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MG MGA - MGA-Porsche look-a-like?

Hi guys

Someone has send me a picture of a strange car, that looks like an early Porsche, but has an MGA grille and what looks like an MGA bonnet. I have put the picture on my webpage with MGA-specials:

http://rutgerbooy.nl/MGA_specials_page_1.htm

Does anyone of you know what kind of car this is?

Rutger
Rutger Booy

That is a very unusual car. Doesn't seem to be a Porsche by the shape of the roof line above the windscreen and that divided screen would make it very early for a 356. Seems to be a fairly low profile car, not as tall as say a Magnette or such, some sort of home made sport saloon? I wonder if any of the lads in England could trace the registration number and see what type of car is was originaly registered as?
Bill Young

Initial thoughts were that this was a Denzel with a well-fitted MGA grille. However weren't all Denzels soft-tops; and doesn't that bonnet look just like the real MGA item? Puzzle!
A. W. Risk

The car is currently doing the rounds on several car forums, with no answer to date. The only information is "The picture was taken around Xmas/New Year about 1956/57".

From my own perspective it is definitely not an MGA bonnet or front panel, so definitely nothing to do with MGA body, but of course the grille is MGA.

It was popular in those days to make "specials" out of any old MG (in fact any old car) but MGTDs in particular, which might have been the logic behind the (MG) grille. Otherwise, of course, the grille could be stuck on absolutely anything.

Neil McGurk

I have just been looking through my reference books. The blended body is most unusual for a car of that era. If it is a one off, then an old car from the 30s/40s/early 50s is the most likely.

The only contender I have come up with is a Cisitalia 202 fro the 40s. At the time this blended body was revolutionary and was designed by Pininfarina.

Steve


Steve Gyles

How about this!


Dave Swinburne

Not an easy one this !!! If we only had a side view.
My first thought was the Shipside TD (A one-off coupe body on a TD chassis commisioned by Nottingham BMC dealer Shipsides Ltd). However, this is not the same car.
Like Neil suggests, I suspect this to be a special bodied T-type "upgraded" later with an MGA nose.
headlights and sidelights indeed seem to be German.
Wendler....????

Just my 2cts.

Nick,


D.G.J. Herwegh

Dave

526HHW was auctioned by Bonhams in 2007. It was described as a 1960 MGA Monza GT Coupé. I don't know if it was sold (certainly not to me!)

Rutger

Rutger Booy

Hi Rutger,

TYE 83 looks like a UK plate but no longer exists.
You could pay 7.50 to Kithead Trust if you were sure it's was a UK Car.

LVO 2 still exists though.

https://www.mycarcheck.com/check/LVO2/

Cheers
Mark.
Mark Hester

Rutger, I was at the auction in 2007 not sure if the car was sold or not, I have a front on photo if you want it.
Dave
Dave Swinburne

Hi Dave

Thanks for the kind offer, but I just found 526HHW on Bonhams website with all the details and photos one could wish :-0

And yes, it was sold. For 15.525 pounds!

see: http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=EUR&screen=lotdetailsNoFlash&iSaleItemNo=3601462&iSaleNo=15342#

Rutger
Rutger Booy

I can't believe a different body on an MGA frame would go that high! Well, it takes all kinds.
I think I'll see whether I can put a VW body on one of my As.
Mike Parker

This thread was discussed between 11/08/2009 and 13/08/2009

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