1959 MGA Race Car

Highlights

• In same family ownership since 2019

• 1959 build date - eligible for pre-1960 racing series’

• 1950cc competition engine

• Road legal 

• Extensive refresh in 2019

• Available for viewing on the PistonHeads Auctions stand at the Annual Service event at Bicester

Overview

The first all-new design offered by MG post-war, the MGA was brought about by a desire to be taken seriously in the American market, enter the motorsport industry, and - perhaps most importantly at the time - save MG from financial ruin, caused by a nose-dive in sales of the outdated TF.

Offered as both a convertible and a coupé for the majority of the model’s lifetime (the coupé was introduced very shortly after the convertible) the MGA was MG’s ticket to Le Mans, but also competed at the Bonneville Salt Flats, with a prototype car - known as EX179 - taking no less than seven international speed records!

This proven competition record on the big stages naturally trickled down into more grassroots motorsport, and that brings us to this particular example. Given the registration XCR 521, this 1959-built example (a crucial point, as it allows entry into pre-1960 competition classes) has been in the care of the seller’s family since 2019, but has been away from the open market for much longer, having been sold into the current family directly by a member of the MG community.

Originally delivered in Iris Blue over a Black interior and dispatched from the factory in September 1959 with Disc wheels as an optional extra, this MGA has enjoyed a history of hillclimbing and sprint use in its more recent history. Stripped out, upgraded and fettled to extract maximum performance and reliability whilst remaining both road and competition-legal, XCR 521 was given an extensive refresh at the time of purchase in 2019, and is reported to still be in excellent health.

History and documentation

• Registered 01 Jan 1961

• Heritage certificate confirms build date as September 1959

• British Motor Trust heritage certificate

• Historic documentation of race preparation and other works

• Extensive refresh carried out by Lackford Racing Limited in 2019 totalling £5,264.62

• Refresh works included new front brake pads, new wishbone washers, attention to the chassis, new thermostat housing, new half-shafts, a new rear master cylinder and attention to various small issues such as an over-tightened carb, dry coolant tank and more

• A new roll cage, seats and harnesses were fitted during this round of works

• During the refresh, the car was also corner weighted and set up, including an alignment

• The seller notes that there is no evidence of any damage to the car, and has been setup and tracked in his ownership to further suggest no outstanding issues

• This MGA is exempt from mandatory MoT testing due to being registered as a historic vehicle

• Due to restrictions on certain competition classes, this MGA is kept fully road-legal, allowing it to be used on the public highway as well as on track

• Two sets of wheels are included - rain tyres on Weller steel wheels and Toyo R888 tyres on a set of Minilites 

• Note although the odometer reads 10,457 the seller has no way to confirm this and due to age and nature of being a modified track car its likely a dial change would have occurred at some point in the past

• Battery isolator switch / electronic ignition fitted as per competition regulations

Interior

• Stripped-back, competition-specification interior 

• Custom metal door cards fitted as per competition requirements

• Seats, harnesses and roll cage fitted in 2019

• Tillett racing seat on driver’s side

• Fire extinguisher mounted on rear bulkhead

• Fan switch mounted ahead of passenger

• Push-button start

• Lightweight race battery

• Fuel cell located in the boot with modern fuel pump setup

• Expected patination / wear around exposed metal areas such as the footwells, centre transmission tunnel and door bars

• Some light wear visible to the steering wheel and shifter

• Typical scratches/scuffs to Carbon Tillett seat from harness buckles and regular use

• No reported electrical faults

• It is worth noting that for many race series, new harnesses and possibly seats will be required to comply with FIA date regulations

• Overall, a well-kept but purposeful cabin that wears some light usage scars with pride, but has otherwise been kept in very good order

Exterior

• Red bodywork in very good shape for a competition vehicle, having evidently been cherished over the years

• We’re told that wherever possible, lightweight body panels have been fitted, notably with aero-grade aluminium used for the bonnet and the boot

• Additional intakes in the front end to aid cooling

• All four of the Minilite wheels are in excellent condition, showing only some light marks from use over the years

• Light corrosion noted around the headlight trims

• Typical smattering of stone chips to the front end

• External bonnet and boot locking pins

• Additional bonnet louvres for improved cooling

• Number roundel on both doors

• Stone chips and wear visible along the lower edge of both sides/sill areas

• The paintwork is typically lightly worn and shows swirl marks when in direct sunlight, but is very presentable on the whole

• Underneath, everything looks to be in great condition as far as we can see, with only some light ‘browning’ to exposed edges and no reported corrosion issues

• In conclusion, this is a smart competition-specification example of the venerable MGA Coupé that wears its light patination with pride

Mechanical

• Upgraded competition-spec 1950cc inline-four engine, producing approximately 150bhp

• Power is sent to the rear wheels through a five-speed gearbox and Quaife differential

• Twin-cylinder brake setup with bias valve

• Electronic ignition and upgraded fuel supply setup

• Omega pistons

• 300 cam with ‘stage 4’ cylinder head

• Current setup weighs circa 800kg wet

• Strengthened Brown and Gammons rocker arms and toughened rocker shaft

• Heat-wrapped manifold

• Weber carburettors

• Upgraded alternator

• Modern radiator setup with switchable fan

• Oil catch can

• Upgraded header tank

• Under the bonnet, the engine bay is in excellent condition, with no signs of any major leaks or heavy wear to any engine components

• The valve and rocker assembly all looks to be in great shape too, as far as can be seen

• We’re told that this competition MGA Coupe is in excellent health, sounds great and is ‘not for the faint hearted’ on account of its light weight, spritely engine and lack of modern driver aids

Summary

A proven competition history, considerate upgrades and a rasping 1950cc engine with Weber carburettors, all ensconced in a lightweight body and frame with aero-grade materials used where possible for the bodywork makes this MGA Coupe sound like our kind of fun. 

Offering road-legal thrills and competition eligibility across a number of championships and race series, this MGA Coupe would make for a fine addition to any amateur or semi-professional racing driver’s lineup, or perhaps as a high-performance classic racer for weekend adventures. However you choose to use and enjoy this MGA, there’s no doubt that the addictive intake noise and bark from the four-cylinder engine will have you chasing redlines in no time…

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Crawley, West Sussex.

Please note that the car will be on display at the PistonHeads Annual Service on 9 August 2025 at Bicester Motion.