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Vehicle Description
I bought this 1962 MG-A 1600 MK. II in May 1996 with one goal in mind, to restore it be the most beautiful MG-A that I would ever see. The car was purchased in Mansfield, Tx. which is in the Ft. Worth area and at the time had about 53,500 original miles. I had it taken to a repair shop in the area that was very familiar with MG s and had a buyers’s check including a compression test performed to support the claim from the seller that the milage was actual and that the car was 100% rust free. Upon speaking with the owner of the shop who had personally inspected the car himself, including lifting it and thoroughly inspecting the frame, wheel wells and all body panels for rust and previous damage, I was assured that the seller’s claims were indeed fact. The car had passed the inspection with flying colors including the compression test. I was also informed that if I were to pass on this MG that the shop owner himself would buy it because it was in such exceptional condition.
THE HISTORY: The gentleman that I bought the car from is a noted restorer of Indian motorcycles and had gotten it from his longtime next door neighbor, a widow who had held onto the car some ten years or so after her husband had passed away. Apparently her husband had been in possession of the car since the late 1970's having bought it from a friend of his who had also been a longtime owner. The car was last registered in 1985 when I bought it, had been in the Ft Worth area nearly all of its life up to that time and had been a week-end toy for two older gentlemen who had both kept it inside a garage when not driven. The guy I got it from had just found two basket-case Indians in New York and reluctantly sold it to me in order to fund the purchase of the Indians.
THE RESTORATION; DRIVE TRAIN: We (my wife, my daughter and myself), spent nearly 5 years on the meticulous no expense spared restoration of this MG-A. I am an anal retentive perfectionist and everything was done first class. The engine which I’m quite certain is the original engine was pulled, steam-cleaned, stripped, sprayed with industrial high temperature primer and painted the original MG engine maroon color with the best engine paint available with a very high metal content. It looks just as the day it was new. The oil pan was pulled, checked for sludge (none found) and replaced with a new gasket. The transmission was pulled, steam-cleaned, painted and re-sealed. The clutch disc, pressure plate, throw-out bearing, slave cylinder and related bushings and boots were all replaced with new parts from Moss Motors. The drive shaft was cleaned and painted, universal joints inspected, and the differential was steam-cleaned and repainted. Engine, transmission, and differential oils all drained and replaced.
BRAKES: All lines flushed, all rubber hoses replaced, brake/clutch master cylinder and front disc calipers sent to Apple Hydraulics in New York to be sleeved with brass and re-assembled with new parts. Rear wheel cylinders, springs etc. replaced with new parts. Front disc pads and rear brake shoes appeared to be nearly new and were re-used.
ELECTRICAL: This car had no electrical issues at the time of purchase and still doesn’t today. However, all butt connections, grounds etc. were taken apart cleaned and reassembled. The original wiring harness was in great shape with no frays or shorts etc. but was completely inspected and re wrapped. The rear license plate light and housing were replaced, a new pair of Wind Tone horns were installed, the voltage regulator was replaced even though the old one worked fine. Virtually every lightbulb from bumper to bumper was replaced. FUEL SYSTEM: Carburetors completely rebuilt, fuel lines all replaced with braided stainless, main fuel pipe from firewall to fuel pump replaced, a new electronic fuel pump installed, an in-line filter replaced, a new fuel gauge sending unit and a new fuel tank installed.
CHASSIS BODY: This car was nearly totally disassembled for painting. All trim, all lighting and assemblies, all floorboards, toe boards etc. the engine and transmission, the entire interior was all removed before painting. The entire body was chemically stripped of three different colors of paint and the original primer. It went to the paint shop for a professional re-spray with absolutely not one piece of trim on it anywhere. There was no previous major bodywork found. Minor dings etc. were repaired and the car was primed and painted with a base-coat clear-coat paint job. New fender piping was installed. The entire frame and all support members, the engine bay, the wheel wells, and any exposed areas that I could get to were meticulously painted with at least two coats of POR 15. This MG had ABSOLUTELY NO RUST anywhere on any of the frame or body panels other than minor surface rust. The entire body, frame, rocker panels etc. are in perfect condition and should remain so indefinitely with the POR 15 sealant that I put on.
All rubber body grommets were replaced, the trunk seal was replaced, the door stops were replaced, all rubber boots and every mounting pad or seals were replaced at all lights from bumper to bumper. The front and rear bumpers and mounting boots were replaced as was the front grille and fender grilles.
INTERIOR: A complete interior kit including leather seat and armrest upholstery, all new interior door and kick panels etc. from Moss Motors were installed. The highest quality and best looking leather stripping that I could find, with a furry kind of felt and rubber combination was installed. The seat bottoms, cushions and the main floorboards were replaced with marine grade plywood and all plywood floorboards, toe boards etc. were painted with two coats of POR15 on all surfaces so they will never rot. I installed a complete cockpit and trunk carpet set. Not the usual cheap looking cut pile carpet but the best quality synthetic wool carpet that looks identical to the Wilton wool carpet found in Jaguars. Ribbed aluminum door scuff plates, threshold plates and cockpit trim plates were installed to dress up the cockpit and protect the doors. The original dashboard has been replaced with a piece of solid black walnut stained and coated with seven coats of polyurethane. I started to put in a burl wood dash but sent it back because the veneer wasn’t up to my quality expectations. The Moto Lita steering wheel was installed to complete the look and feel that I was going for. All dash control knobs were replaced as were all heater control cables, heater control valve and speedometer and tachometer drive cables. A new pair of wind wings were just installed this week but were not on yet when these pictures were taken and they look GREAT!
MISCELLANEOUS: Virtually every rubber hose and hose clamp on this car has been replaced with the original factory style. All air hoses and clamps have been replaced. The original oil filter has been replaced with a modern spin-on version. The air filters have been replaced with a pair of period correct Stellings Hellings style and the original valve cover with a polished finned aluminum valve cover with red trim. The exhaust manifold was painted grey with extremely high heat paint just for that purpose and all gaskets replaced. The exhaust system was not replaced, it has some surface rust as expected, doesn’t leak and just sounds too good mess with. It is very raspy and sounds just like a classic MG should sound! The radiator was replaced with a new one, a cooling shroud installed to help cooling efficiency and a new 160 degree thermostat was installed. I installed a set of chrome trim rings on the wheels with a new set of MG-TD wheel center covers because they have the MG crest in the center and really dress up the disc wheels. I do have the convertible top frame and it currently has a white top mounted to it that is in very good condition with all three windows nice and clear but a black top would look better on this car. I have never put the top on the car and wouldn’t need to because I have never driven the car in the rain. And I seriously doubt that you will either but there is a good serviceable top if you should ever need it .
This car runs and drives as great as it looks, it has great oil pressure at all RPM ranges, it does not overheat, it does not smoke while running but will put out a little puff of smoke sometimes when first started after having been driven and allowed to sit for awhile. It stops straight and tracks straight as well. The radial tires probably have under 2,000 miles on them and the car probably has under 2,000 miles on it since the restoration was completed. The shocks seem weak and should probably be rebuilt and the gas gauge has never worked. It must be the gauge at fault as everything from there back to the gas tank including the sending unit is new. I just always fill it back up before I get back home so it hasn’t been a problem.
I have shown this car about five times and have won a trophy every time including one best of show. It is just that nice. I have owned over a dozen British cars including two early E-Type coupes and none have ever drawn the attention and comments that this MG-A has.
We both know how rare this car is especially a rust-free example such as this so I will not bore you with production figures. If you’re considering investing in a collector car of this quality you have probably done your homework and already know them anyway.
Please feel free to call me with any questions. Hm. (830)-796-8052 8:00 A.M.-9:00 P.M. CST or Cell. (830)-796-1086 Any time. I will e-mail more pictures to any interested parties that send me their e-mail address.
$1,000.00 USD Deposit to be received no more than 48 hours after close of auction with balance to be paid in full within 7 days of auction end. I can store the car for up to 30 days. The car will not be released until paid in full in USD.
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