1958 MGA Twin Cam

The MGA’s looks harken back to MG designer Sid Enever’s one-off, envelope body that he created for an MG TD to run in the 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans by privateer George Phillips. Gone were the separate fenders that had been part of MG style in all the previous T-series cars.

Later, a prototype was created and shown to the chairman of BMC, Leonard Lord. At the time, Lord had inked a deal with Donald Healey to produce his cars, so he turned down the idea of this more modern MG. But slipping sales of the existing models eventually changed his mind.

Since this new car was a quantum leap from the earlier cars, in 1954, it was given the name MGA. “The first of a new line,” as it was advertised. But the changes were not limited to the MGA’s outer skin. Under the bonnet, the new MGA no longer featured the tried-and-true XPAG engine of the T-Series. This “modern” MG received the BMC B-series engine to allow for the lower bonnet design. At its introduction, the car’s 1489-cc motor, featuring H4 type SU carburetors, put out 68 hp but was soon uprated to 72 hp.

But, in 1958, a high-performance variant was introduced, the Twin Cam. This new motor had spent several years in development and used a 9.9:1 high compression, double overhead cam cylinder head version of the B series engine, putting out 108 hp and giving the car a top speed of 113 mph. Because of the increased speed, other modifications had to be made. There were minor changes to the chassis, Dunlop disc brakes were fitted front and rear, as well as Dunlop center-lock disc wheels. Unlike previous MGs, wire wheels were not offered for the Twin Cam.

However, the Twin Can suffered from detonation problems due to its high compression ratio, which resulted in reliability issues. Near the end of its run, compression was reduced to 8.3:1, but the model had already lost face, and the Twin Cam was dropped from the line in 1960 after just 2,111 cars had been built. Sadly making the Twin Cam a very rare MGA.

These days all the bugs have been worked out, and a drive in a Twin Cam is a special occasion under any circumstance, even freezing cold ones! On the plus side, they say cold air is denser, so engines make more power. At least, that’s what we tell ourselves when we venture out on a not-so-warm day.

But frozen fingers and toes are all but forgotten when you fire up that unique motor. It doesn’t sound like other MGs, it’s more rorty and purposeful. That sound tells you it has more in store for you compared to lesser MGs, and all you have to do is depress your right foot to find out what it is talking about.
Outwardly there are only a few hints that you are in the company of a special machine. A discreet badge on either side of the bonnet lets you in on the secret. The wheels are another hint.

On the inside, there are a few more clues. The dash is now covered in leather, the tach now goes to 7500, and the speedometer takes into account the top speed of 113. The rest of the dash is laid out like other MGAs.

On the road, the Twin Cam lets you know it is an MG of a different color. It is wonderfully responsive and quick and makes a country road your best friend, and still, it can hold its own on larger roads getting right along with modern traffic. But that’s not where you want to be. You want a road that will challenge the little car. And the Twin Cam is up to that challenge. It does everything right. Of course, it’s not a modern car, and that’s why you drive it. To have that analog connection to the road and the world around you. The Twin Cam has the ethos of the sports car world tied up in a proper English bow. It’s not too old or too new. It’s right in that sweet spot of joyful driving heaven.

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Valuation