Description
MGC GT manual overdrive Downton Modified to triple carb (No45 conversion) stage 3 tuned in May 1968. This is one of the earliest documented conversions and took the factory quoted 125bhp on a standard car to 174bhp thus transforming the drive. Downton Engineering claimed 0-60mph in 7. 3 secs compared to the standard 10 secs and a top speed of 130mph (standard 118mph). The final 2 photos are articles from 1968 detailing Downton conversions; indeed the one from Motor in May 1968 might actually be this car. Downton principally gained fame from the successful tuning of Minis in the 1960s though modified many other BMC cars and Daniel Richmond, the business owner, was BMC’s technical consultant for modified engines.
Very well documented and with the original sales invoice, RFU943G is well known in MGC circles having been owned by Pearl and Derek McGlen between 1977 & 2017. Pearl wrote extensively about University Motors and Downton modified cars; her work was both published in magazines and acknowledged by authors such as Lindsay Porter, with photos of RFU943G appearing in books such as Chris Harvey’s “MG A, B, and C” and other publications. If you google Downton MGC, I would be surprised if you couldn’t find this car.
The sticklers out there for originality will note that this MGC has a vinyl roof, later MGC seats, rear lights, an early 70s front spoiler, later overriders with rubber pads on the bumpers and a whole host of other modifications carried out by Derek McGlen. I did debate with myself if to reverse these modifications but concluded they were part of the car’s history and should be left as written about and photographed in publications. History is extensive on the car including original invoices, Downton paperwork, MOTs, tax discs, McGlen correspondence, publications with the car in and Pearl’s articles as well as a plethora of repair / maintenance invoices and workshop manuals.
The car as it sits now drives very well and sounds terrific but is not a show queen. Whilst very presentable, it would not be a concours contender and for the price you could find better condition cars, but the attraction for me when I purchased the car 3 years ago was the authenticity and history of the car and it was a great example of a period modified car that is very usable and far more interesting than a fully restored car lacking proper history. I do know MGCs as I own 4 other Downton modified / University Motors cars and live in Downton Parish, but I am moving and my next house lacks the storage I currently have.
