Please Help Us I.D. this MGA

Moderator · January 12, 2008, 02:06:25 PM

This photo was taken at the 2003 British V8 meet in Townsend TN.

Can anyone help me out with more information about the car and/or it's owner.

Obviously it's an MGA, but what engine does it have? Got pictures you can share with us? Contact info for the owner?

(Don't hesitate to contact me by "personal message" or e-mail if you prefer.)

BlownMGB-V8 · January 12, 2008, 02:11:53 PM

It's a 4 but I don't know what one.

Jim

MGBV8 · January 12, 2008, 10:11:56 PM

That's not the way I remember it, Jim.

I was standing in the driveway of the motel when this car pulled & immediately drew a crowd. It looked like it drove right out of the pages of Hod Rod Magazine! The owner said it was widened 5-6" & I'm fairly certain, 302 Ford powered. The graphics & color scheme was intentionally borrowed straight from MG XPower.

It didn't hurt the looks of the MGA one bit to be 5-6" wider. I think a 5" wider MGB would look just as good.

TKMad · January 12, 2008, 11:11:05 PM

I wondered why the front of the hood was no longer a continuous curve. I would love to see that car in person...

BlownMGB-V8 · January 13, 2008, 10:00:10 AM

Are you sure Carl? I was there too but remember it a little differently. I seem to recall being highly impressed with the quality of the work done on it but being just a little disappointed at the engine choice. Of course that was a few years ago and I suppose I could be mistaking it with another car. Not that it's distinctive or anything. ;-)

Jim

MGBV8 · January 13, 2008, 10:17:40 AM

"I seem to recall being highly impressed with the quality of the work done on it but being just a little disappointed at the engine choice."

Yeah, me too. I thought it should have had a SBC!

MGBV8 · January 13, 2008, 11:02:32 AM

Jim,

I'm fairly certain it's SBF powered. I can't see going to the trouble & expense of widening the body to stay with a 4 banger.

I've been searching the net for more info. Nothing yet. It's hard to fathom that a car of this caliber is not out there somewhere.

302V8 · January 13, 2008, 12:46:14 PM

Yes it was a SBF 302. Very nice car indeed. The paint was immaculate.
If my memory is working 'correctly' The car has a tubular space frame and a stretched MGA body.

Cheers

Pete

Bill Young · January 15, 2008, 09:21:54 AM

I thought I remembered seeing some photos of this car at one of the national MG events about 6 or 7 years back when it was in primer or at least painted white. I can't find any reference on the internet now, perhaps my memory is from shots fellow club members took at the event and showed at one of our club meetings. I'll do some more digging and see if I can get any more information.
Barney Gaylord's MGA site lists this car as having a V8 engine, but no information on the owner or type of V8 FYI.

MGBV8 · January 15, 2008, 05:56:53 PM

Notice where Barney got the pic.

Bill Young · January 17, 2008, 09:07:28 AM

One of my buddies who's been in KC longer than I remembers seeing a widened MGA with a 302 at a NAMGAR event here in KC in the early 90's. He said it was painted metallic red at the time. Don't know if it's the same car, but not likely there would be two like this around. Still trying to get more information.

MGBV8 · January 17, 2008, 03:37:50 PM

Years ago, I remember hearing stories of a widened MGA on the loose somewhere in Kentucky. I think there is more than one.

jblanchard@hcpg.net · January 17, 2008, 04:27:32 PM

Curtis,

This is an MGA owned by Steve Wayne here in Collierville, TN. He and his son completed this as a father son project. He lengthened and widened the car by 6". It is a great car, well put together and very unique.

Here is a link to the local British car club with a photo of his A.

http://www.memphisbritishcars.org/ Go to Gallery, then MGA.

Let me know if you want Steve's email address.

Jeb

Moderator · January 17, 2008, 04:43:50 PM

Jeb, you're my hero! The link above reveals / confirms that this is a 1961 MGA with a Ford 302...

I'll get in touch with Steve and see if we can't get him to humor us with more photos and a write-up.

MGBV8 · January 17, 2008, 04:50:40 PM

Tada!

I still can't believe there is not more of this car on the net. Curtis will fix that.

Lengthened? I don't remember him mentioning that, The wheelbase looks stock.

filospinato · January 18, 2008, 02:22:42 PM

Curtis,
I have a bunch of pics of this car in its building stage up to the final product, I stumbled across them one day and saved the lot. I will email them when I get out of work today.
Jake

MGBV8 · January 18, 2008, 03:58:09 PM

Way to go, Jake!

Moderator · January 24, 2008, 08:13:15 PM

Follow-up: We're in touch with Steve and an article is in the works!

It's going to be an awesome article, so I don't want to spoil it by posting material before its time. Suffice it to say that Jake came through with a whole mess of quality photos. This car features some amazing hammer-formed and custom-fabricated sheet metal.

Here are two snapshots to hold you over until the Spring newsletter edition is ready:

BlownMGB-V8 · January 24, 2008, 11:37:35 PM

You know, I'm pretty sure I saw a car that was right similar to this one in terms of paint and overall appearance but which had a 4 cylinder of some type. It may have been a Midget but the paint was very similar and it was at Townsend, time before last. Does anybody else remember that car? A young feller was driving it as I recall.

Jim

MGBV8 · February 02, 2008, 02:28:16 PM

"Follow-up: We're in touch with Steve and an article is in the works!"

Alright Curtis!!

I can't wait!

Moderator · June 05, 2008, 05:30:43 PM

Okay, it's time - the article is ready for your review!

Check it out by clicking here:
Steve Wayne's exceptional widened / tube-chassis MGA ,with Ford V8 engine (76 photos!)

Do me a favor and tell some people where you found this article.
Link to it from your favorite message boards.
We need YOUR help to promote and grow the British V8 website!

mowog1 · June 05, 2008, 11:01:13 PM

V6 Midget Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> One of my buddies who's been in KC longer than I
> remembers seeing a widened MGA with a 302 at a
> NAMGAR event here in KC in the early 90's. He said
> it was painted metallic red at the time. Don't
> know if it's the same car, but not likely there
> would be two like this around. Still trying to get
> more information.

This is NOT the same car as the widened red one. The red one was at MG '96 in Indy. It was nice...but not the engineering work of art that this blue one is.

MGBV8 · June 06, 2008, 11:05:10 AM

Years ago I heard rumors of a widened MGA on the loose in Kentucky.