1957 MGA 1500
This car is a daily driver, conditions allowing. It's top is black, with the later three-window design. Plastic is reasonably clear. The top is serviceable, but has about an inch of tearing at right-front just above the windscreen. The side curtains are of the later type; aluminum frame with dial sliding plexiglass. The heater and fan work well. Rain can be problematic, and the rubber dam under the windscreen doesn't seal completely. I prefer to drive with the top down, but am comfortable putting it up when needed. The car has a split toneau cover.
A sketch of what has been done on this car since I bought it about 10 years ago...
- Transmission rebuilt professionally.
- Brake cylinders rebuilt or replaced.
- Hydraulics for brakes and clutch use silicon DOT 5
- Brake pads replaced (drums are original to me)
- Rack/pinion has had fluid replacement only.
- Front dampers (shocks) replaced
- King pins rebuilt professionally
- All front-end rubber components replaced
- I do not recall if I replaced springs or not
- Engine rebuilt
- Engine block tank cleaned
- Cylinders sleeved to (I think) +.01. At rebuild, the pistons were questionable and cylinders had already been bored to +.04 max.
- Pistons, rings and pins replaced (rods retained)
- Crankshaft replaced
- Oil pump, pressure relief valve replaced
- All machine work done professionally
- All bearings (including cam) replaced
- Rocker shaft replaced, rockers as needed
- Distribut0r drive shaft replaced
- Front cam timing wheel, chain and damper replaced
- Pushrods and followers replaced
- Head rebuild professionally (valves and guides replaced) - No-lead safe.
- Distributor professionally rebuilt (University Motors). Remains points based.
- Carbs rebuilt, but likely should be re-sleeved.
- Floorboards and carpeting replaced
- Master cylinder (brakes and clutch) rebuilt
- Clutch slave cylinder replaced
- Clutch, pressure plate and throwout bearing replaced
- Headlights rewired to use relays
- Brake lights rewired to use relay
- Speedometer refurbished professionally
- Two wheels tuned and trued, two replaced with 60-spoke Stainless Steel.
- Distributor rebuilt professionally.
- Electrical system remains 12volt positive ground, but dual 6-volt batteries replaced with a single 12-volt (modern) battery.
- Electric fuel pump replaced with original type.
- Muffler replaced.
- Rack & pinion
- Differential, axles, rear bearings
- Rear dampers
- Rear leaf springs
- Generator
- Radiator
- Fuel-tank
- Body work of any sort
Each image is linked to a higher resolution photo.
Floorboards, marine grade plywood, commercially prepared, receiving several coats of marine-grade varathane.
Under the drivers seat, steering wheel in upper right, drivers door open.
Looking under the drivers seat, just forward of the drivers door. Clutch, brake, and accelerator pedals visible.
Under the passenger seat.
Under-body was liberally coated with rubberized sealant when reassembled.
Prior to king-pin rebuild (commercial shop) and damper replacement (Apple Hydraulics recondition).
Some paint bubble/peal on bottom edge of lid, and chipping around opening.
Some scratching, but reasonable alignment of door. Not visible: the car retains the body-color trim piece at bottom of body under the side of the car.
The tail-end of the toneau cover is visible at the back of the cockpit. This is a short toneau that allows it to stay in place when the top ius put up.
Some denting of drivers door, and a paint void at the top-rear of door. Door panels, trunk and bonnet, as on all MGA's, are aluminum.
Original equipment metal dash is in storage. Previous owner had covered it much like early MGB dash, so condition is not known. Everything in the dash works correctly, with the exception of the choke, which is a replacement that doesn't hold the choke in the on position as the original. Note that the combination pressure/temperature gauge and the fuel gauge positions have been swapped. The steering wheel is 14" as opposed to original 15". The original is not included with this car.
Headlamps use a relay circuit. This places less stress on the headlamp switch and results in brighter headlamps. The brake lights are also on a relay, done to protect replacement brake light switches which have less tolerance than the original.
Front of bonnet has some paint peal, and chips around edge of opening. Not visible: there is a small dent on the grill surround.
Grill dent is left of center on bottom.
Couple of chips on the front fender.
Not visible: The seats are serviceable, but have some minor stitching tears.
These photos were taken last summer. Current mileage is ~37,450. The tach does not normally show rpm when off. Don't know what was up with this photo. Indicator lamps work, but might be missing some sort of shielding; dash lights bleed into the high-beam and generator fault indicators.
The speedometer was professionally reconditioned (Mo-Ma, an awesome job!).
Both front wheels are 60-spoke stainless steel. Wish I was able to afford all four! These require a minimum of servicing. Tires are Michelin Radials.
Rear wheels are painted 48-spoke. They were trued since I owned the car. Two of the four wheels were not serviceable and were replaced with modern 60-spoke Stainless Steel. This was preferred over chrome for maintenance reasons.
The body-color trim piece under the side is visible in this photo.