Vintage MG SA bought for £30 fetches £60,000 at auction
A vintage car bought for just £30 more than 40 years ago has sold at auction for nearly £60,000.
The 1937 MG sportscar was lying half derelict in the back of a motor dealers in Beaulieu, Hampshire, when Lob Vinycomb bought it in 1966.
One of around only 70 MG SA drophead coupes left in the world, Mr Vinycomb sold it in 1970 for £70.
Mr Vinycomb has been reunited with the car after his brother Andy rediscovered it at the same dealer early this month.
Restored more than 20 years ago in the north east, the car has clocked up some miles with previous owners in Hampshire and Cornwall.
The new owner, a private collector, will be taking delivery of the vehicle soon at his home in Silverstone, Northamptonshire.
It is believed to be the only MG SA drophead coupe available for sale in the world.
Phillip Scott, director of Beaulieu Garage, said: "The owner rang me at the start of last year to tell me he was thinking of selling it.
"I went to visit him down in Cornwall and he had a small collection of cars. When I saw the MG SA, I just fell in love with it and had to bring it back to the showroom here."
After buying the MG SA in 1966, Mr Vinycomb used the car to get around for four years during his studies.
The 65-year-old, from Shalfleet, Isle of Wight said: "It was just an exhilarating car to drive. A fast car too, flat out it would do 85 mph.
"I did enough work on it to keep it roadworthy, but not nearly as much restoration as I would've liked.
"Sadly, I had to let go of the car at the time, but it was such a surprise when my brother told me he had spotted it in the same dealer recently.
"The restorer has made such a brilliant job of it. I've been out for a drive in it for one last time and I could probably get used to it all over again."