MGA V8

[v8250]

shame about the tart's boudoir interior...but if i had £49k to waste i'd be soorly tempted...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MGA-V8-COUPE-YES-THATS-C...

must go like a rocket...quite lovely!

[NBTBRV8]

My father is very close to finishing what would be an "original" looking MGA 1500 with V8 that is as new. It looks very impressive and will probably put it in a few magazines.

[RichB]

Agree the interior is totally out of keeping with what an MGA is all about. I wonder if those wires will handle the power?

[v8250]

NBTBRV8 said:

My father is very close to finishing what would be an "original" looking MGA 1500 with V8 that is as new. It looks very impressive and will probably put it in a few magazines.

Any chance of posting some pics? There's a great before, during, and after post here on PH in the classic cars forum where I'm sure the chaps would love to see a V8 MGA.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

btw - what V8 block has your father gone for? You have some cracking V8 motors in Oz.

[v8250]

RichB said:

Agree the interior is totally out of keeping with what an MGA is all about. I wonder if those wires will handle the power?

What's more concerning is that the vendor's stating "Offered at less than a third of its build cost" with an asking pirice of £49K? If true, then someone has been taken for a serious financial ride @ £147,000!

[NBTBRV8]

v8250 said:

Any chance of posting some pics? There's a great before, during, and after post here on PH in the classic cars forum where I'm sure the chaps would love to see a V8 MGA.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

btw - what V8 block has your father gone for? You have some cracking V8 motors in Oz.

From the outside the car is a standard looking 1500 except for some 72 spoke 15" cross lace wheels in order to cope with the torque and fitted with a 5 speed Supra box. It is metallic silver with mid blue leather and will be fitted with a blue mohair type hood. It has a 3.5 litre V8 ala BGT V8 with standard GTV8 carbies and air cleaners. It has been a ground up rebuild, with under the car as new as what it is on top with originality to the MG marque being the theme. The little details to those in the know are what stand out, such as Jaeger faced MGA instruments, original gear lever and original 1950 Lucas headlights but to name a couple of touches. He's being restoring/concoursing and working on MGs for 30+ years and this is up there with the best he has ever done.

[NBTBRV8]

v8250 said:

Any chance of posting some pics? There's a great before, during, and after post here on PH in the classic cars forum where I'm sure the chaps would love to see a V8 MGA.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

btw - what V8 block has your father gone for? You have some cracking V8 motors in Oz.

Here are some in current in progress shots. The fuel tank looks rippley, but it is just the reflection off the concrete.

[RichB]

It was a long time ago when I was absorbed by MGAs but that looks like that is either a Twim Cam or a De Luxe that you dad has there. I seem to remember only the Twin Cam chassis front cross member had the drillings to gain access to some of the sump bolts (the De Luxe being based on the TC).

[dinkel]

It's amazing how small these are . . .

[RichB]

dinkel said:

It's amazing how small these are . . .

And yet amost the same size as the 'Big' Healey

[NBTBRV8]

My father's nearly finished the project:

[lucebayjack]

That looks lovely but why go to all that effort and expense and then put twin SU's on it?

[dinkel]

Maybe because what you see seems a standard and authentic manifold to me. I'd swap the lot and put a modern Ecu / Efi on it.

[RichB]

I am sure even with SUs that engine will give the MGA more than enough power to be good fun. This clearly isn't intended to be a hot rod. Just a nice discrete conversion. What will it have, 160 bhp? That's twice the original power.

[lucebayjack]

It really is stunning. Not a fan of the red one though. The advert is comical.

[midgeman]

Absolutely beautiful car

[dinkel]

RichB said:

I am sure even with SUs that engine will give the MGA more than enough power to be good fun. This clearly isn't intended to be a hot rod. Just a nice discrete conversion. What will it have, 160 bhp? That's twice the original power.

A mate has a mint MGB GT V8 with a similar bonnet treasure. Manifold probably weighs more than the ally 3.5! On SUs it was dynoed 190 brake. Another mate has a bog standard MGB and his 1.8 - free flow filters and no silencer - comes in at a 105 brake.

I'm very curious about this MGAs handling.

[NBTBRV8]

He really wanted to keep the car "standard" MG and fitting EFI to a 50s model car just detracts from this. It has the factory MG V8 manifold and carbs. You've also got to remember that the MGA hasn't got a monocoque chassis, so there is no point chasing horse power. Plus you've got wire wheels, so even though they are 72 spoke cross laced and strengthened spokes, you're still pumping some torque through it.

The whole concept of this car is for it to be as far from a hot rod as possible and as standard MG as possible. Even the gauges have been redone with Jaeger faces as per an original MGA, the gear lever is also modified to be the standard look/height with a factory knob. There is no other V8 MGA like it that we are aware of.

[dinkel]

http://www.britishv8.org/mg/thomasross.htm

[RichB]

dinkel said:

I'm very curious about this MGAs handling.

In my experience of many As and Bs the MGA is a better handling car.