Back in 1968, if the standard MGB GT didn’t offer the clout to satisfy your heavy right foot or provide the tyre-burning, tail-sliding madness to suit your Saturday racing-driver persona, then the MGC was tailored as your perfect coupling.
The MGC – now well worth your attention.
In a brain wave attempt to extend the life-span appeal of an already ageing MGB, Abingdon opted to inject extra horsepower into Britain’s darling sportscar by shoe-horning a straight-six C-Series engine under the celebrated bonnet trumpeting the MG badge.
Although the MGB was still selling in figures more common with Playboy magazine circulation, a gap in the market made itself ripe for the taking after the Austin-Healey 3000 was killed off. A highly strung MGB would fill that vacuum rather nicely - and provide Abingdon with profit to further develop its vehicle range. Hence, the MGC arrived in 1967.
The resulting power surge was significant to say the least, with a 0-60mph sprint in 10 seconds and a top speed of 120mph from 145bhp, making the MGC one of the fastest GT cars available without spending ridiculous money. However, those looking for a nimble handler were ultimately deflated by the MGC. Aside from original tyre pressure woes that caused wild oversteer, the ride and handling didn’t capture the imagination of potential buyers - and the MGC died away less than two years into production.
Even today, the MGC doesn’t appear to be held in high regard among classic car owners, infamous for heavy steering and a lazy engine. However, it looks fantastic and can be fixed by any car-DIY guru, or anyone with access to the vast hundreds of specialists up and down the country. Sadly, it never became the replacement to the Austin Healy 3000 as promised but it does make a great tourer regardless, even if the expectations were so high faults were never really forgiven.
However, the MGC makes perfect sense today - holding a supreme noise and offering performance that allows easy driving in modern traffic situations. It does drink the fuel rather significantly, but then what do we expect from a car designed over 50 years ago?
This 1968 example would make an ideal cruiser come springtime, having covered a mere 39,420 miles. Rebuilt twice - once in 1995 and then again this year - we would certainly recommend it.