Works MGA Chassis Numbers

[cavebloke]

Hi,
I need some help. I'm looking at buying what is claimed to be an 'ex-works' MGA. I have all the relevant details including reg, engine and chassis numbers (although I don't really want to post them here for security reasons). Can anyone help me check the legitimacy and history of the car? Are there any online resources which could help?
Would really appreciate it as I am a Lotus man really and feel a bit out of my depth on this one. Beautiful car though.
Cheers,
cavebloke

[thewave]

cavebloke said:

Hi,
I need some help. I'm looking at buying what is claimed to be an 'ex-works' MGA. I have all the relevant details including reg, engine and chassis numbers (although I don't really want to post them here for security reasons). Can anyone help me check the legitimacy and history of the car? Are there any online resources which could help?
Would really appreciate it as I am a Lotus man really and feel a bit out of my depth on this one. Beautiful car though.
Cheers,
cavebloke

Bit stuck with helping you on the works MGA's, I'm more clued up on the works MGC's.

For information though, i'd suggest the following.

Doug Smith at MGMotorsport www.mgmotorsport.com

MG Enthusiast MGA section http://www2.mgcars.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=mgb...
(you don't need to register to post)

http://www.mgaguru.com/

They're the only websites that are in my favourites that might help I'm affraid. Good luck though, MG's are superb (but then i'm biased )

[MG Mark]

Appreciate why you don't want to post details. Not sure how many of the "works" MGAs are still to be found, the last was one of the Sebring cars, but I doubt that you will find much of any use online. On a car there will be telltale signs of a works entry relating to gauges, switches, etc, but these are all relatively easy to replicate and may have just been fitted by soemone who was club racing. I'd go straight for talking direct to the MG Car Club, as they have the factory's records and will be able to point you in the right direction; Im farily sure that they sorted out authenticating the Sebring car. Contact them at:

Kimber House, PO Box 251, Kimber House, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 1FF
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] email: [e-mail]

Or, have a chat with Bob West who specialises in racing MGAs and owns SRX 210, the Le Mans MGA:

http://www.bobwestclassiccars.co.uk/raceprep.htm

MG Mark

Edited by MG Mark on Wednesday 31st October 09:27

[MG Mark]

Oh, should have added, do take really great care over any "ex-works" claims - all of the "bits", even chassis plates, are easy to replicate, and people have been known to clone cars. I remember seeing one of the ex-Le Mans Triumph Spitfires being advertised in the classic press as a pristine renovation after the car had supposedly been "found", and happened to mention it to the guy who ran the garage that I use for MGA bits. He promptly told me that he had already been onto the magazine concerned and the owner because he knew it was a fake - when I asked how he knew, he took me round the back to one of his garages and there was that same original works car, but the real one, even down to still having the various Le Mans scrutineering seals attached.....

The Sebring MGA ended up being authenticated by one of the old MG mechanics who had worked on that car, through being able to identify particular things that he had done on the car, either deliberately or accidentally, which really could not have been replicated on a fake as people simply would not have known about them - little things like a little dent here or there, component alignment marks etc. If it really is a factory "works" car rather than an MGA with racing history, then it is a valuable find,

MG Mark

[cavebloke]

Cheers guys I'll start making some enquiries. Looks like this is going to be a more difficult task than I had hoped. I was hoping there would be a database of works chassis numbers as a starting point. You're right though I'll get in contact with the owners club.

[thewave]

Also check for scruitineer marks under arches etc possible tell tale signs

[MG Mark]

cavebloke said:

I'll get in contact with the owners club.

The MG Car Club, and not the MG Owners Club - they're quite different! Good luck and let us know in time how you get on,

MG Mark