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MG MGA - How about a new MGA?

Yes, a completely new MGA! An MG mechanic here in Oslo, Norway, is now finishing building an MGA from scratch. He has bought it as spare parts from England. It looks wonderful!
He sold the car before he started the process. Of course it will be expensive.
But I like the thought. Having a new MG.
I myself have a TD, my dream car since I was 13. I had to wait for almost 60 years to get it.

Raymond Wardenaer

Nice one

What do you think Steve S ?

Only kidding! We don't want to go back there do we?

Not sure the parts would have been from England though Ray, maybe shipped to him via the UK?
Bob Turbo Midget England

Looks very Interesting, do you have any more info / pictures ?

I think MOSS made a 'new' one from there parts a few years back too. Not sure if it's still on the roads, maybe someone here knows ?
M Elliott

It was too dark in the workshop, and the car is not yet finished. Here is one more image. Long time since I have seen such a clean engine in an old car model!

Raymond Wardenaer

It certainly looks very good.

However, I don't think it will be any better than a fully restored car and possibly less so. Especially given all the replacement parts with function, fit, or reliability problems.

Looks like a 3 main bearing engine, but no breather hose on the rocker cover.
N McGurk

Hi Neil perhaps if ALL the parts come from Moss they might ALL fit together.


Gordon
g c pugh

Hello Gordon!

Now we both know how unlikely that is!

I expect that the builder of this car is highly skilled and that he has used a lot of more modern replacement parts and upgrades.

Also, there are parts that are simply not available new, like that 3 bearing engine block, although they can still be bought fully reconditioned "outright" occasionally.

So there are at least some old parts in the car.
N McGurk

Hi Neil I wonder if he needs a NEW tool kit


Gordon
g c pugh

Wonder how much it cost from spare parts?
Anybody added up the Moss catalogue?
Art Pearse

Nice project Raymond - I assume he used an original chassis as the basis - will it have to be registered as a new car in Norway - or will it be like a kit car and have a "Q" plate as in England?
Cam Cunningham

Cam, I did not ask him about those things.
Raymond Wardenaer

Back in the 80's when I was doing my car I corresponded with a gentleman in the UK who had a brand new service replacement TC chassis. He was going to build a complete car. I think his name was Henry Stall? I bought my chrome finishing strips from him for my coupe.
gary starr

I don't think that the car would be 100% new, as there are quite a few parts that are virtually impossible to obtain new...even the chassis which the likes of Anglo sell, are only refurbished ones.
Gary Lock

Hi the one that Moss did I think was back in the early 1980's and was the subject of a number of articles in Practical Classics I seem to remember


gordon
g c pugh

Raymond,

Is the "cat out of the bag" yet as to what your friend received in pre-payment for this lovely "A?" Or is that privileged information?

I occasionally have a "hankering" for an MGA but usually have my hands full with my '51 TD and '54 TF. I am enjoying your film clips around Oslo from your new camera mounted on your TD.

Jerry
Jerry Chandler

There were NOS blocks available from Limora until about eight years ago. And one local guy even has found NOS Twin Cam head and block in the last few years. That engine is being built up now.
dominic clancy

One should ask if things like the following were brand new:

engine block and head
differential casing
transmission
chassis
front uprights

and then if the answers are yes, consider if you'd really want parts built to the iffy standards of today rather than factory originals, refurbished.
Bill Spohn

I've always dreamed about building a completely new "old" car from NOS parts. Unfortunately it will never be more than a dream, and even with repro parts I doubt it could be accomplished since not everything is new. There was a guy who planned to build an MG TC from scratch, fabricating everything himself from raw materials in his garage. Unfortunately he received too much flack from certain groups for creating a replica and he abandoned the idea.
Steve S

I recall about 20 years ago Abingdon Motors here in Brisbane Australia had a brand new unused and factory crated MGA Twin Cam motor on display. Wonder what Rod did with that one??
regards
Mark
Mark Mathiesen

I remember some guy built a "new" old British motorbike, which featured in the Institute of Mechanical Engineering magazine. Apparently he managed to get hold of almost all the factories drawings and created 3d cad drawings that were used to reproduce every unique component. This was several years ago and the interest angle from the magazine was new (tooling) technology would make this kind of thing much easier in future.

I don't think we should be too hard on Raymond, the first time to see what is involved and the parts necessary to do a (totally) full restoration it certainly can appear (or be made to appear) to be an all new car from scratch!
N McGurk

This thread was discussed between 13/03/2012 and 17/04/2012

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