MG MGA! Ordinary mechanicals made magical. Classic road(ster) test

How did they do it? MG always took ordinary running gear, in this case from humble Austin and Morris saloons, and created British sports cars that sounded magical and made you smile!

This 1960 (built 1959) MGA 1600 MK1 is finished in rare Alamo Beige which makes it all the more special. What an enjoyable classic car road test.

#cartest #classiccar #antiquecar

[raygale]

What makes it so special is the basic experience of driving a machine that is just complex enough to do what it needs to do, with no driving aides and no hiding the noise and feedback that the car produces. I'm considering buying an MGB here in Australia as I'm just done with modern cars. Excuse me now while I go change my shorts, that snorting roar was just to enjoyable.

[harpsi]

I remember see mgs parked around LA. In the late 50s.
While my Dad drove a Studebaker champion of green color. My dad did take a long look at the MGs
Well done video ! 😊

[RollinRoadsUK]

What a gorgeous, joyous little car! Wonderful

[bentullett]

That colour looks stunning on that MGA.

[nickfarrow]

MGA is the car I'm going to buy once I'm finished with my Sunbeam Alpine. Not fast, but IMO one of the most beautiful traditional roadsters ever built.

[curmudgeone]

@HubNut It’s as if you were Ian Carmichael in School For Scoundrels who had just traded in his ‘there’s one born every minute’ Swiftmobile for the sporty British number to make Terry-Thomas grit his gapped front teeth in rage at being one-upped. Lovely car and your joy at driving it so evident. I know zero about cars, how they work, how to fix them etc.; but I come from a time when cars had personality, one could truly self-maintain them and my dad loved them. Think if I keep watching your videos I may start at my relatively senior age to understand how they work. Your videos are a joy - no overweening ego, just solid knowledge, joy and a sense of humour. 🙂

[eddiejones.redvees]

I am very tempted to spend the inheritance money on one and just pass the car to my off springs when we have gone

[tonys]

An MGA has been on my wish list for 50 years but never found a good one at the right price, now way out of league. Had to make do with a Sunbeam Alpine, a very temperamental one, kept blowing head gaskets as had a warped head. The fleet engineer at work told me of his dodge for horizontal Leyland 680's, always the rear head that blew, the one that got the hottest, two gaskets and a few more ft/lbs torque, worked a treat until I traded it for a Tiger a year later.

[clarebrookes]

Brilliant video Ian, really enjoyed it as did you by the look on your face! The Flying Sausage as he is known is a lovely car. You are welcome to drive him any time.
Thanks for testing him 😊

[graemew]

You have just tested my favourite car of all time, I worked on loads as an apprentice in the late 80's and they drive so well. You're right about the rarity of Alamo Beige, I worked on loads over the 4 years and never saw one in that colour. You're also correct about the wood floor which was always something that I would add some metal plates to just for piece of mind. I'm off to watch this again, shame I can't give it more than one like ☹

[anjdog]

I've had many sports cars but my 1962 MGA is one of my favorites.

[stevesmith]

The indicator switch is actually vacuum. The delay is adjustable via a small screw in the rear, though on most the leather sealing washer has fried out and they don't work as they did when new.

Great vid and a lovely example.

[BigPaul]

I've never seen one in that colour. Suits the car quite well.

[petermckee]

I had one in the 1970s. I wish I still had it!
The hand brake is known as a "fly off" type. Not unusual in sports cars of the day.

[robkleinlangevelsloo]

The joy on your face, it's wonderful to see.
You are becoming my favorite motoring journalist.
There is almost no one as knowledgeable as you are.
Thank you. Keep up the good work.

[iainmacleod]

My late father owned an MGA hardtop when I was born YYK 30. He soon replaced it with an early Sunbeam Alpine after that which was a soft top. Shortly afterwards he bought a 1963 Jaguar Mark 2 which has defined my life and passion for classic Jaguars ever since. We still have the registration plate WWG5 on my mothers car.

[twocvbloke]

It's fun when a car actulaly sounds like it's got a tonne of power, but hasn't, yet gives the feeling of it being powerful, unlike modern things that have to do all kinds of trickery with the exhaust pipework to try and match this level of fun, but never achieve it... :P

[peterjames]

Great review of a lovely little car Ian; from a time when the world moved at a gentler pace. It looked like you genuinely enjoyed your drive! 😊

[TheAllyMor]

In all the years I've watched your videos, I don't think I've seen you enjoy a drive as much as this. What a noise from that beautiful wee car. Magic!!

[gearchange]

What a great video HubNut. Certainly a contender for the (never ending smile) category. Its an absolute pleasure seeing how much you enjoyed driving her.