HIGHLIGHTS
- Well presented
- Body restoration carried out in 2017
- 2.9 litre straight-six
- Sought-after model
THE APPEAL
The MGC is quite a rare car, with just over 9,000 models built, and approximately 4,450 of those were Roadsters. With dropping sales of the Austin Healey 3000, attention was drawn to the MGB’s monocoque structure and whether it could handle the straight-six engine from the Healey. In the short term, the MGB was designed for the 1800 engine, and thoughts were that the larger 2.9 litre unit would upset the handling of the MG. As a result, there was some redesigning of the chassis and body which resulted in changing the suspension and moving the engine further back, slightly reducing the passenger compartment, but the end result was fantastic, an MG with a 2.9 litre straight-six engine capable of hitting 120mph.
This lovely example had all the body panels removed and repainted in 2017 at the cost of £3,000. The interior is mainly on the original side, which is in good condition. The engine has had the cylinder head replaced to accept unleaded fuel meaning there is no messing about with additives every time you fill up. The vendor has taken the car on a trip over to Ireland, covering around 1,000 miles of trouble-free motoring. He reports it is a great fun car to drive and one you can jump into, take it anywhere and enjoy.
THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK
- V5 is present
- Registered 1st February 1970
- Good selection of invoices for parts fitted and work carried out
- Invoices suggest the car has been well maintained with regular servicing
- £3,000 body restoration
- Upgraded cylinder head to accept unleaded fuel
- The MG has averaged 1,000 miles each year for the past ten years
THE INTERIOR
- Well-presented interior, with original features
- Black leatherette seats are in good condition with just some small wear patches to the bolster
- The dashboard is in good order with no splits or cracks
- Instruments are reported to work correctly, and the odometer shows a reading of 1,641 which is believed to be 101,641 miles
- The switchgear has a small amount of wear but is all working as it should
- A Philips period radio is fitted and working
- Carpets are in good condition with a small amount of age related wear
- The boot area is clean and tidy, with no signs of any corrosion
- A painted spare wire wheel is present and in good order
THE EXTERIOR
- Finished in Old English White
- Paintwork presents well
- No noticeable dings or dents
- The panel gaps are equal on each side
- Headlights have no chips or cracks in the lenses, and the chrome surrounds are in superb condition
- There is a very small amount of age-related tarnishing to the grille and bumpers
- Indicators and rear light lenses are in good condition with no splits
- There is a small crack in the reverse light, but an easy item to replace
- The blue soft top is in excellent condition
- There is no damage to the soft-top plastic windows, and they’re clear to look through
- The door windows and windscreen look to be free from excessive scratches
- Stainless steel wire wheels are less than 12 months old and in excellent condition
- The tyres are matching and have covered less than 1,000 miles
THE MECHANICS
- 2.9L (2912cc) straight-six engine
- Four-speed gearbox with overdrive
- Cylinder head ungraded to accept unleaded petrol
- Twin SU carburettors
- Oil change within the past 1,000 miles
- The underside presents well and is stone guarded for protection
- Sills on both sides look to be clean and free from corrosion
- Starts without any hesitation and idles smoothly
- The gear change is reported to be smooth, and the overdrive works correctly
- On the road, the car is said to be smooth and handle well with no knocks or bangs from the suspension
- The brakes bring the MGC to a halt in a straight line
SUMMARY
You’ve caught it just in time for the coming summer months, and what a fantastic opportunity to take over the ownership of a classic British MGC. With just over 4,500 Roadsters made, it’s safe to say that nowadays, these are becoming relatively thin on the ground, and when one comes up for grabs, they get snapped up pretty quickly.
So with the warmer months on the way and an MGC raring to go, what are you waiting for? Your rare British classic awaits.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
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