THE MGC INTRODUCTION

We've all heard the stories. So you'll know that the MGC is nose-heavy, it under steers and its six-cylinder engine is underpowered. It would e pointless to try and deny that. !he "irst cars, on #unlop S$%&s, were particularly ad, and those who were hoping "or an MG' with added excite(ent were disappointed y the whee)y engine. What the MGC gave instead was an MG' with added re"ine(ent, one (ore suited to today's classic (arket than to &*+,s oy racers. Modern &-./0, radial tyres reduce under steer and (inor changes will i(prove the handling so(e (ore. !he six-cylinder engine, si(ilar to the 1ealey 2,,,'s ut actually etter, is shared only with the 3ustin 2 4itre, and responds well to si(ple tweaks. 'ut as a tourer with an easy turn o" speed and relaxed overdrive cruising, an MGC is a good car in standard "or(. 1ighly (odi"ied G!S replicas (ake super long-distance rally cars and are highly soughta"ter. 3nd o" course the MGC ene"its "ro( the legendary MG' spares availa ility. !he ' and C look near-identical too, save "or the C's onnet ulges, igger wheels and larger-dia(eter exhaust tail pipe, ut 5ust *&,6 o" the MGC were uilt, "airly e7ually split etween 8oadsters and G!s, 9: and overseas (arkets.
MARKET VIEW

;igel Guild set up MG specialist <or(er Glory in 4ondon in &*-+ and has seen every twist and turn o" the (arket since. 'With the MGC, the rarity "actor is pushing the prices up, and now we're losing a lot to the =uropeans and prices are rising, "ollowing those o" MG3s and 'ig 1ealeys. 'Good older restorations o" the 8oadster start at >&6,,,,, and G!s are only a out >&.,, ehind the(. !here are a lot o" scru""y MGC G!s at around >0,,, though. 'Most potential uyers are put o"" y the original press reports ut on (odern tyres with correct pressures they're great cars - very s(ooth and relaxing. I actually pre"er MGCs over the?Ss.'

IN A NUTSHELL

#on't assu(e that ecause it looks like an MG', an MGC will have a si(ilarly re(arka le parts supply - it al(ost does, ut not 7uite. !o convert a new 1eritage odyshell to MGC torsion- ar suspension is a (assive undertaking. So check "or rust, especially in the sills, which are notoriously hard to replace @there's a hidden inner sectionA. <or a clue, check there's a visi le vertical sea( dividing sill and rear wing, 5ust elow the trailing edge o" each door. 4ook also "or rust around rear spring (ountings, in inner wings, in the twin attery oxes, the sea(s at the tops o" the "ront and rear wings, and the oot "loor. 'onnets aren't currently availa le, so check that panel too - (ost were alu(iniu( as standard. 3ll tri( can e ought except "or original-spec ru er "loor (ats, and it's all reasona ly priced. Secondhand engines are rare and new parts not as easy to co(e y as "or an MG'. 'ut it's a tough unit - 5ust check "or oil leaks "ro( either end o" the engine @crank sealsA and listen "or ru( ling "ro( worn (ain earings. !here should e no (ore than B.BBSin o" end "loat on the crank, ut it's hard to check. Bil pressure should e over %,psi a ove 6.,,rp(. !rans(issions are ro ust, whether (anual or the rare auto(atic. =xpect uno trusive whines "ro( a (anual ut don't accept 5u(ping out o" gear. 3n auto should change s(oothly and have clean "luid. I" there are no knocks "ro( the suspension then that's pro a ly B:, while rakes are si(ple and only a little (ore expensive than the MG''s to overhaul. CONCLUSION 3n MG' is an easy classic to own ut an MGC is the easier car to drive - it's 7uieter, (ore relaxed and (ore power"ul. <or ordinary touring keep it standard save "or a decent set o" tyres and en5oy the spares availa ility "ro( the likes o" Moss. I" you want a road urner, though, there's a lot that can e done, as a look on MG Motorsport's we site will de(onstrate. !u ular exhaust (ani"olds and per"or(ance exhausts with per"or(ance air "ilters (ake 7uite a di""erence, or you can go to a hot ca( and triple We ers "or the "ull rip-snorting 6,, hp-plus e""ect. !hink ig-arched MGC G!S on the !arga<lorio... !here's also a "ive-speed gear ox conversion "ro( MG Motorsport, along with uprated torsion ars and higher-ratio steering racks. 'ut the crucial addition is an uprated radiator. MG Motorsport will uild a (odi"ied MGC to your own speci"ication ut there are (any less radical Cs out there worth snapping up e"ore prices rise.