MG MGA Hardtop-Roadster Frua EX205/2

The MG MGA Hardtop Roadster by Pietro Frua, also known as MG Experimental Car EX205/2, was a unique prototype built in 1957 by Pietro Frua for the British Motor Corporation (BMC). The goal was to design a successor to the popular MG MGA, which had been in production since 1955. Commissioned by George Harriman, the managing director of BMC, the project sought to create a more advanced and stylish sports car. Frua, known for his sophisticated designs, crafted a prototype that was bold and futuristic, showcasing his signature design elements. The prototype was finished in 1957, painted red with a white hardtop and a white convertible top. The interior featured cream-colored leather with red piping. It was equipped with a 1.5L, 4-cylinder engine producing 69 hp at 5,500 rpm, and had a 4-speed manual transmission. Weighing approximately 1,524 kg, the car featured an aluminum body on a box-frame chassis, with distinct Frua design elements such as a concave grille, tail fins, integrated rear lights, and cowhorn-style bumpers. These elements were ahead of their time and would later be seen in other Italian sports cars. Despite the initial excitement, the prototype was ultimately rejected by BMC. The car was considered too elaborate and expensive to produce, with its design deemed overly intricate and too much chrome. It was also viewed as too heavy compared to the successor to the MGA, which would later become the MGB. After its rejection, the prototype was destroyed in 1957 by acetylene cutting torches in front of customs officers in order to avoid import duties. Only one unit of the MG MGA Hardtop Roadster by Pietro Frua was ever built, making it an extremely rare and valuable piece of MG and Frua history. A 1:4 scale model of the car was created and is now preserved at the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust in Gaydon, Warwickshire, GB. Although the prototype never reached production, it remains a significant part of automotive history, representing a blend of British engineering and Italian design that was ahead of its time.