Frontline MGA Factory Edition to make debut at upcoming 82nd Goodwood Members’ Meeting, utilising proven restomod formula to put the MGA back on the map
- Frontline Cars (Frontline) presents the MGA Factory Edition, a complete transformation of the Fifties icon
- Retaining its iconic silhouette, Frontline has transformed the ride, handling and performance using its perfected, proven classic MG-based formula
- Weighing just 815 kg the Frontline MGA is powered by either a 2.0-litre or 2.5-litre Duratec engine with the famed 5-speed Frontline gearbox pairing
- Chassis development conducted in-house, with outdated leaf springs replaced with proven, adjustable Nitron suspension and limited-slip differential added
- Subtle exterior design tweaks include LEDs with Frontline logo, Frontline badging – a first for the brand – plus removal of side lights
- The British firm says anything is possible with exterior and interior colours and its Bespoke programme can tackle unique wishes like Perspex screens, louvred bonnets and even bespoke picnic storage in the boot
- The Frontline MGA Factory Edition will make its global debut at the 82nd Goodwood Members’ Meeting (12-13 April) on Frontline’s stand (51 and 52)
- Available as a roadster, coupé and in left- or right-hand drive for UK and global export
Abingdon, 9 April 2025: Marking 70 years since the debut of MG’s most aerodynamically advanced model, the MGA Factory Edition is Frontline Cars’ (Frontline) lightest and most refined restomod yet. It stays true to the spirit of the original while delivering a modern, exhilarating driving experience, and will make its global debut at the 82nd Goodwood Members’ Meeting (12-13 April).
Weighing just 815 kg (dry), each MGA Factory Edition is powered by a choice of naturally aspirated Duratec engines: a 2.0-litre unit producing 225 bhp or an optional 2.5-litre variant delivering 290 bhp. Each engine features individual throttle bodies, a modern ECU, stainless exhaust and precision-tuned camshafts, resulting in a responsive, linear power delivery that feels alive in every gear. Retaining the involving driving experience, Frontline equips each Factory Edition with its famed five-speed manual gearbox.
Extending its knowledge and expertise to the MGA, the new Factory Edition’s chassis has been developed entirely in-house. In turn, the MGA comes with a limited-slip differential with uprated shafts and bearings, and a five-link rear suspension co-developed with long-time partner Nitron. Fine-tuned geometry and front telescopic dampers enhance agility, while uprated brakes – featuring four-piston front and two-piston rear callipers – provide exceptional stopping power. The classic fly-off handbrake, a nod to the original, has been seamlessly integrated with modern braking technology. Adjustable electronic power steering adds everyday usability without compromising feel, too.
While the modern drivetrain and engineering features are at the heart, the MGA Factory Edition is faithful in appearance while featuring subtle, contemporary enhancements that distinguish it from its Fifties predecessor. Thoughtful exterior touches include crystal-clear LED headlights, which eliminate the traditional sidelights for a cleaner, more modern front fascia. Each lamp is etched with a bespoke Frontline logo, serving as a discreet signature of its bespoke, handcrafted origin. There’s also a Frontline badge on the bonnet, a first for the brand in its 30+-year history, to identify the MGA.
“The MGA always had more to give,” said Tim Fenna, Founder and Chief Engineer at Frontline Cars. “We wanted to keep its iconic shape and character while transforming the driving experience. This is a car that looks and feels like a classic but drives like something far more advanced. It’s light, fast, and incredibly rewarding – but still, unmistakably, an MGA.”
“For us, building a car is about starting with building that connection with our customers directly,” continued Tim Fenna, Founder and Chief Engineer of Frontline Cars. “We work one-on-one with each build, fitting our customers into their car like a tailor fits a suit – the beauty of it being that it can be completely bespoke to what the customer wants from a car. That’s why the MGA Factory Edition is so special – it’s not a museum piece. It’s a car you’ll want to drive – and reach for the keys in every scenario, rain or shine.”
Available in both roadster and coupé form, every Frontline MGA Factory Edition is built from a fully restored body, ensuring each car is finished to the highest standard. Using its customer configuration room, which is at the heart of Frontline’s Abingdon-based HQ (or remote meetings can be arranged), which sits alongside the in-house trim shop, customers are invited to customise every aspect of their dream MGA. The possibilities in paint hues, finish and interior materials are endless, creating an experience akin to selecting a hand-made suit in Savile Row, or reserved for the most premium of automotive ateliers.
Following its Goodwood Members’ Meeting debut (you can see Frontline during the event, on stand 51 and 52), the MGA Factory Edition will enter full production at Frontline’s Oxfordshire headquarters. Optimised for the company’s growing international audience, particularly in the USA and Australia – two regions where the original MGA was most celebrated – both right- and left-hand drive builds are now available to order, with global customers invited to already start commissioning their bespoke examples. First customer deliveries are expected from Summer 2026.
| Vehicle model donor car | 1950s MG MGA |
| Wheel / tyre | 15-inch 72 spoke wire wheels with Continental UltraContact tyres or Dunlop-style wheels (185 front – 185 rear) |
| Fuel tank | 45 litres |
| Vehicle weight | 815 kg (dry) |
| Suspension | Five-link coilover rear, telescopic front – both with Frontline fully adjustable Nitron dampers |
| Axle | Limited-slip differential with uprated shafts and bearings |
| Brakes | Frontline four-piston alloy front brakes and two-piston alloy rear brakes |
| Gearbox | Five-speed Mazda gearbox |
| Wheelbase length | 2,388 mm |
| Wheelbase width | 1,473 mm |
2.5-litre engine:
| Power (bhp) | 290 @ 7,100rpm |
| Torque | 330n/m @ 4,200 |
| 0-60 mph | 4.1 seconds |
| Max. rpm | 7,500rpm |
| Power-to-weight | 353bhp/tonne |
| Top speed | 155 |
2.0-litre engine:
| Power (bhp) | 225 @ 7,200rpm |
| Torque | 241n/m @ 4,500 |
| 0-60 mph | 4.8 seconds |
| Max. rpm | 7,750rpm |
| Power-to-weight | 276bhp/tonne |
| Top speed | 155mph |
About Frontline Cars:
Founded in 1991 initially under the name of Frontline Developments, which was rebranded as Frontline Cars (Frontline) in 2023, Frontline was established with a single mission: to elevate the foundations and driving experience of classic MG cars. Now past its 30th year, and wholly focused on bespoke, hand-made car builds, Frontline has firmly established itself as a marque specialist, uncompromising in its dedication to preserving the past while utilising the best in modern-day technology. With a passion for precision and renowned for its meticulous attention to detail, each Frontline car celebrates originality and heritage in abundance, while never losing sight of the purity of automotive interaction these cars were meant to emote in the first place.
A nod to the importance of the MGA:
Originally launched in 1955, the MGA marked a dramatic departure for MG, with smooth, flowing bodywork, a lower stance, and a purer driving experience. It was the last model developed under company founder Cecil Kimber and quickly became one of Britain’s most successful sports car exports. Of the more than 100,000 MGAs built between 1955 and 1962, over 80 per cent were sold abroad – particularly in the USA and Australia, where the car gained a devoted following. However, despite its beauty and charm, the original MGA always had untapped potential, limited by the technology of its era.