Ex–Kjell Qvale

This 1958 MG MGA roadster is the first left-hand-drive Twin Cam MGA that was produced and the first that was sent to North America. Chassis number YD3504 is said to have been dispatched to California in May 1958 to British-car distributor Kjell Qvale, who soon had mechanic Joe Huffaker set up the car for competition. The roadster was then campaigned at Vaca Valley Raceway, the Nevada Grand Prix, and Laguna Seca in 1958—usually with driver Jack Flaherty at the wheel. By 1963, it was purchased by a Michigan-based owner who reportedly raced the car at Waterford Hills from 1963 to 1966 before putting the vehicle in long-term storage for more than 40 years. In 2007, the car was purchased by a Michigan collector who proceeded to conduct a body-off refurbishment that was completed in 2008 and involved a repaint in red over black leather upholstery and a rebuild of the twin-cam 1.6-liter inline-four. Equipment includes high-compression pistons, a ported-and-polished cylinder head, ported SU carburetors, an oil cooler, a four-speed manual transmission, a limited-slip differential, a frameless windscreen, a louvered hood, center-lock 15″ wheels, front and rear disc brakes, competition bucket seats, a banjo-style steering wheel, and a cockpit tonneau cover. This MGA Twin Cam is now offered by the selling dealer with race programs from events in which the car competed, part of a removed roll bar with tech-inspection stickers, refurbishment photos, binders of historical photos and paperwork, a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate, manufacturer’s literature, and a clean Ohio title.Images showing the car during its racing days are provided in the gallery below along with associated results sheets and race programs.The photographs above depict the car soon after it was removed from storage in 2007.Pictures detailing the refurbishment process are presented in the gallery.