MGA Twin Cam Roadster

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 The first truly modern MG, the MGA of 1955 was leagues ahead of anything the company had yet produced as all their other post-war cars had been nothing more than restyled pre-war models.

Blessed with one of the most shapely silhouettes of any car made, the Roadster also had a notably rigid structure, utterly devoid of the scuttle-shake that plagues so many other soft-tops. This is thanks to a triangulated bulkhead design that is not found on any other production sportscar. Throw in its beautifully direct, vice-free rack and pinion steering, and it's no wonder that the MGA has acquired such a devoted fan club over the years.

Initially fitted with a 68bhp 1500cc engine, the MGA was upgraded to 72bhp 1600cc spec in 1959 increasing top speed to 101mph. However, for the really committed driver, a high performance 108bhp Twin-Cam version was also made available from 1958. Developed by Gerald Palmer using a modified B-Series engine with a twin-cam alloy head, it also featured uprated suspension, all-round disc brakes and exclusive centre lock wheels made by Dunlop (closely resembling those on the racing Jaguar D-Types).

Despite these mechanical refinements and 113mph performance, the Twin-Cam failed to sell in great numbers, due mainly to its high price. Only 2,111 cars were sold before production came to an end in April 1960, the vast majority to the export market, and today surviving Twin Cam are perhaps the most sought-after of post-war MG sports cars.

As the accompanying Heritage Certificate confirms, this particular Twin Cam was a right-hand drive export model despatched in CKD kit form to British Car Distributors Ltd of Durban, South Africa, in March 1958. The specification included competition deluxe seats; oil cooler; twin fog lamps; windscreen washer; sliding sidescreens; black tonneau cover; twin horns and an ashtray.

Imported back to the UK in June 1997 by Kent Sports Cars, it has had just two owners since, the vendor acquiring it about 18 months ago. At some point the car has been treated to a telescopic front shock absorber conversion from the original lever arm dampers (a popular modification to improve the ride and handling). It also benefits from an electric cooling fan, a stainless steel exhaust, two new batteries and a complete set of weather gear, all in good condition.

Thanks to spending its first four decades in the African sunshine, the car appears to be basically very sound but the paintwork is badly blistered all over and a good respray would improve it no end. Although it was said to be in good running order and certainly performed strongly when we were treated to a test drive on the occasion of our visit, before the catalogue went to press the gearbox developed a fault and is now difficult to get into 3rd and 4th.

As the vendor is selling up to move abroad (hence the reason for sale), he will not have time to get this diagnosed or repaired before the sale, although he does advise that he was thinking of fitting a 5-speed box in any case, another popular performance enhancement. Taxed and tested until April 2015, this rare RHD Twin Cam should make a very fine example with relatively little effort.

AMENDMENT: This car does not have an MOT as previously stated, but does not require one either being a pre-1960 vehicle.