Built in September 1959, rebuilt at the turn of the century, and refreshed in 2018, this MKI MGA Coupé is a genuine UK-spec example that left the factory on the 25th of September 1959 finished in Chariot Red with Beige trim.

With a history file that extends to 126 pages, ‘181 UXR’ has just three previous keepers, and we believe the first kept it until sometime in the 1980s when it had just 24,000 miles on the clock.

Contemporary notes describe it as “completely original” at the time it passed to its second owner, although it did need work as it had been in storage for a while.

The engine was professionally stripped down, and because the wear was judged to be consistent with the car’s recorded mileage it was merely rebuilt with new seals and piston rings plus a new oil pump.

The chassis was removed and cleaned before being powder coated, the shell was stripped to bare metal before being repainted, and the mechanical components were removed and restored.

Notes in the photo album sta...