The Features Page of the Cornwall MG Owners Web site focuses on MG cars and their owners living in the county of Cornwall. Stories include: how owners have developed 'relationships' with their cars and other MG owners; 'lost and found' tales; and cars with interesting histories. Occasionally, specialists in Classic Cars are introduced, especially those with an interest in MG cars.
In this feature, the spotlight falls on:
The 1956 MGA Mk.1
Open Two-Seater Sports Car
Owned by BBC Radio Cornwall disk jockey, Freddy Zapp. Freddy has spent the last 20 years as one of Cornwall’s most flamboyant entertainers, he even stood as a candidate at 3 General Elections and 5 Town Council Elections representing the Monster Raving Loony Party.
Originally renowned as a car body repairer of many classic cars whose Market Motors garage business in Clinton Passage, Redruth, ran from 1973 to 1988, his skills as a body painter are well remembered locally.
Although the car was originally supplied from the factory in green, when Freddy purchased the car from a lady owner living in Playing Place, near Truro, for £200 in 1975, it had already had its first transformation and was painted in red. The original MGA 1500cc engine has been replaced with a 1962 MGB 1800cc engine.
Freddy originally restored the car in 1976 spending around 1000 hours on the painstaking task and it was returned to the road in November of that year. Ten years of MG motoring pleasure ensued before being laid-up again through the usual appearances of matrimonial and parenting bliss that typically punctuate our years of classic car ownership!
The car’s most recent restoration, after a hiatus of 20 years, has been a ground-up, nut and bolt labour of love, consuming almost as many hours as the car’s previous reincarnation. He was helped this time by former colleagues from his Redruth garage days and friends including Tim Kelly, the well respected MG Specialist from St Agnes.
Finished in a head-turning black livery, with contrasting white soft top, the body has been distinctively modified using Freddy’s metal working skills in considerably flaring the wheel arches to accommodate the stunningly oversized 7J wide polished alloy wheels and shod with 205/70R/15 XJ6 white walled tyres.
The original registration (XAE 830) has long disappeared and been replaced by Freddy’s Cherished Registration Number - 58 FS - (his real name being Freddy Stribley).
Freddy says that his MGA is a real eye catcher (stating the pure bl**dy obvious) and that other MG drivers flash their headlights in recognition.
To the purists, the modifications from originality may not be welcomed, but the car is, certainly, stunningly presented and is a real credit to the considerable skills that Freddy Zapp has acquired during his former career. Freddy, indeed, cherishes his MGA and derives as much pleasure from driving a classic British Sports Car as he has in its restoration - twice over!
