The MGA's steering wheel sits at the heart of the driving experience, with the original equipment three-spoke design having become one of the model's most recognisable features. Replacement and upgrade options fall into two clear categories: original-pattern reproduction wheels for restoration to factory specification, and aftermarket wood-rimmed wheels (with the bosses needed to fit them) for owners seeking a more period-sporting feel or improved grip. This category covers both routes through the dedicated child sections.
Original Equipment Steering Wheel
The MGA was supplied with a large-diameter three-spoke steering wheel, with the horn push centrally mounted in the boss. The wheel sat at a relatively flat angle on the steering column, characteristic of British sports cars of the period, and was sized for the lower-effort steering required of an unassisted rack-and-pinion system. Reproduction OE wheels are made to the original pattern and dimensions, suitable for cars being restored to factory specification or where the original wheel has been damaged or is missing.
Aftermarket Steering Wheels and Bosses
A significant proportion of MGA owners fit a smaller-diameter wood-rimmed wheel in place of the original, both for the more sporting period appearance and (with a smaller diameter) for a more direct feel through the steering. Aftermarket wheels are supplied separately from their fitting bosses, since the boss must match the steering column splines of the car and the wheel mounting pattern. Boss adapters allow a range of branded wood-rim wheels to be fitted to the MGA column, and many owners will already have an inherited wheel that simply needs the correct boss to fit. This child section covers both complete wheels and the supporting boss range.
Originality vs Sporting Feel
For a concours or original-correct restoration, the OE three-spoke wheel is the only correct choice. For a road-driven car, the wood-rim aftermarket option offers a different driving experience, better grip in warm weather, a smaller diameter that quickens the steering response, and the period look associated with classic competition MGAs of the 1960s. Neither approach is wrong; the choice reflects the use the car is being restored or maintained for.
Ordering Considerations
For an OE wheel, the choice is straightforward, the same pattern fits all MGA variants. For an aftermarket wheel, the boss is the critical detail: the column splines must match, and the wheel mounting holes (typically a six-bolt or three-bolt pattern depending on the wheel manufacturer) must align with the chosen boss's flange. Ordering a wheel and a matching boss together avoids fitment issues; alternatively, where an existing wood-rim wheel is being adapted, the boss is the only purchase required.