1934 MG PA

This 1934 MG PA is fresh from a nigh-on four-figure bill from Ecurie Fusil to fettle the sort of niggle little jobs many of us would turn a blind eye to – and this built on earlier work from the same firm, which led to an even larger invoice in 2020.

‘TJ 5143’ has clearly not been run on a tight budget.

Paperwork on file shows it was first used as a demonstrator with Messrs. Woodburn & Spence Ltd of Prestwich before moving, in the same role, to the wonderfully-named J. Cockshoot & Co. Ltd of Manchester.

Little more is known until it made the trans-Atlantic move to Colorado in around 1983. It left the USA in 1989 and was restored by Robert Betteridge in the UK in 1990-91. 

The DVLA eventually reissued it with its original registration number, which is a nice touch, and it’s had three former keepers since arriving back in Blighty.

It was the subject of more extensive work in the early noughties; its engine was rebuilt in 2001 and a further 92½ hours of fettling were recorded in 2003.

It’s been in the seller’s care since 2014, and he’s thoroughly enjoyed his time with it. He reminisced that it was his generation’s go-to sportscar, and he’s pleased to have been able to make his lifelong dream of owning one a reality.

One of the best things about it, he smiled, is that it makes people smile. Now, aged 81, he thinks it’s time to let the MG go to a new home.

The PA’s proportions are perfect, aren’t they? Beautifully balanced, it ticks every vintage sportscar box in the book; no wonder they’re so sought-after, even after almost a century.

This one is in good shape too, with good panels that are largely free of dents, dinks, and ripples. The British Racing Green colour suits it very well too.

The chromework provides a lovely contrast to the dark coachwork, and it is in a good condition with only moderate tarnishing and pitting, and no significant defects such as rust or flaking chrome.

The semaphore indicators work as they should too, and smaller details like the fuel filler and radiator caps mean every journey is a tactile and aesthetic joy.

The windscreen folds down and can even be removed, leaving a brace of smaller aeroscreens to provide rudimentary wind protection while fuelling your Le Mans fantasies. 

Rear-hinged doors allow for more elegant entry and egress than would otherwise be the case, something that’s even more important on a car as diminutive as this.

The 4.00-19 Blockley tyres were fitted to a set of brand-new 19-inch silver wire wheels in 2012, and both the wheels and the rubber are in a good condition, including the matching spare.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. 

The green roof furls and unfurls easily, and while it’s never going to rival an MX-5 for weatherproofing, vintage car drivers are a hardy breed and most would consider it to be civilised enough to qualify as spoiling you, especially considering the MG also comes with a set of door tops.

The roof and doors are in a very good condition with no holes, rubbing marks, or loose seams. The roof also tucks away beneath a matching cover when it isn’t needed, and the tan-coloured inner headlining is both clean and free of damage.

As for flaws and blemishes, the paint is cracked around the MG badge, the nearside door has some damage along its edge and near the upper hinge, bubbling has broken out beneath the paint on both rear wheelarches and the base of the offside windscreen support, the paint on the fuel tank is cracked, and the offside front wheelarch has a couple of large chips.

The paintwork is otherwise fairly tidy, albeit with a light patina of the usual scratches and stonechips.

The symmetrical wooden dashboard is in good shape with no chips, cracks, or peeling lacquer. The dashboard also plays host to four octagonal instruments: a combined tachometer and speedometer directly in front of the driver; an oil temperature gauge towards the centre; an ambient thermometer further to the left; and a larger housing containing instruments that cover battery charge and oil pressure in front of the passenger.

There are Bakelite controls and mounts on the dashboard too, plus a Bluemel’s Brooklands steering wheel that as attractive to hold as it is to look at.

The octagonal gearknob sits on top of a gearlever whose mechanism is open to view, all the better to be able to admire the quality of engineering that went into designing and building it. Two further octagonal controls, with a brass label above them, sit in front of it.

The green leather seat, with its individual base cushions and shared backrest, is in a fine condition with nothing more than gentle creasing marring its surface. 

The door cards have been trimmed in the same material, and the floor is covered by a neatly bound green carpet.

There might not be a boot as such, but there is a decent-sized space behind the seats for soft luggage and coats. Further storage space, for things like passports and mobile phones, is provided in the door pockets.

The boot is very neatly trimmed, and its floor lifts up to give access to the rear axle and differential. Clever, huh?

Vintage car engine bays are usually a delight for those of us who appreciate proper engineering, and this one is no different. Very nicely presented, everything is accessible – and obvious, which would make it the perfect car for someone who’s keen to develop their DIY skills.

To make servicing even easier, the engine has been covered to use a modern spin-on oil filter, and other nice touches include a set of spare sparkplugs mounted on the bulkhead, and remote lubrication points. 

Braided fuel lines add another layer of security, and all-in-all this looks like a well-fettled example that should prove to be as reliable as it is fun.

Speaking of which, Our Man reports that it “starts and drives great!”, which is high praise from someone who still has a subscription to Max Power.

The seller knows a chap who’s something of an MG expert and an amateur racer, and after driving the PA said, "it is much more lively than others I have driven!”

As the video demonstrates, the 847cc engine starts on the button, and idles and revs like a Singer sewing machine. It also makes a nice noise, shows good oil pressure, and doesn’t show excessive smoke. 

But then the engine was rebuilt in 2001 by A.E. Tieche and Co. of Wembley, and more recent work includes having a new head gasket fitted. 

The clutch has been repaired recently too, and the only other issues the seller has had to sort out have been a dried-out cork seal in the fuel system, and a dodgy condenser. 

He also mentioned that it can be hard to start when it’s hot, but further probing revealed this has only happened three times in the twelve years he’s owned it, which we think says more about his honesty than it does any failings on the part of the MG.

The underside is well protected with a combination of paint and underseal. It looks good and solid too, and, like the engine bay, accessibility is excellent.

The MG doesn’t have a current MoT certificate. 

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear and the history file contains a number of invoices dating back to 1934 for parts and work, including the two significant bills we referenced in our introduction. 

It also has a genuine Instruction Manual, a good number of expired MoT certificates, and a V5 Registration Certificate in the seller’s name.

The joys of vintage motoring really cannot be overstated; we know folk who’ve has Porsches and TVRs and other high-performance sportscars who’ve gone on to buy a vintage car and never looked back.

If you do take the plunge then the VSCC is the club to join as it runs a huge number of sporting and social events; if you’re of a sociable nature, you need never have a quiet weekend.

And yet, not everyone appreciates their charm, which means they’re reasonably priced.

Our estimate for this car is £15000 - £18000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.