Opis
Fast Road Specification | Over £50k of Restoration | Ex-Harrods Display Car
Some cars are defined by their originality. Others by the lives they have lived. This MGC Roadster offers an appealing blend of both.
Completed on 22 February 1968 and finished in its original combination of Mineral Blue with a black interior and hood, this UK-supplied, right-hand-drive Roadster retains its factory specification of wire wheels, heater and overdrive, as confirmed by its accompanying British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate.
During its lifetime, the car has benefitted from remarkably careful custodianship and an exceptional level of documented maintenance, resulting in one of the most comprehensive history files we have encountered for an MGC. In total, the car’s file details over £50, 000 of restoration and maintenance.
Perhaps most notably, the car formed part of the collection of Mohamed Al-Fayed during the late 1990s and early 2000s, during which time it was displayed as part of the celebrated Harrods Christmas window display. A period feature in the MG Owners' Club magazine accompanies the history file, documenting the display and the car's place within it.
In 1989, the MGC underwent a comprehensive bare-shell restoration by Autech of Bromsgrove, renowned Jaguar C-Type replica specialists. Completed over almost two years, the restoration included extensive body reconstruction, a complete engine and gearbox rebuild, suspension overhaul, new interior and full repaint, at a recorded cost exceeding £18, 000. Rather than remaining static thereafter, the car has continued to evolve under the care of knowledgeable enthusiasts.
Between 2010 and 2016, respected MGC specialist Vic Young transformed the engine and chassis into a highly usable fast-road specification. The original straight-six was professionally rebuilt and enlarged to 2, 986cc, incorporating balanced internals, lightened connecting rods and flywheel, a 714 camshaft, Vernier timing gear, ported and polished cylinder head, hardened valve seats, modified distributor, stainless steel exhaust with six-branch manifold, upgraded cooling system and electronic ignition. At the same time, the suspension, steering and rear axle were extensively rebuilt and carefully developed to create a car equally at home on modern roads while retaining the character that makes the MGC so distinctive.
The accompanying maintenance records chart continuous specialist attention over more than three decades. Recent expenditure has included a complete fuel system renewal, incorporating a new Heritage fuel tank, sender unit, SU fuel pump and fuel lines, together with replacement ignition components, cooling system refurbishment and comprehensive servicing by Becera Automotive. Most recently, the car has benefitted from further mechanical attention, including a new prop shaft, front wheel bearings, steering gaiters, suspension bushes, rear suspension overhaul, water pump, carburettor overhaul and fresh servicing, ensuring it presents exactly as one hopes a properly maintained classic should.
Today the odometer records just over 50, 000 miles, supported by a continuous MOT history, documented speedometer replacement and an unusually complete ownership record stretching back to the 1970s.
Accompanying the car is an outstanding history file containing the original Heritage Certificate, ownership history, MOT records (with the current MOT expiring in September), restoration invoices, specialist engineering invoices, a magazine feature in Safety Fast, and maintenance records documenting decades of careful preservation.
The MGC has always occupied an interesting place within the Abingdon story. Produced for just two years and in comparatively small numbers, its smooth C-Series six-cylinder engine gives it an altogether different character to its MGB sibling - effortless, long-legged and perfectly suited to modern touring. Properly developed examples such as this demonstrate exactly why the model has quietly earned such a loyal following amongst those who use their cars as intended.
A beautifully presented, exceptionally documented and thoughtfully developed example, offered with a history that is every bit as compelling as the drive itself.
Market Perspective
Long overshadowed by the ubiquitous MGB, the MGC has quietly emerged as one of the most compelling post-war British sports cars. Built for just two years, with fewer than 4, 500 Roadsters produced, it combines handsome Michelotti styling with the effortless torque and refinement of the C-Series straight-six, making it a notably capable grand tourer. As collectors increasingly seek usable, well-documented classics with genuine character rather than sheer horsepower, the finest MGCs have begun to command the recognition they have long deserved.
The market has become increasingly discerning, rewarding examples that combine originality with sympathetic, period-correct improvements. Cars with extensive provenance, specialist restoration and documented expenditure consistently attract the strongest interest, particularly those developed by recognised names within the marque. With its factory Heritage certification, decades of meticulous maintenance, over £50, 000 equivalent restoration and engineering investment, distinguished ownership history, and one of the most comprehensive history files we have encountered, this Roadster represents exactly the calibre of MGC sought by today's informed enthusiasts and collectors.
