F20C-Swapped 1959 MG Roadster Keeps the Spirit Alive

Same Vein

We've seen Honda's F20C installed in all sorts of different vehicles over the years as the S2000's heart has become quite the popular swap candidate, for obvious reasons. But this 1959 MG Roadster that recently crossed the block at Bring a Trailer makes more sense than most - after all, it is a lightweight, sporty drop-top in the same vein as the S2000.

Photos: Bring a Trailer

Back to Life

After acquiring the car back in 2014, the seller went to work making this 1959 MG MGA roadster something truly special. That work began by stripping the body down and repainting it silver a few years ago, along with giving it a reshaped front end, a Le Mans-style windshield, and perfect chrome.

Photos: Bring a Trailer

Rolling Stock

The stunning result rolls on a set of chrome 16-inch Dayton 72-spoke wire wheels equipped with two-eared knock-off spinners and is wrapped with 205/55 Cooper Zeon RS3-G1 tires. But there's far more to this build than just the way it looks, of course.

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Modified Cabin

The interior, for example, has been upgraded with a pair of recovered seats finished in red leather with diamond patterned inserts, a wood shift knob, a Mota-Lita steering wheel, and a Speedhut 200-mph GPS speedometer, along with an odometer that shows just 152 miles have been driven since this build was completed.

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Drivetrain

The big story for us, at least, is what powers this classic ride, however - Honda's F20C, which in this case has been fitted with a Haltech HT-055055 Platinum ECU, a heat-wrapped custom exhaust header, an aluminum radiator with an electric fan, and Borla 52mm velocity stack fuel injection. The 2.0-liter powerplant is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox and a seven-inch Merkur rear axle with Quaife Motorsports 4.70:1 gears.

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Other Upgrades

The seller didn't stop there in terms of upgrading the mechanicals either, as this classic MG is now equipped with a Hoyle Racing MGB subframe, independent rear suspension, rack and pinion steering, adjustable coilovers, rose jointed anti-roll links, Timken wheel bearings, and four-wheel Hoyle disc brakes.

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Fun and Reliable

Add it all up, and you've got one cool classic British roadster that's far more reliable than those types of cars to tend to be, not to mention the fact that it's obviously going to be way more fun to drive than a stock example, too.

Photos: Bring a Trailer

>>Join the conversation about this F20C-swapped 1959 MG Roadster right here at S2Ki.com.