MGC Roadster
ENGINE 2912cc/6-cyl/OHV POWER 145bhp@5250rpm TORQUE 170lb ft@3400rpm MAXIMUM SPEED 120mph 0-60MPH 10sec FUEL CONSUMPTION 17-24mpg TRANSMISSION RWD, 4-speed man + o/d MoT 12 months from sale ODOMETER 72,078 miles
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?
The engine starts instantly from cold and runs well with the choke out. It’s not long before this can be pushed fully home, resulting in a smooth, steady idle. The car is very lively in a straight line but anybody used to MGBs will find the clutch and steering heavier than those of its less well-endowed sibling. The brakes are effective and bite quickly. The gearbox is slightly notchy and reverse is a little hit-and-miss until you get the hang of it. Overdrive engages and disengages quickly and oil pressure when warm and cruising is a very healthy 70psi.
BODYWORK CHECK
This MG may be an older restoration but it has been well looked-after since its renovation. The white bodywork is close to immaculate – even the front valance is unmarked. The panel gaps are tight and uniform all around save for some slight unevenness in bonnet fit. The chrome is very good throughout but up close there is very minor tarnishing on the bumpers. The painted wire wheels are sound, as are the 15in 165 tyres, although they are a mixture of Gislaved (at the front), Michelin and Uniroyal. The car has been comprehensively undersealed.
HOW’S THE INTERIOR?
The interior is at least as nice as the exterior with neither the seats (white-piped black leather) nor the carpets showing any signs of significant wear. The only issues we found were some areas of the dash where the finish has gone a little glossy and a few marks on the inside of the hood (which is in excellent condition externally) caused by the frame. The modern JVC CD/radio clashes with the rest of the interior but doubtless provides better sound than the original. All gauges and controls function as they should.
UNDER THE BONNET
White engine bays aren’t easy to keep clean, but great effort has obviously been made to do so here; even the underbonnet insulation is free from damage. Some paint is bubbling from fluid spillages under the brake/ clutch master cylinder and there are rust marks under the coolant filler cap, but overall the area is very smart. The block, cylinder head and some ancillaries are correctly painted in light metallic green. There are no obvious leaks and the fluids are to the correct levels, and not too discoloured. The car comes with a large stack of history detailing fitment of its stainless exhaust and Spax dampers and a photographic record of its restoration during the 1990s.
THE CCW VIEW
The MGC has been maligned and under-appreciated for far too long. Here though, there is so much to appreciate – it’s in lovely condition inside and out and delivers the goods on the road. Nothing needs doing; it’s more than ready to enjoy during what remains of summer.
PROS Relative rarity, condition, history
CONS Some hood marks, minor bumper tarnishing