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MGA Twin Cam - bitchy thoroughbred?

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Created on July 28, 2023

Reading time 9min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

35

Bruno von Rotz

1

Archiv

21

Daniel Reinhard

35

Bruno von Rotz

1

Archiv

21

MGA Twin Cam (1959) - bereit zur Losfahrt

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - Grün in Grün

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - viel luftiger kann's in einem Sportwagen fast nicht zugehen

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - schnelles Fahren setzt höhere Drehzahlen voraus

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - konnte es damals mit allen Sportwagen in seiner Preisklasse problemlos aufnehmen

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - man sieht im die Extra-Power gar nicht an

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - Scheibenbremsen rundum als Besonderheit

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - eine perfekte Rundumsicht ist garantiert

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - Autodesign und Architektur

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - sieht mit Ausnahme der Räder eigentlich wie jeder andere MGA aus

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - strikt ein Zweisitzer

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - elegantes Fünfzigerjahre-Design

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - die Farbe nennt sich "Ash Gree"

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - kompakter Sportwagen mit knappen Überhängen

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - klassische Roadster-Architektur mit Steckscheiben

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - niedrige Gürtellinie und sanfte Rundungen

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - ein einfacher Auspuff genügt

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - knapp geschnittenes Cockpit

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - Drehzahlmesser mit deutlich nach oben geschobenen gelben und roten Bereichen

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - Tacho bis 200 km/h, keine Angeberei

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - fast alles wie im normalen MGA

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - Federspeichen-Lenkrad wie beim langsameren MGA

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - der längs eingebaute Doppelnockenwellen-Vierzylinder

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - der modifizierte Motor baute länger als der normale Vierzylinder

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - rund 50 % mehr Leistung ermöglichte der neue Zylinderkopf mit den beiden Nockenwellen zusammen mit einer kleinen Hubraumvergrösserung

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - Typenschild

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - eleganter Kühler und geschwungene Front

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - besondere Räder mit Zentralverschüssen

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - mit dem Twin-Cam-Motor wurde der MGA "super"

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - Zusatzbezeichnung "Super" oder auch "Special"

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - "twin cam" steht für zwei obenliegende Nockenwellen

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - die besondere Motorkonstruktion ist uach auf der Haube beschriftet

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - das knackige Heck

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Carrosserie Charles Menetrey zeigt einen in Restaurierung befindlichen MG A Twincam - Swiss Classic World Luzern 2016

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MG EX 181 (1957) - Stirling Moss genehmigt sich bei Rekordfahrten etwas Kühles

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MG EX 181 (1957) - der Weltrekordwagen in voller Fahrt, 395 km/h wurden gemessen

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MG EX 181 (1957) - am Genfer Automobilsalon von 1957 wird der Twin-Cam Prototyp gezeigt

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MG EX 181 (1957) - Twin-Cam Prototyp an einer Sportwagen-Ausstellung

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MG EX 181 (1957) - Durchsichtszeichnung des MG Twin-Cam Rekord-Motor

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MG EX 181 (1957) - MG aufgeladener Twin-Cam Rekord-Motor

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MG A Twin Cam (1958) - Funktionsweise des Doppelnockenwellen-Motors

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MG A 1958 - MG A Twin-Cam-Chassis und -Motorblock

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MG A Twin Cam (1958) - so vermarktete in das Werk, man beachte, dass hier kein "Super" oder "Special"-Schriftzug montiert ist

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MG A 1958 - MGA Twin-Cam in der Seitenansicht

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MG A Twin Cam (1958) - Testwagen in geschlossenem Zustand

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MG A TwinCam (1958) - Sicherheit (Helm) wurde bei den Geschwindigkeitmessungen im November 1958 gross geschrieben

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MG A Twin Cam (1958) - Cockpit des Testwagens mit montierten Steckscheiben

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MG A Twin Cam (1958) - Interieur des Testwagens

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MG A Twin Cam (1958) - Lenkrad und Amaturenbrett des rechtsgesteuerten Fahrzeuges

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MG A Twin Cam (1958) - Kofferraum und Ersatzrad

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MG A Twin Cam (1958) - Motorraum

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MG A 1958 - Der 'Zwei-Nocker' Motor des MG A Twin-Cam

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MG A 1960 - Blick in den MG A Twin-Cam-Motor

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MG A 1960 - MGA Twin-Cam - Motorenherstellung um 1960

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MG A Twin-Cam (1960) - MGA Twin-Cam mit eigener Produktionslinie

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - einfach zu fahren

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MGA Twin Cam (1959) - bis heute ein attraktives Auto

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Summary

Four-cylinder engines with two overhead camshafts could be counted on one hand in the 1950s; apart from Alfa Romeo, this was only available in large-scale production at MG. The MGA Twin Cam offered 50% more power than its simpler production brother, but cost less than many equally fast competitors. Nevertheless, it was not a success. This driving report is about an MGA Twin Cam from 1959 and shows the car in current and historical images. A sound sample is also included.

This article contains the following chapters

Two attempts, one engine
Presentation as a special
Enthusiasm in the press
Sophisticated technology
The great death of the engine
Not a great success
Technology under control today
At the wheel of the rarity

Estimated reading time: 9min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Over 100,000 MGAs were built between 1955 and 1962. With its elegant lines and robust technology, the MG sports car, which was sold open and closed, was particularly popular in the USA. In 1958, however, a very special version with a twin-camshaft engine appeared, which only made it to just over 2000 units in three years and is now considered the most sought-after MGA version - despite its bad reputation, which still lingers today. Engines with two camshafts per cylinder bank are not an MG invention. As early as 1912, Peugeot had a racing engine with two overhead camshafts, and racing engines used this design after the Second World War to achieve higher engine speeds. At Alfa Romeo, a four-cylinder engine with two overhead camshafts was used in the Giulietta from 1954, and other manufacturers also began to experiment with this design approach.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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