MGA Twin Cam Cars are Thriving in Southern California

California was a delightful place for a young motor enthusiast who grew up with Soap Box Derby Racers, the "American Graffiti" hot rod scene in the mid 1950's, and then when the MGA Roadster appeared in the late 1950's, life was good!

During College I bought a standard 1956 MGA Roadster as a daily driver through the hills of the San Francisco Bay area. Before marriage and graduate school in the East, the red 1500cc was sold in 1958.

In 1978, after 20 years without an open roadster, it seemed only appropriate to rekindle my MGA love affair, and so began my continuing search for these cars. The MGA Twin Cam became the object of my search. The remains of two Twin Cam Roadsters, several engines, running gear, brakes and wheels were located and obtained locally. Thus began a hobby business which needed to pay its own way, separate from family needs and my architectural practice. It is now 2008, fifty years since I enjoyed my first MGA Roadster, and thirty years since this hobby business was named 'Auto Vintagery' (now Autovintagery.com). These cars are a passion in my life and I have vowed to restore as many as possible to like new condition so their beauty will not be lost by this generation.

At least 50 MG cars, the bulk of which were four wheel disc brake models have made their home here. Of these, my memory wants to say, there have been 33 Twin Cams and 4 Mark II Deluxes. Some have been fully restored to their former glory while others have stayed for a short time and traveled elsewhere, but ultimately saved from extinction.

Twin Cams belonging to other owners have also been restored by us and are in addition to those mentioned above. In all, none have been historical racing gems, but all are standard appropriate examples of our favorite models. At least one now has a racing history.

While I keep a Mineral Blue (YD-3-1359) Twin Cam stored near Gatwick Airport for touring the British and European country side, the next three are now under restoration here in Southern California (YD-3-1358, YD-3-2212 and YD-3-1498). Please advise me if I need to make any corrections to the following list of Auto Vintagery Twin Cam Alumni..

The search continues - amazingly cars do continue to surface for the passionate enthusiast. My wife cautions that the number of cars at the end cannot be greater than those that came off of the original factory line... Safety Fast in Southern California!!

Regards, TWIN CAM JIM