British Racing Green & Beautiful – 1960 MGA Roadster Arrives At The Forge

We’re delighted to welcome this charming 1960 MGA Roadster, finished in the iconic livery of British Racing Green with a black interior beautifully accented by green piping. A matching black hood and newly fitted painted wire wheels complete the look—styling doesn’t get much better than this for a car of the marque and model.

Originally leaving the factory as a MKI, this delightful example has benefitted from a series of careful and sympathetic upgrades over the years. Notably, it now features the larger 1622cc engine, replacing the original 1588cc unit, and a MKII front grille, bringing the car’s current specification closer in line with the later MKII.

Although the history file is not entirely complete, there is ample evidence that this car has been cherished and well cared for across decades of ownership.

The earliest known history of this MGA dates back to 1972, when it was owned by Leonard Coxhead of Southend-on-Sea. At that time, he upgraded the engine to a 1622cc unit and had the car painted red. In 1974, the car passed to Ronald Williams of Chelmsford, who resprayed it black in 1975. During his ownership, the car underwent a comprehensive restoration in the early 1980s, including a full body restoration (£230!) and repaint (£209!)—invoices for both are on file. The car was repainted in green, transitioning from its earlier shade of Island Green to the now iconic British Racing Green.

During Ron’s ownership, the car achieved a commendable 3rd place in Class 1 at the MG Owners' Club South Birmingham Area meeting, hosted by the Gloucestershire MGOC in 1985.

In 1986, the car passed to Stanley Hicken, and the following year, it was purchased by an enthusiastic MG collector who treasured it for many years. Throughout his ownership, MGs of all varieties came and went—Bs, Cs, and Fs—but the MGA was always held in the highest regard.

To date the car has only had 5 previous recorded owners.

Supporting documents include MOT certificates dating back to 1972 (then showing 78,484 miles). Since the engine upgrade in 1974, the mileage has crept up gently to a modest 55,000 miles today, supported by 15 MOTs.

Most recently, in 2024, the car underwent a light, sympathetic restoration by its owner in Poole, who subsequently part-exchanged it for an MGA Twin Cam—a decision we understand he soon regretted. The car now presents beautifully as a mature, honest example. The paintwork, while not freshly applied, is bright, shiny, and full of character. The body panels are strong and straight, the brightwork shows a lovely aged patina, and the interior retains a period-correct, welcoming feel. The hood is clean, tear-free, and fits snugly.

A recent hub conversion has allowed the fitment of a fresh set of painted wire wheels, finished off with new chrome spinners, which truly elevate the car’s appearance.

This MGA is for driving and enjoying—ideal for those who value authenticity. It’s never been over-restored or stripped of its original character. Instead, it has been faithfully maintained in usable condition by owners who knew when to preserve and when to invest.

Mechanically, the car performs with confidence. It starts easily from cold (a rare treat), runs with excellent oil pressure, shifts smoothly through the gears, and feels spirited and robust on the road—all accompanied by that unmistakable MGA soundtrack.

Ahead of sale, the car will be independently inspected, serviced, MOT'd, valeted and detailed and supplied with a 3 Month Autoguard Warranty.

As ever, we welcome viewings by appointment at our showroom in Shropshire.

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