It's Alive Automotive is pleased to offer this classic 1934 MG PA.
The PA is a very interesting and significant part of MG history.
The P series cars (PA & PB) were the last of MG's overhead cam
engine powered cars until the MGA twin cam of the 1950s. Clearly,
one can see the resemblance to the iconic post-war MG TC that many
casual U.S. fans may assume is where MG began. That's
understandable since GIs who returned to the U.S. after WW2 learned
of the appealing nature of small, light, sports cars during their
service in England and brought a new market for these cars home
with them to North America. MG however, had a well-deserved
reputation prior to the war for its line of affordable, good
performing sporting vehicles. If you're new to pre-war MGs, then
treat yourself to researching the history of this storied marque.
If you're familiar with the MG pre-war line, you know the P series
represented much improvement over its predecessors while retaining
many design elements unique to pre-war cars. For the person with a
serious interest in all things MG, owning a pre-war MG like the PA
opens up a new dimension and context to the world of early sporting
cars. For example, the four speed gearbox does not have synchromesh
on any gear. To shift up or down, you will need to master the art
of double clutching and matching rpms to the needed gear. Once
learned, driving one of these is quite satisfying knowing that it's
not something that just anyone can do without some practice. The
PA's large 12" drum brakes are mechanically operated via cables.
They work surprisingly well and pointing out the lack of a
hydraulic system to your friends is always fun. Speaking of
interesting design features, the PA's generator is mounted
vertically at the front of the engine and drives off the
crankshaft. The overhead cam is in turn driven by a shaft from the
generator. A water pump was optional on the PA. Ours has none. Hot
coolant rises by convection to the top of the radiator and is
cooled as it flows back down. While the base engine can have the
optional water pump added, we have not had any problems with our
example staying cool. Our PA is a very solid example without any
rust issues. It is an older restoration and the paint is still
holding up very well. Unless one was looking for a high end
concours show car, we don't feel the finish is in need of any
attention. The same can be said for the chrome work. We strive to
fully disclose any known faults and there are some things to note
with this car. It is in fact a true two seat model, more stylish
and better balanced than the four seater. However, you will notice
from the photos that our car has a small back seat. The space
behind the front seats is for top storage and at some point a prior
owner, fabricated a small rear seat. Both seats are upholstered in
vinyl. We have considered removing the rear seat and reupholstering
the front seats in leather as they should be. However, we've
decided to leave that decision to the next caretaker. The car does
not have a top frame, top, or side curtains. These cars did not
have a fuel gauge but had two pickups in the tank, one positioned
lower for reserve and a dash operated valve could switch between
the two. That dash valve is missing although the two fuel lines are
present. Both trafficator arms extend and light up but are
sometimes sluggish to return home. The car has a central
lubrication system and a fitting for the right side rear spring is
missing from the system. To sum it up, it's a great little car with
a few relatively minor needs (save perhaps the top). The engine
starts and runs well with strong oil pressure. If your MG interest
includes a rather rare car of which only a couple thousand were
built and likely only a few hundred still survive, contact us for
more information. To inspect and drive this car, call or text Mike
at 573-579-4617 or email
[email protected] Thanks for looking!
