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MG MGA - MGA Article in German

This has appeared in the local paper today. It's in German, so get your dictionaries out or use google translation

http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/auto/technik/Die-englische-Schoenheit/story/31857157

The yellow car is rather extreme though!
dominic clancy

An easy fix to translate is copy article (select and Press Ctrl+C) then Paste into Translate Google http://translate.google.com/# (Press Ctrl+V). Translate Google will detect it is German then select whatever language you want it translated to - one click and it is translated - Voila!
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

The MG A stands out as exceedingly beautiful creation of the many creations of the late fifties - and still is an elegant sports car appearance.

Technically it was based on proven solutions and trod only by the twin-cam new ways. As a world champion in exports with an export share of almost 95 percent of 101'081 copies produced the English themselves, however, benefited the least from this icon.

The design of the MG story began in 1951 in Le Mans, as there was a streamlined sports car with George Phillips at the start. The technical basis of the race car was at this time a chassis of the MG TD, which came from the gun design designer Syd Enever. Four years later reported three MG sports car prototype, called the MG EX 182, for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Streamlined chassis

Outwardly they appeared only in small measure, on 51-He-prototype distinguish, but technically the car was a new development in the trade press and was seen as a precursor to the 1955 already anticipated new MGs. The chassis was sent to the streamlined record car MG EX 179 ajar, had with which retracted George Eyston last year in Utah at Salt Lake speed records, and consisted of two box-shaped side members, which were welded together from U-sections of 1.6 mm steel plate and the maximum tread depth was 13 cm. These longitudinal beams were compared to the MG TD mounted much farther outside, so the seats could be placed lower than the TD.

Rear axle as the MG Magnette

The front suspension and steering of the prototypes were taken from the previous TD / TF. The rear axle corresponded to that of the MG Magnette. Came the first time at Le Mans prototype and subsequent production car's 1.5-liter engine BMC is used, which had already proven itself in the Austin A50 Cambridge, Morris Oxford Series II and also in the sister model MG Magnette. Two of the three Le Mans cars were back then the way for the driver pairings Jacobs RW / yy Flynn and Ken Miles-J. Lockett reported. On the reserve vehicle EK Lund and the Swiss Hans Wäffler were intended as pilots. Could start all three, two reached the target at 12 and 17, one (of the car by Jacobs / Flynn) had an accident. Overall, however, the Le Mans-Premiere will be counted as a great success.

Symbiosis of tradition and modernity in the same year (1955) was the production version of the MG A, presents the differences from the prototypes were relatively low on the technology side, the body side was more weather protection and steel instead of aluminum offered. Instead of 83 HP were in the Series 69 hp. Compared to its predecessor offered the MG TF A lot more space, a larger trunk, a little more power, but above all a much better handling and sportier performance. With the skillful combination of proven technology and components of a modern gun body could start out with a relatively reliable sports car with lots of charms to offer.

Inexpensive and attractive

The press representatives were delighted anyway. Gordon Wilkins wrote on his test drive in 1955: "The MGA will also form in its latest form again the epitome of wishful dream many young enthusiasts with even more modest price, it offers considerable more on driving performance and comfort than does its predecessor."

10,800 francs cost a MG A first in Switzerland, it was DM 8850 in Germany. This put it clearly names were among the competitors, the Triumph TR2 / 3 or later Fiat 1200 Cabriolet, Sunbeam Alpine. Good came from the public but also to the solid build and finish the clean, precise rack and pinion steering and classified as low maintenance costs.

Agreement with car testers

Generally earned the MG A lot of positive feedback. Paul Frère about 1958 praised the car for its good road holding and not excessively harsh suspension. Also Reinhard Seiffert summed positive: "The MG A is still what the MG has always been:. A robust utility sports car for not too sensitive natures" The performance of each case were at the height of the time: 15.1 seconds, making the test cars by " Auto Motor und Sport "for the sprint from 0 to 100 km / h, the peak was measured at 157 km / hr.

Revel in openness

Substituting now in an MG A, receives an almost limitless openness. Only the frame of the windshield of the MG was touted as the side handles, takes a little vision. But are limited in comparison to modern convertibles, whose high visibility through side panels, head restraints and massive disk frames, you can enjoy the MG A nearly 360-degree view. Side of the car is almost to the waist down open, there is a lack of fresh air not so. The uninitiated, however, will trim the start, since there is a door handle is not the MG A. The doors are unlocked by a leather strap on the inside of the door, one reason for the peculiar construction of the plug slices with the bottom flap.

Improved seating arrangements

Once seated, you can enjoy one of the sporting driver's position compared to its predecessor and the MG TF massively better space. Launched the MG A as its predecessor with a pull lever, after the ignition is switched on via the ignition key. The engine responds with a dull hum and less exotic, the ride can start. The first gear is not synchronized and the remaining courses will be placed with care. But everything works as you would expect from a car, only light switch (typical BMC) and indicators (rotary switch with reset function) require a bit of instruction.

Today, only a limited athletic

For today's terms, an MG A course is limited only sporty, but the performance - 69/72 to 93 hp depending on the model, the MG A normal - enough to move forward expeditiously. And the brakes slow the car safely, but you should be the age of the structure to be fully aware, because the bonds and wide tires shine by their absence and of course according to optimum braking operations require a lot of feeling and a little more space. From the perspective of the 21st Century, the car is compact and easy to be around 900 kg weight, with less than four meters in length and only 1.47 meters wide, he offers the most current compact cars. Coupled with a barely surpassing clarity can be maneuvered the car nice and easy.

Evolution in stages

During the first MG A 1955 still had to make do with 1489 cm3, was upgraded in 1959 and upgraded the engine size to 1588 cm3, which meant almost 12 hp more power. In 1961 (the Mk II today called MG A) then the 1622 cm3 engine to the large installation, it even got to 86/93 HP (depending on measurement method). Also on vehicle and equipment was always somewhat improved or changed, the Deluxe with the Twin Cam chassis with four wheel disc brakes embodies the most advanced stage of evolution.

The flyer Twin Cam

1958 MG presented the Twin Cam, and thus the most sporty MG A of all time. 108 hp produced the modern 1588 cm3 big engine with two overhead camshafts and made the car so 179 km / h fast (measurement "Auto Motor und Sport" of 1959). Paul Frère noted, however, that the increased output would require some compromises: "The higher motor performance of the Twin Cam requires in many ways some of the victims, which are probably only still performance enthusiast and rally driver ready." In fact, demanded the Twin Cam by careful handling and proper adjustment , is a motor-Exitus be prevented. Brought the sport convertible decried as sensitive because it also only 2111 copies and has remained an Exotic.

The ideal introduction to classic?

With its user-friendly virtues of the MG A well-suited as an entry-timers. However, one should always be aware that one here drives a 50-year-old classics and no Mazda MX-5. The mechanism will be continuously maintained and partially lubricated, rust has always been an enemy of the great British and the heat balance should always be kept in mind. A good copy with conscientious maintenance is to survive in any case be able to easily and longer trips.

Increasing in value

A good gun today costs around 25,000 to 35,000 francs, respectively, 18,000 and 30,000 €. The later 1600s and especially the De-Luxe models are enjoying something of higher value. The Twin Cam has a special status and also in terms of value changes hands at a price of around 20 to 25 percent higher than the 1600 models.

The spare parts situation can be described as above average, from the offer of various retailers and specialists could assemble one (almost) a new MG A. The parts are still cheap. The maintenance does not cost the world, the total is thus a cheaper MG A classic in the purchase and maintenance.

MG A nice and refined over the last few years but have constantly increased in value, but those gains are likely to offset the maintenance and support costs little. But a gun A should also be a car to drive and not primarily a financial investment.

Portrayed the yellow vehicle, which was kindly provided by the Classic Car Connection, in light trail is available for sale.
AJ Mail

The girl in picture #18 is the same one as appears in the monthly "Looking Back" feature in "Safety Fast" isn't she?
Lindsay Sampford

Thanks for the article Dominic which I translated with Google before AJ did his - yes Lindsay - think you are right. there was another photo which featured an MGA with her in it , in the MGOC magazine last month .
Cam Cunningham

I wonder who she is, could look a bit different now!
Lindsay Sampford

That's a really horrible translation. Some like to do that as the first translation step, but I find it's quicker to take the German or French and translate myself rather than try and figure out what the meaning in the english should be, and then correct the prose accordingly.

dominic clancy

Found another picture of the girl in Graham Robson's MGA book


Rutger Booy

She is obviously of the era. I wonder if it was a series of BMC publicity photos?
Lindsay Sampford

It is always interesting to take a computer translation (such as Babel Fish) and cut and paste it back and translate back to original. The results are often hilarious.
Art Pearse

This thread was discussed between 29/08/2011 and 04/09/2011

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