1500s producing around 72bhp. The model proved enormously successful, with 58,750 examples of the 1500 produced and a significant proportion exported to North America.

This is one such export car, and its history on both sides of the Atlantic is particularly well documented. The accompanying British Motor Industry Heritage Trust correspondence confirms that the car was manufactured by the MG Car Company at Abingdon in February 1958, while its surviving California registration plate provides a pleasing reminder of its former life in the United States.

The MGA returned to Britain in 1995 following an extensive restoration carried out between 1993 and 1995. As part of that process it was converted from left- to right-hand drive, and importantly, a photographic record of the restoration remains with the car. Since arriving in the UK it has had just one owner, giving it an impressive 31 years of continuous UK ownership.

Finished in an elegant Old English White-style colour with a contrasting deep red interior, it remains an extremely attractive example today. The bodywork presents excellently, with clean, flowing panels and no obvious signs of corrosion or rust noted during our inspection. The paintwork retains an impressive depth of shine and the extensive chrome brightwork presents equally well.

Chrome wire wheels complete the quintessential MGA appearance and suit the car beautifully. Viewed from any angle, it is easy to understand why the MGA was such a departure for MG in the mid-1950s and why the shape remains so highly regarded today.

The interior is equally impressive. Deep red seats and matching trim contrast beautifully with the light-coloured dashboard, while the wood-rimmed steering wheel and traditional Smiths instrumentation create exactly the sort of driving environment expected of a 1950s British roadster. The seats, trim, carpets and dashboard all present exceptionally well, with the cabin showing remarkably little deterioration since restoration.

Mechanically, the car continues to give every impression of having been properly maintained rather than simply preserved for display. It starts readily and is reported to run and drive very well. Indeed, this car was driven to the auction venue without issue, an encouraging endorsement for a classic that is now approaching 70 years old.

The odometer currently displays 17,576 miles. While this should not be interpreted as the car's total mileage from new, the history provides an unusually good record of its use since restoration. MOT certificates record 9,505 miles in 1995, rising progressively through 10,594 in 1997, 11,100 in 1999, 12,032 in 2004 and 13,491 in 2012. The current reading therefore indicates that only around 8,000 miles have been added since the car returned to the road following restoration.

The accompanying history file is one of the strongest aspects of this MGA. Receipts and invoices extend all the way back to 1992, supplemented by the photographic restoration record, current V5C, driver's handbook and the aforementioned California plate.

There is also an excellent sequence of previous MOT certificates covering the years following its arrival in Britain, together with 16 tax discs dating from 1998 to 2015. These seemingly small items help build a remarkably complete picture of the car's life in the UK and complement the extensive collection of invoices and restoration material.

Its specification is classic MGA: the 1,489cc B-Series four-cylinder engine, twin SU carburettors, four-speed manual gearbox and beautifully simple open two-seat body. The MGA 1500 was produced from 1955 until 1959 before giving way to the 1600, and its combination of mechanical simplicity, elegant styling and excellent parts support has helped make it one of the most enduring British sports cars of the period.

This MGA therefore offers rather more than simply good looks. It is a beautifully presented 1958 car with a documented restoration, an extensive history file stretching back more than three decades, its Heritage Trust confirmation, tangible evidence of its Californian past and, perhaps most appealingly, just one keeper throughout its entire 31 years in the UK.