MGB: The most beautiful MGA

Hi All !!!

In the process of restoring my car (partially) I am been thinking in the issue of what will be the best Color (body) and combination of interiors: Carpet, Seats, Dash, etc., that I will choose for my car.
I know that there are so many beauties (cars) in this forum and some more in other places.

With the above in mind and for the benefit of this group I have a proposal; to recognize in a Contest to all the fans and enthusiastic MGA´s people that every day contribute with ideas and opinions and in this case to select a Winner that brings, in the opinion of this forum the Most Beautiful MGA.

As a symbolic price for the first place I offer a Bottle of Wine (from one of the best vineyards in Baja) shipping incluided - yes, New Zeland or Australia included. (if the Customs office of your country allows it).

The rules: 2 categories: a) Owners that submit their prospect and b) Enthusiastics of this forum that submit what they found somewhere else and consider may be a winner. (In this point I think that we need permission and opinion from the Administrator of this forum to publish the images submitted in order to comply with the copyrights laws, etc.)

May be required 3, 4 or 5 photos with very good definition or high definition of the prospects (up to the forum or judges cho[i][/i]sen by the forum)

Additional rules may be developed with your ideas.

Thanks in advance for your opinions!!!

I win. Australia does allow the import of wine's. ( I don't think Canadians can enter due to custom laws )

British racing green, cream interior and silver wire wheels.

I'm a bit partial to D Type Jag Blue myself with a Dove Gray interior - 8^)

The most beautiful MGA...Is the one sitting in your own garage.
In my case it was and someday will be again, black with red interior (now mostly rust colored).

Gracial blue with grey interior.

Matt,
I agree with you but in my case it's Red with Black interior and Silver wire wheels.

I have to agree with Scott on the dark blue/gray, although my wifey thinks very dark green/tan. I also took a pic of this one at Euro a few years ago that I liked:

Another pic of that car:

[quote=skippymga]
I'm a bit partial to D Type Jag Blue myself with a Dove Gray interior - 8^)[/quote]

I do agree with you Scott, the 1500 in the shed will be D Type Jag Blue...oneday.
It is a very nice combination.

Mine is a driver.

You guys are too kind... Another for you Blue fans... 8^)

Heres a photo of the 31 car fresh off of restoration. Jaguar BRG on Gray was well.

Glacial Blue is something you will grow to love.

[quote=limbs47]
Glacial Blue is something you will grow to love.[/quote]

No need to grow into it, I love it already. Either that, Aqua, or Tyrolite Green will be the next color on the MGA.

Black, red interior.

One more...

Well since we just saw a black one with red interior, I'll suggest an Old English white one with red interior.







But, then I'm biased.
Brad

Totally agree with Brad,
Old English white with red interior and black carpet. It is what I aspire to when I repaint.
Liam

All of the photos make it harder for me to decide which color scheme to go with!

We are pretty set on OEW / Red, but I do like the Glacial blue / grey combo, as well as the black / red, dove grey / maroon, BRG / tan, ..... now I am on the fence again for ours :S:P



Our start


Our goal

Maybe the Post should be what color you would not put on your A.

If I had a blank canvas it would be very hard to pick a color unless I was trying to keep the car as she came from the factory. Best of luck to those trying to figure out a color scheme. Please let us all see the reults.

Obviously there is a certain bias prevailing with so many open body cars. Therefore, the winner should be the coupe, only if it simply has more interior. There is something about being surrounded by a clean crisp white headliner that is so comforting. Like a coccoon.

I have been collecting images since day one to help me decide. I am definitely going with the OEW exterior, as it is the original color and my original choice! Leaning toward black with red piping and trim for the interior, but dont have any sample pics of that. Any one help with an example? Even if it is a roadster...

[quote=jclars]

black with red piping and trim for the interior, but dont have any sample pics of that. Any one help with an example? Even if it is a roadster...[/quote]

Here is one


and another one in progress

[quote=marshgrassA]
Maybe the Post should be what color you would not put on your A. .[/quote]

This suggestion could turn nasty quite quickly and offend people.
For I really do not like the colour @#$%^&*()(&^%$ with %^&%@#$^%&*^$ interior. Hate it.


Raul should I sent a PM of my address yet?

Hi David,

I think your car has a big chance to be the winner, but at the same time I am seeing a lot of participants with interesting colors and combinations that will enrich and enhance our imagination about of the ideal car that we would like to have, Also I think that we must wait at least a period of 30 days to get all the responses and then get an election of the beautiful car(s) that will be the winner or winners,

At your choice I will offer for the winner(s) a bottle of Wine or a bottle of Tequila (the best of Mexico).

And yes, send me your address to start writing the labels of the container.

Regards

The color NOT to go with is ugly Alamo beige, haha!

This was going to be my choice until my dad "stole" my idea. Dark metallic red with tan interior and wood trim.

Right now I'm leaning towards glacier blue with tan interior when I finally get around to painting it.

How about Tyrolite Green with Black seats and matching green trim!!!!

Another Picture

No one has mentioned yellow - my 57 came to me in school bus yellow with black interior. I did a cheapie paint job in lighter yellow , similar to Jag "primrose" and changed the interior to brown. IMO, it looked better than some of the combos presented here, not as good as others...

Hmmm...

I would add another vote for Glacial Blue. With steel wheels and wide white wall tires. White top. Interior in a light gray.

I also like the Old English White with black interior with white piping. Black top. Steel wheels.

No luggage racks... they take away from the awesome MGA curves :D

Sorry.. I like the steel rims over wires any day ;)

The most beautiful, in the eye of the beholder so there will be no one winner. Just my thoughts.
Ron

Ron,

The intention of these contributions from the forum is basically to get ideas and copy them in benefit to other members and non members of this forum that are trying to decide wich color, combination, finish or details we can learn from the material published.

I agree that is difficult to make a choice because the different options and proposals are in most of the cases in oposit directions but in the eye of the forum must be at least a minimum consensus tho choose from the material submitted wherever the participants are.

Nothing is going to happen if there is a wrong decision from the forum but many will gain with more ideas and options to Restore their MGA.

And I will send the symbolic price(s) as promised,
Regards

Beauty, like supreme dominion
Is but supported by opinion
Benjamin Franklin

I was going to stay out of this because the scope for personal bias is simply overwhelming, and you'll never achieve a rational, universally accepted conclusion.
What we all WILL agree on is that the MGA is simply one of the prettiest cars ever conceived, both in its roadster and in its coupe styles. What we'll also all agree on is that we'll never agree on the best body/interior color combination.
Having said all that, I'll say that I love OEW with a red interior, black with a red interior and grey, also with a red interior, in that order. I have a personal dislike of red, possibly because I get so irritated by people always repainting their MG's in red and its just way too common, and possibly because I simply don't like red cars.
I suppose I'd better now "put up or shut up", so, since you've now seen plenty of white/red examples, here's my MGA (black/red) and a link to an example in grey.http://www.mgexperience.net/pictures/14791,0/1960_mg_mga_dove_grey.jpg

It was wasy to love Black with red interior...

But, Glacial Blue is so unique.........

Red would not have been my first choice. I love the Black and the White would be right up there.

Can anyone tell me what hub cap is shown on that disk wheel on the white coupe just two posts above? And where can they be had?

Thanks,
John

Thanks for the close-up Bin-Soo

Let see if this picture shows better.

[quote=JackMG]
Another pic of that car:[/quote]

It's a dunlop pin drive wheel with a MG logo knock off nut I believe. This coupe looks to be a Twin Cam but I can't read the badge.

The white coupe with MG logo has a Mk II badge. It is not a Twin Cam.

Well I had my MGA 14 years as a daily driver before I restored her. I toyed with a lot of colors when the restoration started. I personally liked Mineral Blue or BRG or Grey. The original color for my car was OEW with black interior. I did not want another white car. When I got her she was red. After *much* soul searching I decided that even though I'd get raked over the coals by the anti-red crowd Betsy was and always will be my red MGA. So I went with Guards Red, IMO a much better color than the reds MG offered. Also, IMO red has a way of showing the curves of the car better than some other colors do. Some colors just tend to mute those beautiful lines.

I don't necessarily think it is the "best" color combination, but it Betsy and I go back a long way and I like her the way she is.

Cheers,
Christopher

[quote=limbs47]
The white coupe with MG logo has a Mk II badge. It is not a Twin Cam.[/quote]

I guess it could be a MK II DeLuxe Coupe or a faux DeLuxe. Would you agree they are pin drive wheels? If it is a DeLuxe coupe I wonder if it's for sale???? I need one really bad.
Ricky

It's got to be Red!

I like white cars for racing (show scratches and dings less, easier to touch up.


I like red cars quite a bit, and have red on red:



And red on tan (ignore the slighlty modified bodywork):

Ricky, I think they are definitely pin drive wheels. They appear to have octagonal spinners with a grille badge fitted.

[quote="Neil MG"]
Ricky, I think they are definitely pin drive wheels. They appear to have octagonal spinners with a grille badge fitted.[/quote]

They somehow look a little small, but the knock off nuts may be nothing more than the rare octagonal nut sold for Twin Cams and Deluxe cars going to Sweden and Germany (going from memory here) with a grille badge bolted through them. I much prefer the winged spinners.

I seen yours in Ritter Park I think it was last weekend , very nice.

Two nice coupes sitting in your driveway Bill.

BTW, didnt I note last year that you needed to sweep that drive?

John L.

[quote=jclars]
BTW, didnt I note last year that you needed to sweep that drive?

John L.[/quote]

Har, har!
The trees are constantly dumping on me and mine and it is a weekly job to get out there and fire up the old leaf blower.

Besides, the MGA has now gone to ground for the winter, the Interceptor (out of sight to the left) has been repainted and covered, and I actually washed the Lamborghini. Car chores done for the season!

Back to topic, my favourite colour is chariot red on red. Apparently red was the most popular colour when the cars were new and has remained so ever since. I always liked MGAs but one day I saw a chariot red roadster on the back of a trailer, on it's was to a local dealer. The paintwork was perfect and polished up like a mirror. That memory will live in me forever and I bought my first A some weeks later.

To me there is no most beautiful. I think that all MGA's are real lookers. Those lines!!

But saying that, to me the most beautiful of the bunch is the 1600 MKII. The lines of that rear is really something. I also don't like a lot of clutter that will upset those curves. So to me the best looking MGA is a MKII with no fender mirrors, luggage rack, fog lights, radio antenna, etc... you get the idea.

[quote=dela217]
I also don't like a lot of clutter that will upset those curves. So to me the best looking MGA is a MKII with no fender mirrors, luggage rack, fog lights, radio antenna, etc... you get the idea.[/quote]

x2!!

[quote=dela217]
But saying that, to me the most beautiful of the bunch is the 1600 MKII. The lines of that rear is really something. [/quote]

Just for you!

(Sorry about the chrome buttons for the trunk rack).

I do not take good final pictures. We photo-document everything except the end results.

Here is a link to a Dark (BRG) Green MGA with Biscuit 'coloured' interior we restored a few years ago. The body is a Two occasional four. The welting between the wings and main body as well as the top matches the interior so it does not have the factory grey plastic. When these cars are restored with something other than a black interior and especially when the bodywork is dark, its nice to NOT follow the factory and really sets off the paint.

The complete online photoalbum: http://picasaweb.google.com/bmcautos/DennisOberlohS1958MGATwoPlusTwo#

Its a really nice car. 1.8L 3 Main with a 5 main Moss Supercharger and the engine is very well built with the five speed and 3.909 rear.

-BMC.









A picture from the MMGG website:

Brian, Why does the photolink refer to the car as a two-plus-two. Are there seats in the back.

A beautiful looking car.

Brian, a very nice looking car. The dash is let down by two things, the MGB blanking plate (could have made one in wood, it would be worth it) and the raw edge of the plywood at the speaker cut out, whch could have been covered using a Mk 2 chrome speaker surround. Those two little things would elevate that interior, as it is really nice to start with.

David,

The rear section was originally cut out and a rear seat installed sometime in the 1960's. When we restored the car, this area was carpeted but we still have the seat that was manufactured- most likely it will never have a rear seat.


Bill S., We get that comment about the radio blanking plate all the time. It was supposed to get a era correct radio but one was never purchased and installed. Since this blanking plate is a temporary item, we overlook it but that is the item that we hear about more than anything. That said, I never thought about the edge around the speaker surround. I will look deeper into this.

Too bad I don't have any forward views of the car with the matching welting. It really sets the bodylines of the MGA off.

Thank You,

-BMC.

I was reluctant to paint my car Black, after seeing this beauty I am considering! I found it in a cars galery on the web!. The owner may be a member of this forum, I am not sure!

Yes that one caught my eye as well, I'm going with black for the time being. Truth is I've yet to see an ugly MGA and my colour plans change every week. I think I've gone through all the combinations and back again, can't wait to see what I decide in the end....

Black and red does look soo good. You just have to make sure the lines are straight.
Very nice.