Sydney’s Modern Classic Cars Foundation has revealed a one-of-a-kind MGA restomod which could be yours as it’s currently listed for sale.
Nicknamed ‘Project Pacific’, this 1959 MGA may retain the sleek ’50s lines of the original but now boasts a thoroughly modern driveline among a host of substantial improvements.
Visually, the front and rear bumpers have been deleted to give it a cleaner look, while the body has been de-seamed and fully welded. It also sits on a set of replica 15-inch D-Type wheels.
The exterior is finished in completely custom Pacific Blue paintwork, while the interior is trimmed in Medio Blue Nappa leather with Crème accents. There are also digital Smiths-style gauges, push button start, heated seats, and a Motalita alloy-spoke steering wheel.
But it’s under the skin where the most substantial changes have been made to fulfil this MGA’s philosophy of bringing the comfort and performance of a modern vehicle to a classic sports car.
Powered by a new 2.5-litre Mazda four-cylinder engine fitted with 50mm individual direct to head throttle bodies, it churns out an impressive 193kW and 326Nm, with the redline set at 7600rpm.
This engine is backed by a five-speed manual gearbox also sourced from Mazda, while it all works in this classic MG thanks to a Haltech engine management system.
To ensure it can drive and stop like a modern car, it now rides on LM25 aluminium front suspension uprights with steel tube wishbones and adjustable telescopic dampers, while at the rear there’s an in-house designed five-link suspension with adjustable coil-over telescopic dampers and springs. You’ll also find front and rear disc brakes with four-pot front calipers and braided stainless steel brake lines.
When it comes to this car and the work that Modern Classic Cars Foundation prides itself on, founder David Dyer explains that they “compare it to an old federation, or terrace house – you want one of these pretty old houses but you also want air- conditioning and internet and good plumbing”.
While there are no bounds to the type of resto-mod projects Modern Classic Cars Foundation take on, with the organisation happy to have any concept or wild idea brought to them, it does offer predetermined MGA and MGB restomod configurations for those who aren’t sure what they want off the bat.
Build prices generally start from $180,000 – with the completed car you see here priced at $230,000 – although Dyer notes that there is still a great deal of value in that price tag.
“What other car in that price range will allow you to go through the process of choosing everything in your own car to make it yours – whether it’s engine power, or type of leather, or accessories, or colour choices, right down to stitching or roof?” he explains.
“It’s a process. It takes about 18 months and it appeals to someone who wants all the classic styling and looks without any of the headaches.”
Commissioning a restomod through Modern Classic Cars Foundation not only helps support the Australian automotive industry, but it also helps the foundation in its mission of training the next generation of skilled specialists, which you can read more about here.
The company is also the local sales and servicing provider for UK company Frontline Cars’ MG restomods, which include the recently-revealed MGA Factory Edition.
