1959 MG A Twin-Cam Coupe

Speaking of late cars, that is exactly what we have here. First registered in June 1959, this is clearly a late-build car, with production of the Twin-cam in both Roadster and Coupé forms ceasing during mid-1959, due to economic pressure and the fact that competitors in the shape of the Austin-Healey 100/6 and Triumph TR3 taking MG’s share of the market.

Not only is this a late-production car, but one of only 150 Twin-Cam, right-hand-drive coupés to roll out of the Abingdon factory, making it a very rare example indeed, and the only one that our vendor has ever seen in the fantastic shade of Mineral Blue, which is confirmed as the correct factory colour by the all-important Heritage Certificate which accompanies the vehicle.

Restored extensively to its correct factory specification during the 90s and early 00s, the restoration work still presents fantastically to this day, and the vehicle has evidently seen only light, considerate use since the culmination of works.

Purchased by our vendor during August 2020, the car was driven from London to his home in Kent, with no issues arising from the engine, drivetrain or chassis.

A serial MGA Coupé owner, the vendor’s earliest automotive-related memory involves an MGA coupé in Alamo Beige at the impressionable age of 12. Since then, he has owned a cherished and much-used MGA Roadster for a number of years, as well as having a share in a MGA Twin-Cam coupé with a good friend for a number of years, which has since been sold, leading to the purchase of this Mineral Blue example you see here.

Since coming into its current ownership, this utterly stunning coupé has seen only very light use, having been slowly worked-over by the vendor to address several small snagging issues (such as a water leak, door latch issue and wheel colour change) and kept in a garage alongside the rest of his carefully-curated car collection.

Now, this example is offered for sale - somewhat regretfully, our vendor states - in fantastic condition throughout, and offers the rare opportunity to obtain a restored, factory-correct example of the exceedingly rare Twin-Cam Coupé in RHD.

Arrestingly beautiful, the MGA coupé in both 1500 and Twin-Cam form compel you to simply take in their lines for a while, ideally over a nice cold pint outside a country pub. It really is one of those cars that you get almost as much joy from looking at as being behind the wheel.

Whilst the restoration work was undertaken around 20 years ago on this particular example, the bodywork and paint still present in fantastic condition, and have stood the test of time very well indeed, suggesting that the work was carried out to the highest standard.

Looking along the sculpted flanks of the car, the bodywork looks straight and true throughout, with crisp shut lines and an overall feel of quality, with the only slightly mis-aligned panel being the passenger door, which appears to have dropped slightly on its hinges, though it proved no trouble to open-and-close the door, suggesting only minor adjustment is required from an aesthetic standpoint.

The paintwork is also excellent throughout, with only some light marks and wear noted, such as the odd light scratch and blemish, though these are all documented in the extensive gallery of photos below. Believe us, we’re really picking at minor issues here, which is testament to the overall condition of the vehicle.

Similarly, the chrome - both in terms of trim and bumpers - is in fantastic condition, with only the lightest pitting and patina noted on areas such as the over-riders, door catches and window surrounds.

At the rear, the boot lid that is currently fitted to the car is complete with a chrome luggage rack, though another boot lid is also included, without the rack fitted but complete with the correct badging and details, which the vendor tells us was a true labour of love to source, spray and finish in period-correct detail.

Including the spare, all five of the Dunlop knock-off disc wheels are in outstanding condition with only a couple of very small blemishes, and five nearly-new period-look Michelin tyres are fitted, with the vendor stating that less than 50 miles have been covered since they were fitted.

All five of the dunlop knock-off disc wheels are in outstanding condition having been recently refurbished, with only a couple of very small blemishes noted on the four wheels currently fitted, and all wheels are wrapped in nearly-new period-look Michelin tyres, with the vendor stating that less than 50 miles have been covered since they were fitted and the spare has never seen the road.

As with the exterior, the older restoration on the factory-correct interior still presents wonderfully to this day, with very little in the way of noticeable wear or patina noted during our photoshoot.

The correct-specification competition seats, for example, are excellent, with only the lightest creases noted to the leather covers and no sign of any damage.

The carpets and over-mats are also excellent, whilst in the rear the luggage compartment (on the inside of the cabin) is also in great condition, though there are some wear marks noted on the nearside, behind the passenger seat.

Up above, the headliner is taut throughout with no sign of any sagging or major staining.

Typically, there is some light patina noted to the chrome high-traffic areas such as the door handles, quarter light catches and switchgear, though this all adds to the character of the car, and still presents wonderfully.

Truthfully, the only particularly visible signs of wear - other than the aforementioned internal luggage area - are the slightly worn lettering on the starter and other dash-mounted controls, and the offside quarter-light, which is not correctly bonded into its frame and requires re-securing.

All of the switches and dials appear to be in full working order, though the choke lock does not latch correctly, and requires some adjustment or attention - a simple enough job for any competent home mechanic.

Looking at the chassis and inner arches, it is evident that the car has seen only the lightest use since the restoration was completed, as the underside presents very well indeed.

During our brief inspection, we noted no sign of any corrosion in the arches, and the frame also looks to be in fantastic shape, with only the lightest ‘bloom’ visible on some fixings and exposed areas, as expected from an older restoration such as this, but certainly not giving any cause for concern.

The twin-cam engine fires up with ease even from cold, and settles into a happy idle with no sign of any hunting, untoward noises or behaviours.

Out on the road, the four-speed ‘box is wonderfully tight and slick, whilst the close pedals make rev-matching a joy and the synchromesh on 2,3 and 4 working perfectly in our experience. The throttle response is also wonderfully sharp, whilst the oil pressure also shows a steady, strong figure.

One thing we feel is definitely worth highlighting on this example is the overall feel of ‘tightness’ in the sense that all of the inputs from the brakes to the steering, gearbox and throttle feel taut and in-tune, with none of the sloppiness that can be prevalent in older restorations from this era - this really is a true gem of a Twin-Cam, and the vendor reports no known mechanical faults, nor could we find any during our short test-drive and photo shoot.

Naturally, this MGA Twin-Cam Coupé is correctly registered as a historic vehicle and therefore does not require a mandatory MoT certificate. That said, the last exam in 2017 showed a clean pass with no advisories at 17,776 miles (indicated) and there doesn’t outwardly appear to be any reason that the vehicle wouldn’t sail through another MoT, should the next owner wish to obtain a certificate.

Despite the evidently extensive works that have gone into the restoration of the vehicle at the turn of the century, there is very little in the way of documented restoration, though there are several photos showing the car at various stages of restoration.

Importantly, however, the Heritage certificate is present and confirms the car has been restored to its correct specification, though the original engine number is not noted, and therefore it is not possible to know whether this is the original engine in the vehicle.

Interestingly, there is also a DVLA document in the file that lists the names and addresses of all the previous owners. It is not shown in the gallery for GDPR reasons.

In addition to the all-important certificate and list of previous owners supplied by the DVLA, there are also numerous invoices from both the current and previous ownerships, detailing various works including new seals, clutch release bearing and numerous pipes in 2018, a carburettor rebuild in 2016 alongside a major service in the same year.

Whilst in the current ownership, various small issues such as the door catches, wheel paintwork and tyres have been addressed, and the invoices for this work are included in the folder.

The old DVLA ownership record is also present - something that cannot be obtained these days due to data protection laws - which allows the owner to track the early ownership history of the vehicle.

Finally, the V5 registered keepers document is present, showing nine former keepers.

Arrestingly beautiful, exceedingly rare and a milestone in the history of the MG Car Company, this factory right-hand-drive Twin-Cam coupé is a true collectors item, yet remains wonderfully useable, which is a major plus point in our opinion, as these coupés are fantastic to drive, especially one in such rude mechanical health as this.

Presented in wonderful condition throughout with an older restoration, fastidious ownership and all-important heritage certificates and documents, this is an opportunity not to be missed by any British sports car or MG enthusiast.

Being sold No Reserve with an estimated value of £35,000 to £45,000, we expect this this 1-of-150 right-hand-drive Twin Cam coupé auction to be rightfully popular, so be sure to bid well and often to be in with a chance of owning this absolute peach of an MGA Twin-Cam.

Good luck!

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.