It’s amazing how often we see barn finds that were parked due to a fairly simple issue. In the case of this MGC GT, it was as simple as needing a new water pump that kept it off the road for 32 years. Reader Elaine B bought it from the shop it was parked at, replaced the water pump and now has it back on the road! There’s still work be done to make it a very nice driver, but you can enjoy it as is. So, if you’d love to give this GT a good home, be sure to contact Elaine via the form below.
From Elaine – This unrestored, original condition 1968 MGC GT 3 Speed Automatic in Primrose Yellow has been sitting in an Alabama foreign repair shop with a failed water pump, for 32 years! All original interior including ultra-rare vinyl floor coverings. Factory BMC seatbelts, and original banjo steering wheel in mint condition. Runs and drives, with good oil pressure. Still has working original 6 Volt batteries. Brake boosters have been bypassed, but all other braking systems work correctly. Comes with Alabama registration. Many additional photos are available upon request. As is where is.
Here’s the good stuff:
The car starts right up with no smoke.
Transmission shifts correctly.
All controls work correctly.
The heater core is good.
The original exhaust system is good.
The original jack and tool kit are present with the spare tire.
The Owner’s and workshop manuals are included.
Floor pans are in excellent condition.
The paint is original with no sign of accident damage.
The fuel system has been cleaned and serviced with a new fuel pump.
All fluids have been serviced.
Brake and clutch master cylinders have been rebuilt.
Seats are in excellent condition.
Here’s the bad stuff:
As mentioned previously, the brake boosters have been bypassed.
There is a small rust hole in the left front fender.
There is an area of rust on the left undercarriage (see photo).
The windshield is cracked, but there is a replacement windshield included.
The wing mirror glass is broken, but it can be easily replaced.
These MGC GTs are, in our opinion, fairly underappreciated. While the inline-six doesn’t add massive amounts of power, it gives this grand tourer some much needed grunt for highway cruising. And with the right tweaks, you can make these cars handle quite well, putting it on par with more expensive British GT cars. Elaine’s car has some interesting features and could prove to be a great driver, so take a closer look and be sure to use the form below to send over any questions or to make an offer!
- Asking Price: $12,500
- Location: Stanley, NY
- Mileage: 91,777
- Title Status: Clean
- VIN: GCD1U2779G
List your car here on Barn Finds for only $50!
Never seen an automatic in one of these, will it have any power at all or is it A Slug?
It’still a good powerful drive, even as an automatic!
If that’s the major rust on the car this is a good one.
It’s super solid. All the major rust is shown in the photos. I have a ton more photos available as well.
I drove an automatic MGC, it’s ok. The crowd buying these cars now would probably prefer it anyway.
I love a manual transmission, but really enjoyed driving this car. It still had the power, but a bit more of a relaxing experience!
I think they made quite a few of these with automatic trans, enough so that I’ve only ever seen auto’s and only ever driven an automatic MGC.
Interesting cars, from memory the front suspension is different from a MGB.
Definitely a GT car as opposed to a sportster you’ve carve up back roads with, but I think that was the purpose all along.
17% of MGCs were equipped with Borg Warner T35 transmissions a standard unit in Ramblers and several Euro cars, Jag and Volvo among them. Half of MGCs were roadsters the rest GTs. I own one of each, and the GT is an automatic.
I specialize in MGC parts and make some that are no longer available. MGC is an MGB from the firewall back and totally unique firewall forward and the brake’s 4 corners an exception to this are fenders and bumpers.
I have modern brake servos superior to the OE Girlings now tech dated by a half Century.
The front heavy MGC is not so much a “sports car” as is the MGB but a very fine and refined tourer. The auto trans does not bog the car at all, the rear end ratio compensates that factor. Hope the seller or new buyer makes contact.
Great information Robert. Thank you!
Way back,1973 to be exact, I had a college roommate who had brought a MGC GT, maye a 1969 (? )up from Brazil. It was a lovely metallic blue with an unusual roof made up of two glass panels. Have you ever seen one like that. Of course it had a 4 speed and I believe an electric overdrive
If the car had stayed in Alabama it would A) be closer to me to inspect, and B) likely sell for less than the asking price of $12,500. No slight by the New York seller, it’s just that these B’s don’t bring that kind of money in AL.
Robert Kirk, good to see you on Barn Finds. Your wisdom and wit will be a nice addition to the discourse here!
Thank you Little_Cars! Regrettably, I don’t see a name to go with the handle. Now that you’ve called me out I shall spare no opportunity to wisely wit a-way ; ^)
Total production of 9000 in just over two years makes the MGC somewhat rare. The balance of North American export is also about half shipped half retained in EU. No idea on RHD for the UK with very few sent to AU.
The ask is in line I believe but like real estate location certainly impacts the final sale price. As an owner of 32 or so collector cars (several featured earlier this year on Barn Finds), the ask is only one side of the equation. The “meet” between ask and offer is what that car is worth in that moment.
And it has an Auburn sticker in the rear window! War Eagle!
I owned an identical MGCGT in the same color (but with a stick & overdrive) when I lived in Oregon in 1977-78. It truly was a fun cruiser. We even transported a Christmas tree home in it for our son’s first Christmas. I was a bodyman at the time so I straightened the body and my late brother Roger painted it.
Growing families require that the dad-unit do some growing up (get a decent paying job and become a good provider). When our 2nd baby was on the way my brother helped me sell it and we moved back to the midwest. Great fun, great memories.
I’m sure the fact that it’s an automatic had something to do with it sitting for so long.
In terms of automatic transmissions “in the day”, the BW35 is pretty much bullet proof.
bulletproof maybe but boring definitely
Mark,
I really don’t understand your angst and dislike of automatic transmissions. The MGC isn’t and never will be a sports car in the tradition of the A and B series engine British cars, nor even the car it was meant to replace the Austin Healey 3000. However it is a marvelous touring car ahead of its time in being able to easily lope along at modern highway speeds. Perhaps after a few knee and hip replacements you too will leave the dark side and learn to enjoy the leisure of a Gentleman’s touring vehicle without a left pedal to “slug” you down.
Have to agree with you robert kirk, if you think about it the transmission is only one aspect of a car. I just bought a 54 y/o car with an automatic. Yes a 4speed would have been more spritely and quicker, but I bought it for the experience and fun of a classic car. Plus even though my sweetie pie can drive a stick, she’s more comfortable and confident in the automatic. Plus both of us pushing 70 years old does figure in the equation, like it or not.