Frontline will restomod your old MGA with 290bhp and lots of Alcantara

Got an old MGA shell knocking around? This is Frontline’s new ‘Factory Edition’ restomod package: a glorious overhaul that revitalises the Fifties icon, retaining the familiar looks but completely modernising its internals.

Said internals are fronted by a choice of two high-revving, naturally aspirated four-pot engines: 2.0-litre (225bhp/178lb ft) or 2.5-litre (290bhp/243lb ft). Regardless of which you choose, it’ll be mated to a five-speed manual and have a capped top speed of 155mph, with the key difference being a 0-62 sprint of 4.8 or 4.1s.

So even the slower one isn’t exactly… slow. Aside from the engine, the speedy acceleration comes from a dry weight of just 815kg. Probably handles like housefly too, thanks to a reworked chassis that now has adjustable suspension and a limited-slip differential.

“The MGA is one of the most beautiful British sports cars ever made,” said Tim Fenna, the founder and chief engineer of Frontline. “But beneath that beauty, there was always untapped potential. The laggy engine and running gear, the leaf suspension, the list goes on. Our goal was to take that design and engineer it to perform at a level that finally matches its looks.”

Ah, those looks. The only difference in truth are the new LED headlights and a bit of extra badging. Should you want your Factory Edition with more flavour though, Frontline will happily oblige. It can throw on louvred bonnets, perspex screens or even a picnic storage box should you wish. We’d get it for the last one alone.

By comparison, the cabin gets much more focus. There’s fancier materials used for the trim and upholstery, with customisable padding and adjustable lumbar support added for the choice of leather or Alcantara seats. Big revisions have also been made to the dials, gauges and switchgear clusters, with a new radio, which incorporates two speakers, two tweeters, an amplifier and a Bluetooth module. Streaming Jack Harlow should be easy as.

The Factory Edition is entering production over the next few days at Frontline’s Oxfordshire HQ, with the conversion available for either roadster or coupe body types in both left and right-hand drive. Rumours are currently pointing towards a base cost of £120k (!) plus donor car, with first deliveries scheduled for summer 2026.