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MG MGA - Car Identification-Prospective New Owner

I am seriously looking to purchase my first MGA. Doing all the background reading on what to look for etc, it seems to me that a car could be assembled from any number of parts from other cars, and you may not be aware of it, or even bother.
The overriding issue is whether the car number(vin)appears on the registration document. Even the car number plate could be newly stamped.
The chassis number(last digits of car number) may or may not be stamped on chassis. Body and engine numbers were not recorded, so perhaps only a ballpark production date can be recorded.
All seems very vague to me. I suppose there are some cars out there that have a documented history from new. My road going TD has traceable history from new.

Is it possible to obtain an original restored car, or do you just accept what you find ie a bitsa.
Henry

Yes, the MGA is a "vague" car when it comes to numbers, but not entirely unknown. If you can find a chassis number stamped on the frame, that is a very good start. The same number should be stamped on the Car Number plate attached to the heater shelf, and included in the proper format for the car model. Most 1500's had the engine number stamped on the Car Number plate, in which case it should match the number tag on the engine. Engine number tags may be re-stamped or transfered to another engine, so no guarantee that it's the original engine.

Beyond that it gets to be more of an art. Engine number, body number, gearbox number and rear axle number should all fall with a certain range of numbers which is statistically predictable for any given chassis number. For more details see here: http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/buying/buy101.htm
The last couple of paragraphs are particularly telling.

As a reference to how far afield one might get during a sale or restoration and still have a "legal" car and title, see here: http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/buying/buy102.htm
Barney Gaylord

Hi Henry,Good MGAs are still out there in UK - I bought my 1600 MkI 3 years ago with original engine,interior, chassis and most of the body (one repro wing)- you just have to look for provenence in the documentation - of course there are also many hybrid cars around with a mix a repairs and repro parts - best idea is to take a knowledgeable MGA owner with you when you go to view a prospective purchase-which is what I did. By the way, my friend of 35 years died recently leaving an original unrestored 1962 Mk2 in his barn - undriven in 15 years -so some work needs to be done on it- his wife will be selling this when the probate clears - keep your eyes open - good hunting - Cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

Thanks for the reassurance that some good cars are out there. It seems that provinence can be found in the backup paperwork, or chassis number if there is one.

Cam - One thing I have read is that some engine spares for the 1588cc engine (1600 Mk1) may be in short supply. Is this the case?
Finally
Is there much difference in performance between a 1500 & 1600 MGA?
Henry

There is a big difference in performance between a 1600 and a 1500. Apart from the block, pistons and the carb needles, the engines are otherwise the same.

The 1622 engine has a different crank and block, but otherwise is fundamentally the same as the 1600. It uses a different head to the 1600 too (bigger combustion chambers).
dominic clancy

Hi Henry, As far as I know - the 1588 (1600) engine was only used in the MGA - so the block is no longer available so if you happen to crack it( or the crank )you will have problems replacing it ( I haven't had that problem yet - hope I am not tempting providence)- all the other parts are available - the heads are interchangeable between all models I think. The later models with the disc brakes are usually a better choice as apart from the braking they have better performance - although you could always go down the MGB 1800 engine route.Cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

Cam
1600/1588 crank is the same as 1500/1489. Only the 1622 is different as it has different journal spacing.
dominic clancy

This thread was discussed between 13/06/2006 and 14/06/2006

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