Breathing Exercises
The sounds it makes are intoxicating, recalling purebred race cars rather than standard road cars. It’s a nearly indivisible blend of high-pitched induction howl and deep exhaust bark, a noise more purposeful and far meaner than a delicately pretty MGA should make. It’s different from the exotic Twin-Cam’s, this rich cacophony, and unless you notice the understated exhaust outlets below the rear bumper, or catch an eyeful under the bonnet, it seems entirely out of character for a cheap-and-cheerful MG.
But it’s not, when you consider that enterprising enthusiasts were improving on factory engineering and making go-faster parts for cars long before the 1962 Mk II De Luxe on these pages was built. Those keen individuals weren’t limited by considerations of cost, economy, or warranty-friendly longevity, so their personalized cars could be highly tuned. Sometimes, as in
