MG Other YA (1947)
for sale
Price: US $20,000.00
Price: US $20,000.00
Prior
to July of 2007 I had never seen a 4 door MG. I was in South Africa and stopped to visit my friends Norman &
Jennie Frost who own Frost Brothers Classic Cars in Knysna, S.A. Jennie was driving an MGYA and told me it was
not for sale, but if that changed, I would be the first to know. Before my safari trip was finished, Jennie
had found a car that she liked better and I was the proud owner of a 1947 MGYA.
Norman arranged to get the car shipped via
container from Port Elizabeth, South Africa. About 35 days later, the container arrived in Spartanburg, SC. After
unloading the MG, I got in it and it started the first time. I felt like this was a good omen and I gradually
began to understand how special this MG really was.
This special car had just over 37, 000, actual
and documented, miles on it when I got it. The color was black with a wine
color interior and real wood dash and door trim. Amazingly, everything worked. It had a sliding sunroof, telescopic steering
wheel, Jack-All system, turn signal trafficators and roll-out windshield for
great ventilation.
As
we began the process, we discovered the original paint color had been a pastel
green with dark green fenders and running boards. We knew immediately we should
go back with the original color.
Naturally, this drastic color change would
require a new interior to match. We
found great pictures of an original interior. And after enlarging them; our
interior experts were able to duplicate even the stitching and especially the
different color piping on the seats. They even perfectly re-covered the rear fold down arm rest.
The engine, suspension, and wiring had been
rebuilt while still in South Africa so no engine work was necessary except to
change the carburetion. With a single carburetor, the 1250cc engine created a
whopping 46 horsepower. We added another carburetor and increased performance
significantly. We may have as much as 52hp now! This increase in horsepower
makes the YA much more enjoyable to drive. If anytime in the future the carburetor, intake, etc needs to be replaced, I have carefully preserved the originals.
As
everyone knows the MG cooling systems were never designed for hot weather
driving. To make sure we never
overheated the engine, we added a hidden electric radiator fan which keeps it
cool even when driving around during the hot South Carolina summers.
The
first few trips driving this right hand drive car required some concentration, especially to change gears with the left hand, but now it’s very enjoyable.
It’s even fun to see people react when I drive backwards into the drive thru
window at the bank or fast food restaurant.
We
disassembled this MGYA completely and started back with the powder coated
frame. Every nut and bolt was cleaned, shined and made to look perfectly original. And by using a rotisserie, we were
able to get a perfect paint restoration. Also, we were able to refinish the
wooden dash, the wooden doors and window trim, and the wooden trim around the
sliding sun roof.
At this
point, you may be wondering why we would spend so much money on this car. To help answer that question, and to make me
feel better, I want to explain the heritage of this car.
The
history begins with the original registration certificate when in Cape Town, South
Africa, Mr. Bernard Barh Long registered his new car on November 15th, 1948. The next day, on November 16th, he put 6 gallons of gas in the
car and recorded that purchase and the odometer reading of 101 miles. From then
until 1994, at the mileage of 36, 495 every gallon of gas, every service, every
tire, every battery, and every mileage were recorded in a petrol log book. I
guess the car changed hands in 1994, but there were barely 2000 more miles put
on the car before my purchase in 2007.
The
MGYA began production in 1947 and when production ended in 1953, 6, 151 MGYA’s
had been built. No doubt there are several still in existence in Great Britain, a few in Australia, and a few in the United States. I believe this car to be one of, if not, the
very best one still in existence.
Other
items of authenticity are the original The
First 500 Miles break-in instruction booklet, the Lubrication and Maintenance booklet, the original owner’s handbook, the original sales brochure, and the original tools.
As
of today, this MGYA has 39, 023 miles on it, and it spends most of its time in a
garage that has both heat and air-conditioning.
If
there are any research buffs out there, this car is Y1901 and the body number
plate designates this car to be exported by using the X in the body number
(XPAG/SC/X11684).
update: 2016-12-28
Used |
“This 1947 MG was bought in South Africa and shipped to the United States, where it underwent a complete and professional frame off restoration. Records for this MG were meticulously kept from its registration in Cape Town, South Africa on Nov 15, 1948. From then until 1994, at the mileage of 36K miles, every gallon of gas, every tire purchase, every battery and every service were recorded by the original owner. Also included with this classic is the break-in instruction booklet, the lubrication and maintenance booklet, the owner's handbook, the sales brochure and the original tools. The vehicle changed hands in 1994 at 36,495 miles. An additional 2,000 miles were added when the present owner purchased it in 2007. Today this 1947 MGYA shows a little over 39,000 miles on the odometer, and when not out for a casual drive it spends its time in a climate controlled garage. A beautiful restoration and an amazing recorded history make this 1947 MGYA a must see for any collector.” |
Year: | 1947 | Mileage: | 39,023 |
Drive Type: | RWD | Make: | MG |
Model: | Other | Vehicle Title: | Clear |
Trim: | YA | For Sale By: | Owner |
Engine: | 1,250 CC |