It is the biggest gathering of MGA enthusiasts in North America.

And this year it’s happening in Ottawa.

For many people it begs the question, “What is an MGA?”

The MGA is a vintage British sports car. The MG Motor Company manufactured over 100,000 of them in the years 1955-1962. It is the forerunner to the more popular MGB.

It is perhaps also more important in the evolution of the modern sports car.

The MGA was a radical departure from previous MG models that, in the style of the day, featured a blocky body with wheels sticking out beyond the sides covered by fenders and running boards. The MGA featured a more modern-looking design with rounded edges and a body that enveloped the wheels, a look consistent with many sports cars today.

“So when these cars came out in 1955 it was quite a departure for MG. People either loved them because of their sleek lines or they hated them because they didn't look like traditional MGs," says Andy Bounsall, Co-chairman of the Ottawa MGA gathering. “Obviously these people here are some of the ones that love them.”

Well over a hundred MGA enthusiasts are in Ottawa to show off their cars, some from as far away as Texas, California, Florida, and British Columbia. Many drove their tiny two-seaters the entire way.

“There’s not a lot of padding in those seats,” says Surry B.C.’s Peter Tilbury, who joined a half dozen other drivers in an 11-day, 2,800-mile trek.

But everywhere they went, the cars turned heads. “Every time you stop for gas somebody comes up to you saying oh, I love your car,” says Tilbury.

Owners say the car isn’t too expensive to maintain and parts are still readily available. One of the appeals of the car is that it was built so simply in its day, it’s easy to work on. The original MGAs boasted 68 horsepower. That went up in subsequent models, but pales in comparison to today’s cars. “This car is not about going fast,” says Bounsall. “It’s about looking good.”

The North American MGA Register GT-39 continues to Friday, July 18th in Ottawa. You might also find some of the cars at the All-British Car Day in Britannia Park on Saturday, July 19th.