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While the British enjoyed MGs
prior to World War II, and sports cars were common
throughout England and Europe, the newly discovered
MG was a novelty in the United States when introduced
just after the war. Even as popularity of the
MG grew, so grew the dissimilarity between American
cars. As MGs became more modern and tasteful looking,
Detroit iron sprouted fins and chrome and got
larger each year. A comparison makes the point.
| Literature |
Specifications |
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1958 MGA 1500 Roadster
Engine size: 68 h.p., 1489cc 4-cylinder
Maximum top speed: 97 m.p.h.
Weight: 1,997 pounds
Price: $2,462 |
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1958 Buick Roadmaster Convertible
Engine size: 300 h.p., 4966cc v-8
Maximum top speed: 99 m.p.h.
Weight: 4,676 pounds
Price: $4,680 |
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The only similar statistic is
the top speeds. But to go that fast Buick has
an engine four times as large and four times as
powerful because it weighs twice as much —
but it also costs twice as much. On the other
hand, the MGA has superior handling and gets much
better gas mileage. The high points of the Buick
are luxury and plenty of interior and storage
room.
But what were MGs like to drive when they arrived
in America? Tom McCahill, who was known for his
road tests of American cars for Mechanix Illustrated,
praised American cars but, after his "race"
against an MG in 1948 he began road testing sports
cars, too. His fondness for sports cars becomes
obvious in his 1954 book The Modern Sports
Car:
"Back in 1948 I had a private, unofficial
race with an MG from Los Angeles to San Francisco,
nearly 500 miles. I was driving a particularly
hot 1948 Mercury and the guy in the MG almost
made me rip the skin from my bones, trying to
stay with him. When I arrived in San Francisco
I was completely exhausted from pulling every
trick in the book, time and again, just to keep
the little egg crate in sight. What annoyed me
was that the driver displayed no effort whatsoever,
and I was working so hard."
So, is the 1958 MGA more collectible than the
1958 Buick? This is one collector who has had
a love affair with both. An odd combination? Or
just two great cars? That is what makes this hobby
so interesting.
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1954 |
1956 |
1958 |
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1960 |
1961 |
1962-64 |
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1963 |
1965 |
1966 |
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1966 |
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1969 |
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1970 |
1970 |
1972 |
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1976 |
1978 |
1979 |
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MG did not stop with sports cars. They built
family transportation, too. Although more scarce
than the sports cars, they did find homes with
those who wanted a car that was smaller, sportier
and more economical than a Buick.
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1954 |
1959 |
1961 |
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1963 |
1963 |
1965 |
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