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MG MGA - Variant

found this:

http://www.motoringinvestments.com/z115g.htm

check out the boot badge among the rest
Ted Persons

Not for me..it has lost too many of the bits I love ...but I a few things do occur to me when looking at the this car.....
...It builds on the the beauty and timeless clean streamlined profile of the original mga. The mods. look logical.
...The workmanship looks fantastic.
...It is a bargain.It must have cost a lot more to convert than the asking price.
...What did they have to do to the front end to get a V8 shoe-horned in?..it also weighs a mighty amount.
...I would have loved to own it when I was 19 ....a true crumpet magnet compared to my Ford van.
Neil Ferguson

Aside from a recent change of license plates and a smaller air cleaner, this one has been around for about 50 years. It is the infamous Gyro Gearloose special, dating back to the early 60's. See more pictures from turn of the century here:
http://californiaclassix.com/archive/61_MGA-V8.html

It is not heavy. It carries the Buick aluminum V8, predating when GM sold the engine line to Rover. You are likely more familiar with the Rover 3.5-litre engine that was used in the MGB GT V8, Morgan Plus 8, loads of Land Rovers, a few TVR's, etc. Think 3.5-litre V8 plus 4-bbl carburetor (adding about 50 HP of course).

Apparently it pops up for resale occasionally. I suppose the price is a bargain, considering the history behind it. But this is testimony to the fact that no matter how sweet it is, a modified car has a tough time equaling the price of a well restored original car in show condition.
Barney Gaylord

I agree with Neil, although that maybe an age thing, I’m not a purist in any way and I’m certainly not opposed to cars being modified, mine is to a degree and indeed i would much rather see a car modified than end up in the scrap yard but why gild the lily,
Vin Rafter

Not many non modified cars around these days so why not?

This is a well detailed modified car with history (thanks Barney) I think it is great.
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

I can't really object to period mods, even something major like this, since the car has a unique history all its own and "restoring" it back to stock would be as bad as chopping up a normal MGA today to make a duplicate. But the thing that I really don't understand, is that somebody went to all the trouble to build this, and then they put an automatic transmission in. And since it was built so long ago, it's a crappy old early model of slush box to boot.
Del Rawlins

Yeah, the result using an old 215 and BW automatic are going to be lukewarm at best, even tuned as is claimed. And that restyled nose makes me want to reach for my horsewhip!

Nice steering wheel, tacky plywood look dash, tonneau panel excrescence that would gouge you in an accident.

Hurst shifter? For an automatic? Period bragging rights, I suppose.

Takes all kinds, and I've certainly seen far worse.
Bill Spohn

Love the tail lights and the plate treatment. He went to all that work to smooth out the rear end. Then put a luggage rack on to mess it up. Too bad the rear over riders are upside down. Grill treatment is horrid. This engine swap will be lighter than stock.
R J Brown

The over riders are not necessarily upside down, but they are entirely non-stock (custom) to fit the contour of the body. The lower placement may be a matter of styling preference. The luggage rack is apparently standard MGA optional accessory, but the brackets are backward placing it high and forward, where it is normally low and rearward. That may also be a matter of styling preference, considering the "shortened" appearance of the rear end treatment.

I happen to think the package as a whole is rather neat, although the sharp-edged fish mouth seems to be a failure of imagination). It looks too much like the Lebron Snorkel (which is really ugly): http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/accessories/at205.htm
That said, I would be proud to be wheeling the GG Special around the west coast.
Barney Gaylord

I agree with Barney that the package as a whole is really neat. But I don't think this car would survive extended driving in summer temps, especially stop and go. It looks to be an excellent vapor lock candidate with the close quarters.
I was surprised to see that there is no undercoating. But I guess that's not necessary in southern Cal. Interesting that you can still see the weld heat discoloration of the metal where the taillights were modified, yet almost no rust. Apparently SoCal climate makes it unnecessary to protect the metal afterwards.
The treatment of the rear wiring is disappointing--no protection or organization which makes the rest of the wiring questionable. I'd like to see up under the dash.
The rear of the tranny seems to have some serious leak problems.
If you can get that automatic in there, then I don't see why you couldn't get a 5 speed in there.
This would make a great conversation piece in a show garage or show room. I think that for ol' Gyro this was more of a styling and power statement than a serious attempt to make a road going car. But I'd love to own it!

JM Morris

I may have found an early photo of the GG in the bottom right of a picture in the March 2011 page 21 attached. Note the cut out wheel arches going several inches higher than normal, almost to the top of the fender. Or the tiny tires on the 15" wheels, your choice. The body is in different colors as well. See attached:
Russ


Russ Carnes

Close up from Hot Rod Page 21. I meant to say different shades rather than colors. Not much more detail but here it is.
Russ


Russ Carnes

That looks like a standard MGA to me?
N McGurk

Sid Enever's "MGA Shelby"
Gordon Harrison

This thread was discussed between 11/05/2012 and 26/05/2012

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