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MG MGA - Opinion on Originality

At the outset let me say that I'm not wanting to start a heated thread about the merits of originality.

Last month I acquired HDC4310242. Evidently this is a fairly early car. It needs a complete ground up. As with many cars this age it is not original. It has a 1600 engine, later gauges and few other things. This didn't bother me initially. I've done ground up show restorations before on Austin Healeys, and an AC. To the point of using the correct shaped posidrive fasteners, etc. You know the type. Trailer Queens. Some Marques are very stuck on this stuff. This was not my original intention with this car. Been there done that.

So here's my question. Is 10242 early enough to warrant "special" consideration with regards to originality? I can certainly understand it in the case of 10106. While I'm perfectly able to decide for myself what I want, I'm new to MGAs. If there are a bunch of earlier cars out there, than I feel less obligation to originality. On the other hand, if there aren't, there's more merit in originality. Please also don't hear me saying this car is "special" it's only early. One of the things that seems fun about them is the flexibility you guys have in keeping them on the road.
GD Glenn

Garland,
You can probably guess what I am going to say. Please keep it original. This car was probably on the first boat load to the USA. It is part of the first 150 cars built, and is almost as significant as 10106. That being said, the end result is definitely up to you. You own it afterall!
I especially like the look of the large numeral gauges and even more the single window top. Other than that, most of the unique features are not readily visible.
James Johanski

If originality is important to you, then it really shouldn't matter how early it is. What matters is keeping it faithful to the way it was built. One thing to keep in mind, is even though it has the wrong engine, since 1500 engines are way more common than 1600 engines, you shouldn't have any trouble finding a 1500 powerplant. Finding one in the right serial number range for your chassis number might be a little more difficult though.
Del Rawlins

I have seen several 1500 engines available however they're all 15GBs rather than BP15GBs. Was there overlap in the two? or did 15GBs superced BP15GBs? I can not find a deffinative refferance for this. Any one have a correct engine to trade?
GD Glenn

Everything you wanted to know about the MG engine numbering system. Neil Cairns is the authoritative source.

http://www.mgcars.org.uk/news/news498.html

It would appear that there is no difference between the BP15GB and the 15GB other than dates. There are however, the running design changes as listed in "Original MGA". These changes were generally to improve the engine design and I would not suggest to reverse these for the sake of originality of your, or any, car.


For those seeking "originality", the engine and transmission etc would, I think, be of utmost importance for a their restoration. I say "I think" because I am not in that camp. For the rest of us, it is not such a big deal. As early as your car is, I would think that it would have the engine number stamped on the ID tag along with the chassis number. It would be a Herculean task to find the engine that came with it from the factory. Start with a Heritage Trust Cert. A car this early may have the original engine number recorded.

If you wanted to fake it, the Engine ID tag and chassis ID plates are available. There are people that will stamp any number into a plate and it can be attached to the engine to "validate" the originality once you know the right number to stamp.

While on the subject, If you have restored AH's, then you are aware that the majority of major electrical components have date stamps/ they should precede the manufacture date of your car by a few weeks.

I also seem to recall a discussion a few years ago about the date the machining of the block is located on the underside of the block where the pan bolts to it. The pan must be removed to see it. Did we ever get the code figured out?

It is great that a car this early is being resurrected. You should be commended on this. Just how you do it is totally up to you. While I consider my car to be an early one (late '56) it is nowhere near yours.

Good luck and be certain to ask as many questions as you need to. The people on this list have a wealth of information on just about every aspect of this great little car. Some of it is not in publication anywhere. Some of it occaisionally contradicts published info.


Chuck

C Schaefer

Thanks for the imput. Looks like 1957 for the engine prefix change (Clausager pp55). I'm begining to see this car in the same way as my first E-Type which was a flat floor external bonnet latch. For those who don't know Jags. That's quite early though I didn't know it at the time I traded a WV bug for it. Oh these things used to be so "cheap". Yes I'm going to keep the car original. Now... a supercharger was a period correct mod wasn't it? LOL

Garland
GD Glenn

I would suggest the compromise position of everything looking original, but using the mods that are available to reduce oil leaks etc. I have a very early 1500 gearbox (so early the threads are all UNF fine not UNF coarse). The front cover has a scroll instead of an oil seal - I will NEVER fit that cover as it is invisible when fitted, and I know it will leak. Similarly the chain tensioners were retrofitted to early engines - for a good reason.

There's a good bit of info in the Neil Cairns book. If you mail me off board I'll mail you a link.

Externally my car looks stock (apart from the mesh grille) and apart from the Judson, under the bonnet also looks stock. with lots of subtle and invisible improvements it drives much better.

I also would hesitate about fitting a 1500 engine if you have a 1600 in it already - the 1600 has quite a lot more power.
dominic clancy

This thread was discussed between 31/12/2007 and 01/01/2008

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