One of my more pointless automotive fascinations is the existence of interesting cars living in far-away places. This 1968 MGC GT is located in the unincorporated community of Chugiak, Alaska, where it’s seemingly been for quite some time without succumbing to the elements. How it got here – and more importantly, how it’s survived – are questions I’d love to answer. You’ll find it here on craigslist with a $5,000 asking price. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Adam F. for the find.
The GT wears the recently re-made Bicentennial license plates, which featured the iconic grizzly bear standing in front of a mountain range. That potentially tells you a little about the car’s long-time status as an Alaska resident, which is curious given a two-door British sporting car isn’t exactly the preferred choice for Alaskan roads. A tail light lens is missing and some rust-colored primer is evidence behind a bumper mount. Dust on the body and glass suggests long-term storage.
The GT presents as a very solid survivor, with details like the original wire wheel spare tire and rust-free tire well both encouraging signs. Even the typically battered spare tire cover remains in good nick, and the body lines look nice and straight at the back of the car. The license plate starts to make more sense given the seller’s mentioning that the car has been stored since 1977.
The interior looks quite nice as well, gently used but by no means trashed. The dash doesn’t appear to be cracked and door panels and seating surfaces still match. Details are limited in the craigslist ad, but if this GT isn’t rusty underneath, it appears to be a decent project with a good story to tell. I’m sure residents who were old enough to remember the most unique cars in town at the time would recall this pretty MGC GT tackling whatever roads in Anchorage would accommodate a svelte British coupe.
I say, it’s VERY unusual to see not one, but two MGC’s come through here. This one looks nicer than the last one, and $5g’s to boot.This car is worth 5 times that amount, and as rare as it is, not sure why these are so “cheap”. Maybe the bottom is finally falling out on British sports cars. I bet people just aren’t buying these anymore for the same reasons I wouldn’t buy one today. Just too much hassle.
Bs and V8s have lighter engines so are easier to drive for someone used to the modern world. That’s my guess. You have to work a bit harder to make swift progress on twisty roads with a C.
MGCs just don’t pull the kinds of number$$ you would think, based on their scarcity. I like the GT better than the roadster and a tad more practical. British-Leyland was trying to compete with well-established touring sedans of the era and failed. Doubtful this could pull $25k even fully restored, and being in Alaska the seller will be hard-pressed to find an eager enthusiast to take this off his/her hands.
Live up here in Wasilla. This owner has been attempting to sell this car for about the last 12 months. Might be able to get a better deal especially if you include transportation costs back down to the States.
$20K car restored, would cost more than that to restore. Not likely that it isn’t rusty given it’s in Alaska. This one has been on Craigslist for ages and ages. If it was a good deal it would’ve been long gone.
We don’t have much rust up here as we don’t use salt on the roads. You’ll see a ton of malaise-era cars up here in Alaska.
In the 70’s the Alyeska Pipeline construction project had brought a significant number of eclectic people to Alaska and their cars were brought up with. Many weren’t concerned w/ how well the car might pair w/ our territory and had that been the case we’d all have been driving exclusively 4×4 pickups. This looks like a relic of that process for certain and it also helps explain why it might have gotten retired shortly after arrival.
I had a GT6 at the time and it suffered a similar fate… very little by way of parts availability, expensive to keep on the road, poorly adapted to our winter driving conditions and once the trans needed repair or body panels needed to be replaced as a result of our 6 month collision season it became clear that early retirement made sense.
Watch out where the MGs go, don’t you eat that oil stained snow…
The shipping alone is going to eat a chunk out of any potential profit! I know, I used to get 3 rounds a year in and out of Alaska! Especially this time of year! Nice car tho!
They were a great straight line car in their day, with the Woolsley 6/110 engine, I had the good fortune to drive one of these over a couple of hundred miles way back when. They are nose heavy and not the best of handling but all the same a fairly rare car that went like the wind for their day, easy 110 m.p.h. which was quite an achievement back then. I worked for the Morris Dealer and serviced lots of the B’s etc but did not see too many of these.
Nobody restores MGs and Triumphs for a profit! Yet a lot of these cars get restored. Why? It’s because the cars are so darn lovable. If you enjoy working on old cars, these are great, fun, and remarkably trouble-free. Many of us still use them for routine daily driving. Get it?
AH, makes me miss my ’74 MGB-GT 4 cylinder so much but being in storage for over ten years and probably full of mice and squirrel poo at my daughters farm makes me even sadder. Old age stinks; mine, that is, a fact that approaching 70 is reminding me daily as my body falls apart. Of course I do agree with the previous comments: these cars were and still are FUN to drive, and even though they required more TLC than just about any other marque. Spare parts back then were readily available and not too outrageously priced for the standard 1800cc inline 4. But a full restoration would never bring back any profit because these cars are a literal labor of love. Thanks so much for sharing. Peace. PS: does anyone remember the company that sold DIY plans on how to drop a small block Rover V-8 into the GT body? I believe that was originally an old Buick designed engine(??) Anyone? Bueller?
Nick,
Next year, you’ll be older, and in potentially worse shape, continuing for each one that passes. And the condition of the MGB-GT will continue to decline as well. There is no time like the present to get with the program and get that car out.
Vacuums and chorine-containing spray cleaners take care of the poo part. The rest is up to you. Get after it, you’ll not be sorry. Otherwise, your daughter will have to dispose of the car after you die. A sad fate.