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"I was shocked to learn that my old MGA was listed on your site as a “lost Texas MGA.” I can clear up some of the mystery, probably with more information than most would care to hear. I bought the car in 1983 or 1984. Finding it is a rather long story. The short story is that I bought it from a Houston Police lieutenant who lived in a Pasadena neighborhood known as Bowling Green. He was later promoted to at least an assistant chief in HPD. His name may have been Young—I don’t recall exactly—but he had a daughter my age named Christie who was key to my learning it might be available. He was going through a divorce and said he had to sell his plane or the car. Fortunately for me, in a moment of apparent weakness, he sold the car. I traded him a 1976 MG Midget and $600 in cash for it. Perhaps the best deal of my life. He regretted the transaction for years (I ran into him in the 1990s, and he reminded me of it). I was a teenager when I bought it, in college, and for insurance purposes it was titled in my father’s name. The seller told me about his painting the entire car, including the rubber between the body panels, with some sort of special paint. All I know was that it was a beautiful bright red, as all sport cars should be.

The “lost Texas MGA” story mentions bondo in the scuttle area. I recall a bump under the paint in that area but do not know the origin. Before my time. There should be remnants of a few holes near the original rear brake/turn signals. Those are from some very cheap and ugly turn signals that someone had installed. They were the first things I changed. Getting the original lights to work required new wiring, and I noticed that all of the wiring was in pretty bad shape. I vividly recall researching replacement wiring harnesses from some faraway source in the UK, and my quick decision that such luxuries were not necessary. My sincere apologies to later owners—I rewired the entire car with a single spool of red wire. Good thing 1959 MGA wiring systems are so simple. As recognized in the “lost” description, I also replaced the door panels (it’s nice to know they still got some attention years later). When I got the car the door panels were little more than loose vinyl bags of crumbled wood. I replaced the wood panels and covered them with red low pile carpet (not shag as in the description). College kids care little about original replacement issues, and at the time I thought the red carpet looked great. I also carefully refinished the oak “window sills.”

The “lost Texas MGA” description mentions roll bar mounts. I had no idea, and I don’t know why they’d be necessary. I rather fondly recall taking corners at outrageous speeds without the slightest indication of loss of traction or stability. Needing brakes only for stopping was one of the best features of that car. I remember replacing the generator, starter, and other parts, and recall spending considerable time and money at an MG restoration center a few miles from the Astrodome. I also remember buying a camshaft at another business your members probably recognize—the owner was in the process of restoring a very early and interesting wood-frame MG the size of a Bentley….but back to my MGA. Another challenge was a stereo. I built a wood housing to ensure a radio intended for a US car wasn’t shorted out by the positive-ground electrical system. I also rebuilt the bizarre MG turn signals (who thought up those air vacuum switches?), and remember waiting weeks for a fuel pump to arrive from Stratford-on-Something, or another remote source like that in the UK. I did try to keep it English where I could, and installed Made-in-the-UK Pirelli tires. Other than keeping the carbs synchronized, it was a great little car, and it was as much fun as any college student could hope for. But, before I knew it, I was married with a couple of kids. With only two seats and a constant need for repair, the little MGA quickly seemed rather impractical. Around 1990, in a moment of weakness similar to the Lieutenant’s, I sold the car to a guy in Deer Park for $3,500. Over the next couple of years I drove by it a few times. The man who bought it apparently never did anything with it, as it was always parked in the street under a cover.

It didn’t always look like those photos in the Lost MGA message. I’ve attached a few photos of how it looked in the 1980s. I miss that car. My kids are almost off on their own and two seats are all my wife and will I need for a play car. If it’s ever for sale, please let me know.

Thanks for the memories,

TC Brinkley"