1957 MGA 1500 Coupe

• The 1500 Coupe featured wraparound screens, wind-up windows and door locks
• 72bhp, 0-60 in 15 seconds and 98mph was pretty impressive in period
• Ex-Brian Moylan, BMC Competition Department technician and MGA aficionado
• In its original colour scheme and still wearing its 1957 registration mark SYT 356
• Two-year restoration just completed to exacting standards and original specification
• Supplied with its Heritage Certificate, a magazine article and photographs of the restoration

Officially launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1955, the MGA's looks must have come as quite a shock to MG aficionados who had become accustomed to the perpendicular pre-war look of the company's sports cars. It was a complete departure in styling and its beautiful streamlined bodywork was as curvaceous and attractive as anything from Italy or France. The modern look required a modern engine and, with the old XPAG unit getting a touch wheezy, the shiny new 'B-Series', recently debuted in the new Magnette saloon, seemed to fit the bill. The appeal of the MGA was quite staggering, in the first full year of production in 1956, more than 13,000 cars were built, which far exceeded the entire production achieved over a four year period with the TF. After only a year in production, the roadster was joined by a closed-in version, the MGA Coupe. This car was totally different in concept to the open-topped car with many refinements found on saloons of the day including wind-up windows, a wraparound front windscreen and similar rear screen. Lockable door handles were fitted making the car secure. A total of 101,081 MGAs of all varieties were sold through to the end of production in July 1962 when the much-loved model was replaced by the MGB, however, only 5,869 found homes here in the UK giving the MGA the highest export percentage of any British car.

This, remarkably smart, 1500 Coupe dates from 1957 and is presented in its original shade of Orient Red with contrasting black trim, disc wheels and the factory-fitted adjustable steering column. It's an outstanding example that has recently surfaced from a two-year rebuild which involved the removal of the engine and gearbox, a complete gearbox overhaul, a total body strip and rectification as and where required, replacement panels including new wings, refinished or replacement brightwork throughout, paintwork professionally refinished and finally reassembly to exacting standards.

The car was previously owned by Brian Moylan, MG aficionado, BMC Works Mechanic and author of several specialist publications including ''Beyond the Octagon'', ''Works Rally Mechanic'' and ''MG's Abingdon Factory''. Brian was also a Founder Member of the Abingdon Works Centre and it has been said that