MG VA - World Of Classic Cars -

MG VA Tourer 1939

The MG VA, or MG 1½ litre as it was originally marketed, was manufactured between February 1937 and September 1939 and was the smallest of the three sports saloons produced in the late 1930s by MG; the others being the SA and WA. The car used a tuned version of the push-rod, overhead valve, four-cylinder Morris TPBG type engine that was also fitted to the Wolseley 12/48 and Morris 12. The MG version had twin SU carburettors and offered an impressive 54bhp via a four-speed manual gearbox with synchromesh on the top three ratios. Nineteen-inch wire wheels were fitted and the ten-inch drum brakes were hydraulically operated using a Lockheed system. Suspension was by half-elliptic springs all round with a live rear axle and beam front axle; Luvax shock absorbers were fitted, the rear ones adjustable from the dashboard. In-built hydraulic jacks were standard. Handsomely styled and more useful than their diminutive TA sports cars, the VA was usually fitted with saloon bodywork although a Tickford drophead body was also offered in addition to a four-seat tourer which was the most rakish body with its cut down doors. The British Motor magazine tested a VA tourer which reached a top speed of just over 76mph; with the windscreen folded down the top speed increased to nearly 82mph.