Photos courtesy of Broad Arrow Auctions

· 6 -cylinder version of the MGB-GT

· Upgraded front suspension to handle heavier engine

· Only 2-year production run

The 1969 MGC-GT is a variant of the popular MGB and MGB-GT British sports car that was outfitted with a 3-liter 6-cylinder engine. The example shown here is offered in Primrose Yellow with black interior. The MGB dates to 1962, developed by the British Motor Company as a more refined version of previous MG models and became the bestselling sports car ever made in Britain. By the late 1960’s BMC’s other sports car manufacturer, Austin-Healey, was in financial difficulties and the flagship 6-cylinder Austin Healey, the 3000, had become quite dated. The decision was made to offer an upgraded version of the MGB, both in coupe and roadster form and utilize a more powerful 3-liter 6-cylinder engine with twin SU carburetors in place of the 1.8 liter 4 of the MGB. Thus, the MGC was introduced alongside the MGB to serve as a grand touring car against the sportier MGB.

The transition for 4 to 6 cylinders demanded more than a simple engine swap. Rather than utilize the 3-liter “6” used in the Healey 3000 Mk2, British Motor Company chose a different 3-liter powerplant derived from the Austin saloon car, an engine that was more than 200lbs heavier than the 4-cylinder MGB engine. The additional weight required an all-new front suspension system which substituted torsion bars for the coil springs found on the “B” and to accommodate the taller engine, a special hood (bonnet) was made from aluminum with a distinctive bulge in the middle, easily identifying the “C” from the “B”. Wheel diameters were increased from 14” to 15” using wire wheels and brake size was enlarged to slow the car. On the positive side, the larger engine offered 145 brake horsepower which could propel the car up to 120 mph. As a rule, the car featured a 4-speed manual transmission with overdrive in 3rd and 4th gear, but owners could also specify an automatic transmission if so desired.

Cosmetically, the MGB-GT coupe and the MGC-GT look very similar outside of the hood bulge and larger wheels, but the difference behind the wheel was substantial. The “C” was a more refined touring car, designed to soak up miles with the larger engine purring at highway speeds, while the “B” was a quintessential sports car, with quick steering, light weight, and a racing pedigree. The combination of the closed roof styling and the excellent GT touring manners allowed some to compare the MGC-GT as a “baby Aston Martin”, albeit a somewhat slower option. All was not as rosy for the BMC marketing department. In early motoring publications, the C-GT was panned for having a distinctly heavy front-end bias that led to understeer in fast corners. The revised suspension did little to hide the extra 200lbs of the 6-cylinder engine. As such, the sales of the new “C” model were well down from its 4-cylinder brethren, coming in at only 9000 units over its 2-year history, with equal numbers of roadsters and coupes being sold.

In time, the combination of low production numbers and the more sedate driving experience in the MGC-GT has allowed values to climb. While there certainly those that find the car to be one of the most controversial MGs ever produced, it remains an iconic British GT that can easily be coaxed to bring more power and improved handling that would rival other British marques.

Specifications:

Engine: 2.912 liter inline 6-cylinder, Single Overhead Cam, 2-valves per cylinder, twin SU HS-6 constant velocity carburetors, 4-speed manual transmission with overdrive 3rd and 4th gear

Chassis: Front disk and Rear Drum Brakes with Brake Booster; torsion bar front suspension with rear leaf springs and dampers. Rack and pinion steering

Performance: Top Speed 117 mph, 0-60mph 10.9 seconds. Standing quarter mile 18.2 seconds, 145 horsepower, 170 ft lbs torque

Weight: 2608 lbs

Fuel Economy: 19.7 mpg

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