MGA Survivors

Spotted these graphs in an old copy of Practical Classics magazine.

The first shows what proportion of MGAs were sold within the UK against 'ROW' (rest-of-world) sales - amazing to see how few were destined for British roads. I'd love to know what proportion of those sold abroad are left-hand drive, as there are a lot of left-hookers that crop up, but I would assume most were aimed at right-hand drive ex-Colonial countries, like New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

The second chart shows how many are still in use on the road - wonder if ours falls into the SORN or AWOL category hehe, it's been off the road since the mid 70s.

Old Photos and History

I took these photos in the summer of 1988 during my Dad's first, and last, restoration attempt to date. They're shot rather poorly, but bear in mind I was 5 years old at the time.

That 12 month spell of enthusiasm saw a lot of the project sorted, but sadly it never got put back together. Dad painted the chassis and most of the suspension components, some of which he took to be reconditioned. The rear was also treated to a new set of sporty gas-damped SPAX shock-absorbers. I'll post some new photos of the '1988 spec' suspension soon as.

Quite a few other things were purchased, including an entire new AP Lockheed brake setup [minus the drums, which were skimmed and painted], a whole new clutch system, complete stainless-steel exhaust, Lucas lamps and various other electrical bits that have all sat in the boot, most in unopened boxes, for the last 23 years.

Oddly, a year or two later Dad bought and scrapped a derelict Morris Marina, having lifted the 1800cc engine out of it. These fit straight onto MGA engine-mounts and the 1500 gearbox, but we moved house in 1992 and it never came with us. There's been talk for ages of a fully reconned 1800 Oselli MGB lump going in, but lately, as the project has actually gathered steam, we're keeping the original 1500 apparently, which has a lightened flywheel and flat-top pistons anyway, put in before my dad bought the car.

The only item bought for the car in all the years that have passed since then was a fibre-glass front valance on a tiny whim a couple of years back. Im sure there are a few more bits the MG needs, but it'll simply have to wait until the two decade backlog of parts have been fitted!