Description
This is actually a very rare car! This is a 1968 MGC GT Automatic! She is finished in White with Black Interior piped in Red, as per the Heritage Certificate. She is an older restoration that drives superbly and is in a lovely daily driver conditio!
Only produced between 1967 and 1969, the MGC GT is a rare car with only 2, 034 right-hand-drive models being built. Even fewer, perhaps as few as 355, were produced with the automatic gearbox, a choice that suits its high-speed, continent-demolishing nature. A nature that was partly a function of its top speed; 120mph+ was a revelation in its day and is still more than adequate on today’s roads. This makes the MGC a fine choice as an everyday classic or long distance cruiser and for these roles many prefer the MGC over the more common MGB, whilst still offering the the same rakish good looks that we Brits find irresistible in our indulgences.
Originally conceived as replacement for the ageing Austin-Healey 3000, the MGC debuted in 1967 powered by a new 2, 912cc, six-cylinder engine designed for the Austin 3-Litre saloon. Compared to the Austin-Healey six, the new seven-bearing unit was both lighter and shorter but nevertheless represented a significant increase in bulk over the MGB's 1. 8-litre, four-cylinder unit. Persuading the larger engine into the existing MGB bodyshell resulted in a number of significant changes, not the least of which was the adoption of a new front cross member and torsion bar springing for the front suspension, while the bonnet was given its characteristic bulge. Synchromesh was added to the four-speed manual gearbox's first gear and there was also the rare option of Borg-Warner automatic transmission which suited the Grand Tourer aspirations of the new model.
Although somewhat less agile than the lighter MGB, the 'C' nevertheless excelled as a Grand Tourer, its high axle ratio and lazy engine - 100mph equates to just 3, 750rpm in overdrive - making for effortless high-speed cruising. The overdrive-equipped example that Autocar had on test in 1967 also proved significantly more accelerative, reaching 60mph in 10. 0 seconds, some 3 seconds quicker than the 'B'. Better appreciated now than in its heyday, the MGC lasted for just two years, production ceasing in 1969 after around 9, 000 cars in total had been built.
Our car was supplied new by University Motors of London and was ordered in the Snowberry Whote with Black Interior Piped in Red, which it still wears today. The boxes for Automatic Gearbox, Heater, Disc Wheels and Dunlop SP Tyres were also ticked, making this a real GT car and a full lenth webasto sunroof was fitted at a later date, a very desirable thing! She was despatched to her first owner on the 20th May 1968 and is showing a believed genuine 73k Miles from new, a previous owner kept the car for 26 years and the car was restored around that time. The Auto gearbox has been reconditioned at some point and the car has benefitted from routine maintanence over the years with correspondence and invoices going back to the eighties.
She drives very well indeed and has been MOT'd nearly every year until 2018 with the preceeding 4 being with no advisories at all. She now appears as a clean daily driver, ready for use and being a remarkable practical daily! Please be quick as there are very few Automatics out there and she really needs to be driven as the larger engine is really suited to the Auto and the Disc wheels really set the car up nicely!
There are 50 photos, a walk-around video and more info on - details above.
