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Rare MG: 1969 MGC GT

A lot has been said about the iconic MGB on Barn Finds.  While there is criticism here and there, these cars are widely acknowledged to be a solid choice for someone looking for an easy onramp to the British sports car experience.  The fact that over 500,000 of them were built is both a blessing and a curse.  A blessing in that parts and support are widely available, but a curse in that you will never stand out at a British car show if you own one.  Unless you own an example like this 1969 MGC GT for sale on Craigslist in Greenville, South Carolina.  This rare coupe with an inline six-cylinder engine, automatic transmission, and aftermarket air conditioning is definitely different from your average MGB.  Would you deal with rust and the negative effects of a twenty-year slumber to own one?  Would the experience be worth the cost of restoration plus the $5,000 asking price?  Thanks to Jamie P. for the tip!

The British automobile industry in the late sixties and early seventies was a jumbled mess of mergers, poor management, and government intervention.  In 1968, the British Motor Company merged with Leyland Motor Corporation Limited with the encouragement of the British Government.  This company, now called British Leyland, put the competing sportscar-producing companies MG and Triumph under one roof.  It also created a quandary as to what cars would be produced, as the companies each made models that occupied similar sections of the marketplace.  It didn’t help that both MG and Triumph each had legions of loyal fans that were now on the same team.  The task of consolidating the lineups to free up much-needed cash was considerable.

One of the rare moneymakers of that new corporation was MG’s MGB.  Introduced in 1962, the MGB was a modern sports car with unibody construction, good handling, and a well-proven drivetrain.  The car itself was good enough to be in production for many years with just reactionary improvements done to meet government mandates both at home and in North America.  In trying to meet market demands without having to retool for a whole new car, the folks in management wanted to market a car that could be considered a successor to the beloved Austin-Healey 3000 series.  The work began in earnest just before the jumbled merger took place.

To accomplish this difficult task, the MGB was chosen to be the host for an inline six-cylinder engine to emulate the long-legged smoothness of the 3000 series.  This was far easier said than done on the unibody MGB.  The car was designed for a four-cylinder engine, so just bolting up a six was not feasible.  To drop in the 145 horsepower six plucked from the Austin parts bin, modifications had to be made.  Changes to the engine bay, floor pan, brakes, and front suspension were extensive.  The problem was not only the size of the engine, but its additional 200-pound weight over the four-cylinder engine.  Despite so many changes, the only way you could tell it was a different car was that the hood now sported a bulge to accommodate the engine and the effect it had on the radiator’s position.

Called the MGC, the modified car came in both coupe and convertible form.  It was also offered with a manual gearbox with overdrive or an automatic transmission.  While the six proved to be a very good engine for long-distance running at speed, the extra 200 pounds up front and changes to the suspension left a bit to be desired in the eyes of customers and reviewers.  Add to that the fact that the four-cylinder car when equipped with overdrive was a good traveling car in its own right.  The additional expense and lack of distinguishing features contributed to the MGC being a dud in the marketplace.  Production lasted just two years.

The car you see here is a rather rough but complete example of that rare MGB variant.  Even more rare is that it is equipped with an optional automatic transmission.  To stack up an additional level of oddity, a prior owner who must have enjoyed living life on the edge added an aftermarket air conditioning system to the car.  We are told that the car has sat for 20 years, and that the seller has made no effort to get the car running again.  Photos reveal a car that must have lived outside for quite some time but with some weather protection.  Rust is evident and undeniable in all the usual MGB areas.  This pretty much necessitates extensive repairs to the body shell to ensure that the car is restored properly.

If you are an MGB fan and have a good relationship with the local lending institution, then this may be the car for you.  The seller claims that just 4,700 MGCs were imported.  How many of them were coupes?  How many of them were equipped with an automatic transmission?  While keeping the automatic transmission and the aftermarket air conditioning would be up to individual tastes and levels of tolerance for pain and anguish, this car could end up being quite the showpiece.  Just bring money. What would you do with this MGC?  Please let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Comments

  1. Avatar bobhess Member

    Underside pictures would be nice. No way to really judge how extensive the rust is. What’s shown can be repaired with available panels. I’d hassle a bit with the owner to get the price down if I couldn’t get underside pictures. Not a lot of these cars around and I’ve seen them in much worse condition than this one.

    Like 2
  2. Avatar Nevadahalfrack Member

    Though few and far between, the 6 pot was said to be a dud and the auto takes out any fun factor in my books..
    GLWTS

    Like 3
    • HoA Howard A Member

      Hi Nev, I respectfully disagree, I believe the Austin 6 cylinder ( C series?) was the work horse of Britain, like the Toyota, modeled after the GM Stovebolt, and was used in a wide variety of British vehicles, including trucks. I’ll admit, stuffing one in a MGB was a bit much, but the motor was far from a dud. They made an awesome sound when you tore the exhaust off on that steep driveway approach( for the 3rd time).

      Like 4
    • Avatar Joseph Meccia Member

      Agreed on both fronts. I have a current 69 BGT project and I am partial to the hardtop car. No interest anymore in roadsters. The CGT is an iconic dud (to me). As a driver, the 6 cyl didn’t work and as for the automatic transmission; the big question is WHY? I know back in the day introducing the automatic was to try to gather a different segment of the population who didn’t want the 3rd pedal but wanted to enter the ‘sports car’ market. The person who will probably restore this car will bring it back to a museum piece because of its rarity. To me, Its rarity doesn’t make it valuable, though and it certainly is not a driver! The CGT looks sharp due to the hood bulge, the 15″ wire wheels, chrome bumpers and red rounded taillights but that is where it ends. This car could be a good candidate for V8 swap and a solid 5 speed manual trans. This candidate looks to be a bit overpriced for its condition and what it will need. It all depends on who wants it and which direction they are going to go with it.

      Like 2
      • Avatar bobhess Member

        Have only seen two of these, one of which was an autocross car with heavier front springs, good shocks, and a panhard rod. Daily driver and handled great. None of the MGBs handle well stock above normal street driving. The first time I autocrossed my MGB I had folks kidding me that I had the only car out there that they could see both door handles at the same time in a corner.

        Like 1
      • HoA Howard A Member

        I read somewhere, that was the exact intention of the MGC-GT/automatic. A large amount of these were sold to women, who wanted an automatic and not a roadster. I think a V8 is a bit much, and yes, as far as what other sports cars had, the dated 6 cylinder was a poor choice and they knew it. Never cared for ANY V6, but there are some wicked 4 cylinders today, that would work much better.

        Like 0
  3. Avatar Bruce Ironmonger

    The 6 was and always will be a dud. Far too heavy a motor up front. A much better car was the MG V8 with the 3.5 rover engine. Were any sold in the USA?. We have a few of the 2500 made here in Oz.
    While taking of MG’s they are now one of the top 10 car brands in Australia leading the field with their small Chinese made SUV’S . Didn’t stop them from celebrating the 100 years aniversary of MG this year.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Bill D

      Only hatchbacks came with the V8 option in the USA. No roadsters were sold equipped with the V8 in the US. There have been however quite a few conversions done.

      Like 1
  4. Avatar RedLamar

    I have great memories of mine. It was Primrose Yellow with a stick and overdrive. It wasn’t quick, fast or trouble-fee, but what affordable british car is? Remember everyone, performance is relative to the time. Did it accelerate quickly from a stop? Nah. Was it a car you want to go 100 mph in? Certainly not. Was it a great sounding, low to the ground fun car to drive around that put a smile on your face and often times on the faces of others? Oh yeah. Sorry folks, but my happy memories trump the observations of those who snipe but never had one.

    Like 1

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