The owner of this relatively rare 1968 MGC-GT doesn’t want to waste a lot of words in his Craigslist post from Clackamas, Oregon (near Portland). “1968 MGC GT, $4950.00, runs good, been sitting, needs paint.” We further learn it has 100,000 miles on the odometer, and the asking price is $4,950.
And, of course, it’s a six-cylinder car because the MGC failed to beef up the four-cylinder MGB. The story starts with the aborted Austin-Healey 4000, a six-cylinder car (three prototypes were built) that couldn’t meet U.S. safety regulations. The MGB did squeak by, though, so the choice was made to shoehorn the three-liter BMC C Series inline six into it. The car produced 150 horsepower, and the ads for the GT proclaimed it to be “extremely quiet and smooth running.”
The MGB is tiny, so some changes had to be made, including a rather ungainly hood scoop and power bulge, torsion bar suspension, telescopic shock absorbers, Girling power brakes, a beefier radiator, and an engine location further forward (necessary to accommodate an automatic transmission).
The British press didn’t care for the car (in part because of wrongly inflated tires), and BMC didn’t promote it all that much because the Triumph TR6 was in direct competition. The results were awful: Over three years of the production run, BMC sold 9,002 MGCs, 4,458 of them the GT. The MGB, including the MGB-GT: 512,802. That’s why it’s rare. The car for sale is ragged but not fatally killed by rust or other calamities. The pictures are pretty bad, but the ad is accurate—the car really needs paint. It was originally red, so it could look quite nice with a new coat of Tartan Red.
The car’s best feature is its interior, which looks quite original. At least the seats retain the black upholstery with red piping of the original cars. No serious body damage is visible, but the undercarriage is unknown. It’s possible that with a paint job, this will be a nice driver and a good conversation starter, but more could be involved.
The asking price is reasonable, considering that an MGC-GT is a $20,400 car, Hagerty says. Remember, only 4,458 of these GTs were made worldwide!
Anyone seriously interested in a sports car project that lives within an hour or two of Portland will be wise to look at it. Decent deals are generally thin in the ground, this one appears to be that. If it turns out not to have major issues it will be a good deal.
What appears to be Mini Lites makes it even better, they look great on everything from the late-60’s through early-70’s capable of turning a corner.
Steve R
Austin Healey 4000? By gar, had to look that one up, and I foolishly questioned the author, they made 2 or 3 with a RR 4 liter motor. Kind of funny, the entire time I had my MGB, I never knew there was an MGC. I always thought the MGC was the 3000 replacement, and I read, the MGC with a BW automatic out sold the manual versions, and most of those went to women in the US. I think the MGC had 15″ tires, and was a neat car. I know how the 3 liter performed in a 3000, and in a MG, I bet it cruises effortlessly. Prices are coming down due to lack of interest, I might be able to afford one again after all. It’s a great find.
An ugly duckling that could grow into a beautiful swan with a little bit of effort. Looks like a canvas cover on the roof so is that a sun roof? Price is good and with a few more Benjamins you could have a very nice MGC GT for less than $9k. Only problem is wrong coast for me.
I think that was a piece of carpet or something to protect it from stuff piled on it while it was parked in the garage. One of the pictures has a glimpse of the roof without anything on it and the color matches the rest of the car.
Steve R
My first car was a 67 BGT and I loved it. I’m restoring a 69 BGT now back to the period look (not OE). The CGT has been a ‘love/not like’ relationship for me. I like the styling with the bulge hood and the 15′ wire wheels but not the relativity poor engineering of the AH six cylinder transplant. When you add an automatic transmission, it is a complete ‘turn off’ for me. I know at the time the A/T model was geared toward the lazy American market but it never took off. This one is worth leaving it as is with some new paint and interior upgrade as it is said to be running well. Plus, it is a 68 model which is a bit more rare. I too am on the wrong coast and glad for that because right now, I don’t need any more ‘good’ finds!! This is great project for the person who knows the car and does the work him/herself!
If I am seeing color correctly in the interior the car was Pale Primrose yellow originally. The tunnel and sill look to be yellow not Tartan Red.
Production figures show less than 500 GTs were equipped with automatic transmissions. The best choice would have been 4 speed with overdrive.
This one is a manual
Fire up the compressor, shoot some paint on it and drive then fix as required.
Although it is a 2912cc “C” series BMC motor, it is not the same as the Healey 2912. This one has 7 main bearings as opposed to the Healey version with 4, and is 150# lighter and shorter (in height) but a little less horsepower in stock form. Nevertheless a really nice strong engine. I always wanted an MGC but never found the right deal at the right time and right now I have too many projects already in the works.
Hey Dave, It’s a very similar predicament many of us are in! A few projects in already in the works!!
Did a major downsizing last year by getting from 3 race cars down to 1, which is not finished yet. Race cars are projects all in themselves just to maintain them. Only problem is I now have parts for 3 cars stashed all over the place. Life is hard.
British-Leyland taking aim at the “personal luxury” market. One of these with A/C, automatic and the 2912C would definitely fester on the dealer’s lot due to the uptick in cheap muscle coming from Yankee car manufacturers. Dudes who were used to B roadsters kind of ran away from these cars. I’m sure today many maintain their preservation status having survived 5 decades of lazy American commuters, breakdowns, the end of domestic dealer support and simple attrition.