MG Car Club - The Club For MG Owners

I just bought a 1960 MGA from US which has a 1622 engine block and a 16GC-U-H5461 engine. VIN is 71003 which takes me to the idea that the correct year of make is 1959 and the engine has to be from 1961 or 1962.
What is your opinion about keeping this non matching engine. Does it harm the value of the car?
Thanks

It might still be the original engine - the only way to find out is to get a Heritage Certificate which should match up the numbers. People claim that cars with "matching numbers" are worth more than others, but I have my doubts. If your engine isn't the original, it won't increase the value by fitting another one which isn't original either.

After 50 years how do you measure "originality"? For instance, many cars were fitted with "gold seal" replacement engines quite early in their lives.

Chronologically speaking this can't be the matching engine. But I'm thinking this could be a better and valuable engine than the original one. I'm thinking (without experience) that the 1600 Mk II engines should have been better than the Mk I's.

I'm not really sure what you mean by "valuable". Lots of As have now been fitted with 1800 MGB engines and Ford 5 speed boxes and they fetch high prices. As I said previously, very few cars that are more than 50 years old will be "original" in all aspects. All B series engines look similar so unless the engine fitted is worn out, I would stick with what you have got.

Thanks for advice. I'll keep it that way. As I couldn't examine the car (it's on the ship yet) I wonder if the gearbox has been changed together with the engine or the original gearbox from 1588cmc engine fits also with the 1622 cmc one?

All As had fundamentally the same gearbox, in fact the same box is also in early Bs. Is the car a restoration project or a runner? Either way, don't expect it to have all the original style parts - always check before buying replacements. I bought a Midget from the States for the bodyshell mainly - it had a Morris Minor rather than a Midget box, same casing but much lower spec internals.

Whatever, join the Club and the MGA Register if you haven't done so - the members in the register know everything about As and stage superb social events and runs.