1957 MG A Twincam Roadster Prototype

Lot details
Registration No: ORX 885
Chassis No: NDL/13/500
Mot Expiry: Exempt

- Pre-production car used for twin-cam engine and disc brake testing etc

- Bought and campaigned in period by MG development engineer John Sharp

- A well-documented and important part of MG A history

Further Info:

The original buff logbook which accompanies this historically significant MG reveals that it was first registered to the MG Car Company Ltd as `ORX 885' on 22nd January 1958. Listed as a `MGA Twin Cam Car' with chassis number NDL13/500 and engine number XSP S72/3, the two-seater took to the road some six months or so before the model was officially introduced. One of several prototypes / pre-production examples, `ORX 885' was used to test the nascent sportscar's Dunlop four-wheel disc braking system as well as being put through its paces by the BMC Engines Branch and subjected to 120mph runs at MIRA (the latter filmed by Associated British Pathe Ltd for The Nuffield Organisation - http://www.britishpathe.com/video/the-sports-car-of-the-year - 4mins 59secs onwards). The original buff logbook also shows that `ORX 885' was reclassified as a `MGA 1600 De Luxe' complete with 1622cc OHV engine before being sold to John Sharp Esq in January 1962. An MG development engineer, Mr Sharp made his racing debut aboard the disc-braked two-seater at the MG Car Club's May 26th 1962 Silverstone Meeting. Noted MG historian and author F. Wilson McComb was commissioned to write a report on `ORX 885' during July 1985 and recalled not only piloting it in the 750MC's 12th National Six-Hour Relay Race (August 11th 1962) but also asking MG Competition Department guru Syd Enever to give John Sharp a special MGB / MGA engine / gearbox unit for the car.

Driven to and from events (sometimes full of camping gear), the former Prototype became ever more competitive. Indeed, F. Wilson McComb noted that `During 1963, `ORX 885' was extremely successful as an MGB-engined MGA. John won 35 to 40 awards and beat the best lap times of any previous MGA at Silverstone Club Circuit, Brands Hatch, Aintree, Oulton Park, Snetterton and Mallory Park. But in 1964 he had to switch to an MGB because the MGA was no longer homologated'. As well as its UK exploits, the two-seater ventured to Ireland finishing 3rd overall in the July 1963 Leinster Trophy. Purchased from Mr Sharp by fellow racer Norman Lefton (who had previously campaigned the ex-John Gott Twin Cam), `ORX 885' suffered an engine blow-up and thereafter is known to have passed through the hands of R.C.F. Charnley, Frederick Roberts, Roy Turner, Frederick Roberts (again), John Mills, Kenneth Tugwell and Colin Pearcy before entering the current ownership some twenty years ago. Ken Tugwell returned the car to `Twin Cam' power in circa 1973 and ran it at numerous MGCC speed events into the following decade.

No longer `factory fresh' by the time Colin Pearcy acquired it, `ORX 885' was entrusted to marque specialist Brown & Gammons for a thorough overhaul. Writing in the March 1985 issue of `Safety Fast', Mr Pearcy commented: `The chassis up rebuild exposed many problems and it must have been a good old `war horse' in its time as there was evidence of many mods (some still fitted) and several repairs! The engine was built by Dennis Seabrook with new parts obtained from Peter Wood'. Although, the inner panels are steel Mr Pearcy had lightweight aluminium panels crafted and fitted to the MG along with a lightweight hardtop, lightweight trim and fresh air vents etc. In his hands `ORX 885' was raced with both `Twin Cam' MGA and three-bearing MGB engines. A handwritten note on file relating to the former describes it as follows: `1762cc Le Mans type, twin 45DCOE Weber carburettors, large valve polished / flowed cylinder head, extractor exhaust manifold, steel crankshaft, rods, flywheel, twin plate clutch, Cosworth camshafts, large capacity oil sump, special distributor etc. 156bhp @ 5,800rpm'.

The vendor has used `ORX 885' sparingly since acquiring it from Mr Pearcy via auction in 1995 and thus not had cause to strip the engine or verify its internal specification / power output. Invited to numerous events over the past twenty years, the Prototype was last displayed at the June 20th-21st 2015 MG Live meeting. Starting readily upon inspection, the two-seater is deemed by the seller to possess a `good engine with no known faults', `generally good bodywork (alloy wings and shroud)', `sound electrical equipment with no known faults' and `good upholstery'. The Red paintwork is said to have `some microblisters with a larger one on top of the offside front wheelarch', while recent mechanical work has seen the four-speed manual transmission fitted with new gears, the limited slip differential checked over and a fresh competition clutch installed. Able to boast a continuous ownership history, this historically significant MGA is offered for sale with original buff logbook, F. Wilson McComb report, expired FIA HVIF papers, V5C Registration Document and several copy articles.