I've owned a '67 BGT and currently own an MGA 1600 Mk-II, so I suppose
I should comment...
I think the A will appreciate more, unless the GT in question is a
BGT-V8. Already in the 6 years that I've owned mine, it's jumped from
an appraised value of $6-7K to $12-13K. In the same time period, the
BGTs have risen from $2K-$3K to $4K-$5K.
The A has a lot going for it in terms of appreciation potential.
First, it's a Real Traditional British Sports Car. It has the classic
lines and feel that the GT does not. It has a very good balance
between driveability and style, much better than a T-series MG, for
example (which is why you will almost certainly see MGA prices rise
above T prices in as little as another 5 years, probably topping out
in the low $20Ks). Most parts are highly available, especially since
so many are interchangeable with MGB parts. Notable exceptions are
heavy drive train parts for 1600 Mk-IIs. If anyone has a genuine
Mk-II cylinder head, or better yet an entire engine, that they want to
sell, give me a call :-).
On the GT side of the balance sheet, the GT is far more practical than
the A and is rather beautiful, although not in the A's traditional
manner. It has steel floorboards, wind-down windows, door locks,
reasonable soundproofing, better brakes, a more powerful engine, and
better handling. It is a much better (and safer) racing car than the
A (excepting the Twin-Cam, although the GT would be far more likely
than a Twin-Cam to start on race day :-). You can tune the engine to
within an inch of its life, get all sorts of nifty suspension mods,
and you have a sturdy all-enclosing body to protect you.
Bottom line is, if you are buying the car for straight appreciation or
old-fasioned top-down motoring, by an MGA 1600 Mk-II, Twin-Cam, or
Twin-Cam DeLuxe. If you live in an area where it rains a lot or
snows, or you want to race, buy the GT.
Good luck...
markl
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Mark L. Lambert
Architecture Group, Network Products Division
Oracle Corporation
Internet: markl%oracle.com@apple.com
markl@oracle.com (MX)
UUCP: ...{hplabs,apple,uunet}!oracle!markl
USMail: Oracle Corporation, 20 Davis Dr, Belmont CA 94002
"The parts falling off this car are of the finest British quality..."
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