Is this the best British sports car? - The MGC

[@robj2704]

Had an imported to the USA 68 MGC back in the early eighties, BRG, overdrive. Sold it in the late eighties to a Brit touring around in the US who took it back home with him.

[@datbs]

Interesting story Rob

[@benjaminseegraves989]

He is MG master class for sure !

[@marknelson5929]

Back in 2003 when in UK I bought an MGC GT, manual. It had a Stage 3 tune by the famous period Downton Tuning company, triple 2 inch SUs, big valve head, lightened fly wheel etc. It sounded like a beast and went extremely well, it just showed what could be done to improve the basic strangled engine. Later I bought an 1973 MGB GT which had been owned for 27 years by an ex RAF jet pilot. He'd converted it to a V8 using the much improved Rover V8 from an SD1 (better heads) and its 5-speed LT77 gearbox. It was everything the factory V8s were not, more power, better handling as it rode on the B springs, ride height etc not jacked up with the extra rear leaf the factory V8s had and of course the lovely gearbox really helped. It was my wolf in sheeps clothing as it had no V8 badging etc and rode on its original rostyles. As much as I loved the C, the V8 was the better car. Now I have a 67 MGB GT which I owned in the 1980s - it is the very car I sold 36 years a go. I found it quite by chance 4 sale online in April and it's still in excellent condition, rust free and now fitted with an uprated engine and close ratio gearbox - its been great to have her back again!

[@datbs]

Welcome to the channel Mark, thank you for sharing this information interesting story please send me a picture of your gem [e-mail]

[@rogerwatt8491]

A founder member of the MGOC, I owned a '68 CGT back in the '70s (after a '64 B roadster and a '66 BGT) and found it comparatively heavy, not at all nimble and thirsty . . . as had the motoring press. I sold it after about 9 months. I guess it might have been down to the kind of driving I was doing back then and comparing it to the other sports cars I was driving for my job as a professional car photographer but, whatever, it was more of a tourer than a sports car. After going back to a BGT and an Alfa 2000 GTV, (couldn't deal with the rust problem!), I bought a BGT V8 which was everything that the C should have been but sadly wasn't. Having photographed the V8 for magazine usage when it first came out (it turned up with the badges taped over for anonymity), I knew I wanted to get one as soon as I could afford it . . . which was in 1977. I kept it for three years before moving into Porsche 911s but it's still the car I most regret selling.

[@datbs]

Hello Roger, welcome to the channel and for your interesting insight

[@russparker1647]

Want it , but in left hand drive. And primrose yellow, just like my first car, a 69 MGB.

[@datbs]

Yes Russ it is a lovely car

[@jeffhildreth9244]

I bought a 1969 MGC GT in early 1970 while working for British Motors of Monterey (Calif) Mineral Blue, Sun roof and an Automatic Transmission. I regret selling it. Excellent car. I now have a 1963 MGB.

[@datbs]

Thanks for sharing can you send me a picture of the MGB?

[@thomasreilly6362]

😅Lovely restoration but the Daimler PS 252 would have been a better compromise between the Austin Healey and MGB. The refined front was an upgrade on the catfish front of the original Daimler SP250. Daimler engines were always the difference between Jaguar and Daimler... Alas only one prototype exists

[@jamesgraham6122]

The best ? No ! Maybe the worst ! The B was a pretty decent looking car for the 60s, though lacked the sports car flow of the MGA and Healey's. but its main drawback was its ageing pushrod engine design coupled with a live rear axle.. both hangovers from the 50s..underpowered and understeer ! I bought one brand new in '66 as I was competing most weekends in club racing, nothing I could with it got me to the front half of the field..My Healey 100/4 would have run rings around it.. MG had a magnificent opportunity with the MGC to recover its reputation as a true sports car company by installing the newly available V8 that was already being promoted for the MGBGT.. together with a suspension redesign it would have made a super car, instead.. just a lump of an engine and due to the extra weight.. even more understeer !

[@rogerwatt8491]

Having owned several BGTs, a CGT and a BGT V8, I totally agree with what you say.

[@IVAN-bs5bq]

Well it's certainly not got parabolic springs on the front ! not even got springs !

[@jeffhildreth9244]

Torsion bars.

[@Cyberdyne-kg8ku]

Let me just check the lottery results. I'll be right back...

[@Glenn-bi1od]

No question the B needed more power...but I always heard these cars drive like pigs. Which I assume is why they had a very short build life. The V8 seems like a much better option... sadly that car never made it to the US....

[@rogerwatt8491]

You're pretty much right . . . it didn't drive well (I owned one for nine months) and the V8 (which I owned for three years) was a far superior car.

[@jackfenton2271]

1969 MGC GT Biggest turd I've ever owned. Rebuilt rear end, transmission & engine.