MGA

1955–1962 · about 101,000 built · discs from chassis 68851

The first modern MG shape — and a car with one chassis number that decides the whole front brake order.

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All MGA PartsEverything we list for this model, in one place

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Not listed? Plenty of parts suit several marques and never get the model name in the title — ask us and we will check the books for you.

About the MGA

The MGA replaced the TF in 1955 with a full-width body on a proper box chassis, and ran to 1962. The number to know is 68851. The 1500 ran from chassis 10101 in May 1955 to chassis 68851 in April 1959 on Lockheed drums all round. The 1600 starts at that same chassis number in May 1959 with 11in front discs and 10in rear drums. Below 68851 it is a four-drum car; at or above it, front discs. Capacities run 1,489cc for the 1500, 1,588cc for the 1600 and 1,622cc for the 1600 Mk II, which also got a 4.100:1 rear axle and a revised head with larger valves, and is spotted by its recessed grille and Mini tail lamps under the deck lid.

Two variants need establishing before you order anything. The Twin Cam has a 1,588cc gear-driven twin-overhead-cam alloy engine that is not a B-series in any useful sense, Dunlop disc brakes on all four wheels with separate master cylinders, and Dunlop peg-drive knock-off centre-lock steel wheels like a racing Jaguar’s. It was withdrawn in May 1960 after warranty trouble with detonation on the high-compression engine. The De Luxe then used up the leftover Twin Cam chassis stock: a pushrod engine on Twin Cam running gear, four-wheel Dunlop discs and the knock-off wheels. Only 395 were built. A De Luxe brake or wheel part is a Twin Cam part, not an MGA part. And on bodywork: the coupe has wind-up door glass, opening quarter windows, exterior door handles, a taller and more curved windscreen and a large fixed rear window — none of which a roadster has at all.

MGA — specification & changes within the model

1500: May 1955, chassis 10101 – April 1959, chassis 68851. 1,489cc, 73.025 × 89mm. Lockheed drums all round, 10in front and rear, two leading shoes at the front. 58,750 built.
1600: May 1959, from chassis 68851 – March 1961. 1,588cc, 75.41 × 89mm, 79.5bhp. 11in front discs, 10in rear drums. 31,501 built.
1600 Mk II: March 1961, chassis 100352 – May 1962, chassis 109070. 1,622cc, 76.2 × 89mm, 90bhp. 4.100:1 rear axle and a revised head with larger valves. Recessed grille, Mini tail lamps below the deck lid. 8,719 built.
The brake split: Chassis 68851, May 1959. Below it, drums all round. At or above it, front discs. This one number settles every front brake order.
Disc diameter: Sources give 11in and 10.75in — and 10.75in is the MGB’s figure, which looks like a carry-across. Measure before ordering.
Twin Cam: April 1958 – May 1960, about 2,111 built. 1,588cc gear-driven DOHC alloy head, 9.9:1 then a low-compression 8.3:1, 108 then 100bhp. Dunlop discs on all four wheels with separate master cylinders. Dunlop peg-drive knock-off centre-lock steel wheels. Withdrawn after warranty trouble with detonation.
De Luxe: 1960–1962, 395 built — 70 roadsters and 12 coupes in 1600 form, 290 and 23 in Mk II form. A pushrod engine on Twin Cam chassis and running gear: four-wheel Dunlop discs and the knock-off wheels. A De Luxe brake or wheel part is a Twin Cam part.
Coupe vs roadster: Coupe only: wind-up door glass with a crank, opening quarter windows, exterior door handles, a taller more curved fixed windscreen in its own frame, and a large fixed rear window. Roadster: no exterior handles, removable sidescreens, no door glass. Doors are different shells. Glass, door seals, screen rubber and rear screen rubber are all coupe-specific.
Electrics: Originally positive earth. Many have been converted — check yours before ordering polarity-sensitive parts.