1957 MGA V8

Description

Muscular and cool Rat Rod style MGA MkI with 302Ci Chevy V8 power; Hurst shifter; fast, loud and lots of fun; great conversation starter

Dating from 1957 this MkI MGA was originally a 1500 and went out to the USA but was purchased in November 2013 from Binghamton, New York State (on the Pennsylvania State Line, near to Syracuse) shipped to the UK, and registered here in January 2014.

It’s unclear if the car came in as a 1500 (which it has remained registered as) or if the 302cubic inch (4.9 litre) Chevy V8 lump under the bonnet was fitted in the States, or in the UK – that aside, it looks a neat installation and reputedly puts out c.300bhp and puts its power down we are told via a four-speed manual ‘box with Hurst shifter via an 8inch Chevy back axle with power lock diff.

The car has been built to look a bit like a ‘Rat Rod’ yet looks remarkably solid and sound despite first impressions with the orange and brown/rust look.  It’s certainly muscular with bigger rear wheels, no bumpers and twin exhausts, on which note, wow, what a note – undeniably a V8 and all American at that – this car shouts loud enough to wake the dead and feels really rather quick.

The car features a couple of simple seats, pull cord door releases, a tonneau cover and not much else adding to the simplistic, Rat Rod experience – we love it.

The history file includes the V5C showing just one UK owner, DVLA import/registration docs, copy NYS title, Bill of Lading and warehouse receipt.

The vendor tells us the car is rather exciting to drive and goes rather well (no surprises there) and has been a lot of fun, turning heads and raising a question everywhere it goes.

For more information contact - will.daniels@brightwells.com