People were already missing the big Healey when production ended in 1967, so MG took it upon themselves to build a replacement. They started with their tried and true MGB platform and shoved an inline-six under a bulged hood. A modern AH was born! Well, not quite. The larger engine weighed 350 pounds more than the standard four-cylinder so the balance was thrown off a bit. These MGCs were still great high-speed cruisers though and are quite rare today. This one was taken off the road in 1979 following a wreck, so it will most likely need a full restoration. The seller does have it running though and has listed it for sale here on craigslist for $1,500.
interesting, but only 2 photos. would need more to go on then what is in listing. wonder if it is an automatic. as always something of interest in the background. still a great find
30 years out in the open with no bonnet = a perfect example of extreme neglect. Surprising that the electricals even worked well enough to turn it over let alone run, given the exposure of the engine bay to the elements during all that time.
I can’t trust anything this seller says because his advice that this MGC has “parts for a B owner wanting big HP” is wrong, unfortunately.
The ‘B’ and the ‘C’ have very different front suspension designs, which would prevent the 6-cylinder engine from the ‘C’ from fitting into the ‘B’. There are longitudinal torsion bars in the ‘C’ because of the larger engine. The ‘B’ has no room for the straight 6.
This great video explains it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFv0hdqPHoE
~ thanks for that link. it answers many questions i had never thought to ask.
Neat. With another $10,000 in restoration parts paint, blood, sweat and tears you would have a very nice $15,000 car. I’m getting too old for this kind of thing myself…
I saw a group of 3 MGCs plus lots of new & used parts for sale in the mountains in the West last year. Two were good drivers and the 3rd was a parts car that was better than the car in this listing. Price: $15K for everything.
If only I had a multi-car hauler plus 3 more garage spaces…..
I am amazed that someone could leave this car out there for thirty five years. You dont need to be a car nut to have common sense.
What a waste
That’s a cool car and all, but I want to know all the info on that Javelin on the other side of it!!!!
Well… at least the passenger’s side rockers, glass, trim, right wing and roofline look in passable condition.
These were lovely cars.
Growl-y.
And, dry on the inside, on rainy days.
On the plus side, you can build an MG from scratch these days with the parts supply. GT was a really attractive body. On the minus, that ugly hood hump.
I personally would rather have the CAT tractor in the background.
I had a friend with one of these it wasn’t much faster then the BGT didn’t handle as well & overheated & from what I remember they all did. So the fix today might be an electric fan & larger rad. I guess.
If you want more grunt, the Rover V8 seems to be a popular option in these pages. Maybe the front end mods for the C mentioned by Dolphin would help accommodate on of these. Perhaps a 401 from the Javelin sitting behind it.
I prefer a lighter nose more neutral handling, the road racer in me. Personally I liked the BGT better.
A Rover/buick engine or a Ford 302 are what fits under that hood, but this particular car has more value in its rarity. You can swap engines nicely on any old MGB. It costs at least ten grand to do properly though. Speaking from experience…
I agree Paul. The BGT for me is the nicest of the range, looks-wise (even better than the convertible). Interestingl, when the BGT was released, there were cries of ‘appropriation’ from the winner of an ‘Automobile Year’ design competition.
http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/concepts/concepts-and-prototypes/sports-car-projects-ado30/
The thing is though that today you can get better performance from a good 4 cylinder than you could with the Buick/Rover V8. The V8 was rated at what, 150hp (for the 3.5)? Most 4 cylinder Japanese pickups from the last 15 years came with that much or more (like the Nissan KA24DE from a Frontier or 240sx) and with less weight and better fuel economy thrown into the bargain too. If I was going to go V8 in one of these I would do what the Australians do to Miatas and drop in a Toyota 1UZ-FE from a Lexus SC400. You’d get around 300hp and a modern 4 valve DOHC V8.
Recently had it running….in 1973.
Even in the early-80s these were hard to find engine parts for. Then in the early 90s we had to adapt a late MGB steering rack to fit an an
MGC because of lack of factory parts support. Good luck to the buyer!
…and wouldn’t it be REALLY hard to find the unique bubble hood for it?
If that car’s been parked outdoors in Caldwell, Idaho since 1979 the interior is toast, too. Craigslist always seems like the place where you can submit entries for a bad photo contest.
These cars are really undesirable. BMC took a wrecking ball to the MGB’s charms when they dropped the big six onto its poor squirming frame. These are nose-heavy, overheating, truck-like vehicles that no one in their right mind would spend time restoring, especially from basket-case condition such as this one.
I too would like to know more about that Javelin. Looking closely though, I hope that isn’t grey crumpled sheet metal near the Javelin isn’t the hood. But the back end looks pretty good. Maybe that hasn’t been out with the trashed MGC for 30+ years.
I used to drive my Uncle’s MGC. Horrible handling in the curves when compared to my MGB, but what a blast on a straight stretch with the 6 cylinder.
Would you sell the hood on its own?
Just an update this car was towed to Boise 2016 and is undergoing restoration Idaho is a dry State so the car is not as bad very little body rust rockers doors fenders and trunk very little rust there was little damage on right side .The major expense was the rebuild of the master cylinder as there are very few around ,the hood was replaced for $600 So far including car we have spent $3900 no paint/or interior We are making a driver not a show car but what is being restored is being done to factory .These car are worth saving and will sell for up to $15,000 and a lot of fun to work on and i am 72 young Maybe you missed this one as parts alone are worth $4000.
The other car MGC GT 1969