Last updated on January 12, 2026
Today’s car is an MG MGA that I photographed back on March 8th, 2014. This one looks to be finished in Orient Red with a matching red interior. The white top seems a bit out of character, as I’ve never seen a two-tone MGA coupe before. That said, this one appears to be mildly customized with the bumpers removed, and I have to say — I like the look. It seems to streamline the body and sharpen the overall presentation.
MG stood for Morris Garages, the small Oxford outfit that turned ordinary Morris cars into lively little sports machines. The MGA was produced by MG from 1955 through 1962. The 1500cc engine, fitted with twin H4-type SU carburetors, produced 68hp at first, but was soon uprated to 72hp. Lockheed hydraulic drum brakes were used on all four wheels. An early open car tested by The Motor magazine in 1955 recorded a top speed of 97.8mph and covered 0–60mph in 16.0 seconds.
MG continued refining the MGA through 1962, introducing the 1600, the 1600 Mk II, and the rare and racy Twin-Cam variant. By the end of production, more than 101,000 MGAs had been built, with the majority exported to the United States. This made the MGA MG’s most successful model up to that point and helped cement the postwar British sports-car boom on American soil.
And like so many small British sports cars of the era, the MGA wasn’t about big horsepower or luxury—it was about the wind, the noise, and the simple joy of driving.
Thanks for riding along. Frank
