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MG MGA - Which MGAs are worth most today?

Obviously Twin Cams and Deluxes are the most expensive, but these days is a 1600 Mk2 worth more than a 1600, and is a 1600 worth more than a 1500? Or perhaps amongst these condition is the most important factor?

The recently sold Twin Cam on e-bay shows that the valuations in the Classic Car magazines are suspect, as it sold for nearly £23,000 against the magazines valuation of £18,000 for a good one. Clearly that car was in good condition, but it was a 12 year old rebuild and perhaps £1000 of work/parts away from being original enough to be called Concours.

John.
Yorkshire, UK.

John Prewer

Though the valuations in the magazines sometimes seem to be a little low, the items on ebay, and at the collector car auctions, often sell at above the market price. I would guess that the majority of sales are still through local ads, and the selling price is probably closer to the magazine prices.

The magazines usually say that there is a very slight price increase from the 1500 to the 1600 and the MK2, but I haven't noticed much difference in the prices I have seen advertised. Condition has a much greater effect on the price.
Jeff Schultz

IMHA the 1600 appears to have some inherent value above the 1500, simply due to the higher power and disc brakes. The Mk2 value appears similar to 1600, because although it has more power and better axle ratio, the styling changes are not to everyones taste. Of course many cars are now "upgraded", so these issues are less important.

The later model values seem to benefit from their rarity too.

In the UK the history is very important for value.

For anyone buying a car to drive, condition is most important, as that determines further potential costs. Dealers and "investors" (i.e. sellers) are more concerned about history, rarity etc.

How much do colour and wire wheels influence value?

Neil
Neil McGurk

The NADA site says to deduct 10% for steel wheels, but then again, they say to deduct for steel wheels on the Twin Cam and Deluxe, so how much can they know.

There is probably more price difference between 1500 and 1600 in the low to middle price ranges. More power and disk brakes don't matter much on a trailer queen.

Jeff Schultz

Which MGA is worth the most today?
Why, the answer is so obvious......

MINE!

LOL,
GTF
G T Foster

GTF. You have the most intelligent answer. An MGA is worth what the system will bring as scrap metal. Not a very great deal.

Beyond that, it is worth what someone is willing to pay for any specific example. Nothing more.

I purchased my original MGA for $500 in 1975. Gave it to my brother when I got orders for Germany. He and my father restored the body and I rebuilt the engine while back home on leave.

In 1978, I was sent back to the US, from Germany, to attend Squadron Officer's School, something that the "upper 50% of Air Force Officers" attended. My friend, Jim Townson, who had purchased his 61 MGA about the same time I had, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, had orders for England and wanted to take his Corvette with him. Thus, a somewhat complicated procedure where I sent him a cheque, he delivered the MGA to my sister in Dallas, she took him to the airport using airport transfers tonbridge to fly back to Austin and picked me up to receive the MGA.

I drove the MGA back to Alabama, then, down to Florida to leave it with my parents while I was in Germany. They brought it out to Arizona while we were stationed in Tucson and it is still with us today. Needs a full restoration, which it will have in time for my younger daughter to complete her doctorate. Then, she gets it.

What is such an association worth? Jim was my room mate when we lived in the F.E. Warren AFB, BOQ. He purchased the car from Henry Campbell, my Missile Launch Crew Commanding Officer in 1975. I purchased it from Jim, by then an "intel puke" in 1978.

It will have a frame up restoration with some needed modifications to make it more useable today's driving environment.

What is an MGA, or any MG worth? What you are willing to pay for it.

We are selling style and romance here. Considering the friendship, and the family history, I doubt my daughter would be willing to sell the MGA I am rebuilding for her.

There are many ways of defining "value". One of the least effective is cost.

Les
Les Bengtson

Value?? all over the map. My personal fav is the early 1500,w/w I think it has the purest lines.
wc wolcott

I am sure colour will affect the saleability and hence value of a car as Neil suggests. I was originally looking for a 1600 model - white with red interior or failing that red with black interior - I ended up with my black one with red interior! I am sure I paid under the odds because of its colour ( it cost me under £9000- 4 years ago)- cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

How about the value of Roadsters over Coupes has that evolved over the years??
I happen to think the Coupes have beautiful lines
John

John. Again, it is all about individuals. As it should well be. A certain inclination towards romanticism seems a common trait of those who collect old cars. Thus, while the common impression is that a roadster is more desirable than coupe, that does not hold up when an individual goes to make a choice. An individual knows what he/she wants, what they can afford to pay and when the two meet, they make their purchase. I would not even consider trading my torn apart for restoration MGA for the one in the Elvis Museum. I would much rather have mine and the memories associated with our past together and those which will be made during the restoration.

Someone who is into old cars as an investment will have a much different perspective than those of us who see them as an enjoyable hobby. They will set up some form of scheme to rank the vehicles based on condition, number produced, numbers surviving, historical associations, etc.

None of that matters to most hobbyists. In our case, it comes down to personal opinions, each of us having his own. Hence, no hard and fast "right or wrong" decisions about what is the "most valuable". Enjoyment is our measurement of value, not dollars/euros/yen.

Les
Les Bengtson

You cannot buy sentiment, and you cannot sell it. Value is what you are willing to pay for it and what the seller is willing to part with it for. Nothing else matters. Ultimately, however, the purchaser demand sets the market price, not the seller's wishes. And nobody cares whether one was in the top 50% of his class or the bottom 2%, as long as the car is what it is stated to be.
Billybob

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and value is whatever the market will bear. I own my MGA for personal enjoyment and am happy that I can afford to own, maintain and drive a car just for fun. If one is looking for an investment there are many better places for money than an old car.
Bill Haglan

As a driver, affordable, enjoyable open top motoring is the main appeal to me of the MG. The styling and feel of the MGA providing my ideal package. I love the styling of the coupe, but for driving pleasure, it's the headroom available when topless every time!

Neil
Neil McGurk

I just saw in Kieth Martins latest rag that a very nice 1500 frame off resto done in 2006 went for $35k.
Wow!
JohnB

1600 Deluxe bring a premium as do convertibles and wire wheel cars.

The nicest model for driving long distances is the coupe, and they are also much rarer and more expensiove to restore than the roadster, but values are lower - go figure.
Bill Spohn

Sold my Concours Mk11 roadster last year for Aus$45,000 (equivalent of UKPounds 18,000) So it's a matter of how much "they" are willing to pay for a top car. Now I'm working on another complete restoration of yet another Mk11. I'm still only 21 when at the wheel of my 1600 road car. I agree with Neil McG.
What price nirvana?
Barry
BM Gannon

Cheers Barry,

I have a Jaguar Mk2 that fits nicely if I want saloon comfort, these cars were styled in the same era and are in a similar value range to the MGA coupe (but don't mention fuel consumption!).

To me this is the perfect compliment to the MGA roadster (I also drive a 1600 and am restoring a MkII!).

After driving the MGA for a while the Jag feels powerful and comfortable, and after that, the MGA is nippy and sporty - and also makes me feel much younger than I look (am).

Neil
Neil McGurk

Sorry that was a 1600 that went for $35k.
JohnB

This thread was discussed between 07/03/2007 and 12/03/2007

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