Back in the sixties, BMC decided they needed to replace the outdated Austin-Healey 3000. They wanted something more modern which would meet crash standards. They already had the MGB in production, so they had the bright idea of shoving an inline-six in it and calling it an Austin-Healey. Well, Donald didn’t take too kindly to resulting car, so they called it a MGC instead and started production. This 1968 MGC project is currently list here on eBay with bidding at $4,050 and only two days left.
Perhaps BMC should have consulted more with Donald before building this car. The idea was good, but it was poorly executed. To save costs they sourced the three liter six from another car in the Austin stable. The engine may have looked like that from the Big Healey, but it was heavy and anemic. The extra weight caused the little MG to feel front heavy and ruined the sporting image that the engineers had wanted so badly.
This particular MGC suffered a restoration attempt back in the seventies which was never completed so it has been sitting in pieces for many years. They resprayed the outside, but it looks terrible and needs redone now. Many of the parts were removed and thrown in boxes, so lets hope that not too many things were lost in the process. The engine does run, but all the systems are going to need attention before driving anywhere.
It is too bad that BMC did not make this car work. We love the idea of cross-country touring in an MGC GT and the Austin-Healey badge would have made that image even sweeter. These cars may have been flawed, but because of their rarity they are still considered collectable today. Sad thing is that they are rare because no one wanted them in the first place. Any C owners here who think otherwise?
Source: eBay
get one big box—and throw the whole thing in it—then call garbage truck to haul it off—
Heard enough about them I’m not interested…especially in this shape!
Guy above: SHUT UP!
This is a great car!
~ http://www.britishv8.org/
Above comments from haters need to be ignored. Probably fans of American iron. This car is not for you guys.
My mother always said, if you can’t say something nice, don’t say it. This is true for the internet too.
The paint is looking a bit tired, but the interior appears to be mostly intact from the pictures.
I have seen cars in worse shape comeback to life, so there is still hope for this car if it gets a good home.
@Max
Totally Agree!
It looks like the underside has been sprayed in dark primer. That’s not bad in itself, but it isn’t what you expect to see on a car that’s been sitting in dry storage ever since 1978. I would want to know that it’s not hiding anything nasty.
Top two ninnies have been called out.
I’d like to see what they drive, 1995 Honda civic or Camry ??
We’ll talk in 5 or 10 years and see which is the pile of garbage then (and predictably NOW)
I like MGB’s and the fact it is a six is all the better. Does it need a resto…….yep…..so what. Isn’t that most of the fun? over spending on a hobby car which will not bring your money back and making excuses why one throws away savings on said car?…………I do it all the time and I never learn.
Obvious trolling aside, these can be really fun cars when sorted, and are not nearly as common as their 4-cylinder brethren. With British Leyland stuff, you either get it, or you don’t.
The wonderful thing about old cars are their quirks…weird cars, or poorly executed ones for that matter are still interesting because of their rarity and this is no exception. The MGC still can’t beat a garden variety TR6 in my book though.
I wonder if this has the four fuse Lucas fuse panel like my ’72 B did. This is not too scary a prospect because the cars are fairly basic in nature and can be maintained/repaired without searching for the lost mine of unobtanium. In a way, I like unfinished cars of this ilk much better; they still have “potential”.
Nice find.