Highlights
- High quality early MGC GT in Tartan Red
- Recent £50,000 restoration by Robin Lackford
- Improved across bodywork, paintwork, interior and mechanicals
- MOT to July 2025 with no advisories
- Pretty car in superb order
The Appeal
Occasionally a classic car comes along where you can honestly say it is better than it left the factory. Here is just such a vehicle, an early MGC GT.
The condition is the result of a high end £50,000 restoration - completed in February 2023 - by renowned MG specialist Robin Lackford. The work ran across the bodywork, paintwork, interior, running gear and mechanicals - including a full engine rebuild and upgrade to MG Motorsport 5spd gearbox - with the car refinished in smart Tartan Red.
Barely used since completion - the engine still needs running in - this is a fantastic opportunity to benefit from all that investment and buy one of the best MGC GTs available. Alongside the quality and specification, you get a great and rare 60s GT, hailed in period as a ‘mini E-Type’ with its 150bhp 2.9L BMC engine. These cars are great for classic car tours and events and this one would fit in perfectly.
It comes with the reassurance of a long, advisory-free MOT. But looking at this great car you hardly need that independent assessment - the high standard is clear.
History and Paperwork
- First registered 1st May 1968
- Four registered keepers
- Previously Snowberry White which was changed in January 2012
- Restoration investment approaching £50,000 mainly by Robin Lackford
- Restored between February 2022 and February 2023
- Invoices for parts and work done
- Memory stick showing some body repairs
- Comes with a current V5C
- MOT valid until July 2025 with no advisories and 93,978 miles showing on test
- Heritage Certificate from the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust
- Large folder of invoices for parts and work done
- Two sets of keys
The Condition
- Fully restored and repainted in Tartan Red by MG specialist
- Very tidy bodywork with flush panel fit
- Waxoiled underside for corrosion protection
- No MOT structural advisories
- Fully retrimmed interior in black leather with red piping
- Refurbished Webasto-style folding sunroof in good order
- Sits on smart Minilite-style alloys which are very well kept
Restoration work included:
- All new chrome fittings including grille, bumpers and badges
- Overhauled and re-covered “Webasto” sunroof
- “Waxoyled” for corrosion protection
- New seat covers, headlining, door panels, carpets, glove box interior, and seat belts
- Headrests fitted for safety
- Centre dash with auxiliary instruments
- New oil pressure/water temperature gauge
- Replica Minilite wheels with original specification Blockley tyres (including spare)
- Completely rewired with a new fuse box
- New heated rear window
- LED headlamp and instrument kit
- New heater motor
- New floor-mounted dip switch
- New single 12v battery with new wiring and isolator switch
- Hazard warning lights fitted
The quality of this car is evident from the shine of its Tartan Red paintwork. The work was largely done by MG specialist Robin Lackford and it shows: the panel fit and finish, the chromework and the level of the interior fittings all point the way.
The theme continues with the scope of the work - beyond the high end bodywork and interior refurbishment there are improvements that hint at the level of detail applied by the previous keeper and the restorer during the process. This includes conversion to LED headlamps and instruments, new dials and even fitting a hazard warning switch for safety.
With sparing use since completion, the buyer gets the full benefit of all that work.
The Mechanics
- Rebuilt 2,912cc straight six 145bhp engine
- Upgraded to 5spd MG Motorsport heavy duty gearbox at cost of £4,000
- Fully overhauled suspension and running gear as detailed below
- Improved steering rack, coolant system, electrics and engine mounts
- New clutch and slave cylinder
- Carburettors overhauled with new air filters
Mechanical and running gear restoration includes:
- Fully rebuilt engine
- MG Motorsport 5spd gearbox
- Rev tech twin electric fan kit
- New fuel pump
- Repainted and re-fitted with new engine mounts
- Overhauled SU carburettors with new air filters
- New clutch and slave cylinder
- New 123 Electronic distributor
- New alternator
- Overhauled and re-calibrated speedometer for new gearbox
- All coolant hoses renewed
- New heater water control valve
- New oil cooler with stainless steel braided hoses
- Stainless steel exhaust
- New quick ratio steering rack and ball joints
- Differential checked, cleaned, and re-filled
- New wheel bearings
- Overhauled brakes with stainless steel braided hoses
Fully overhauled suspension:
- New kingpins
- Adjustable Spax front shock absorbers
- Koni Classic rear shock absorbers
- Uprated torsion bars
- Complete "road use" poly bush suspension kit
The MGC turns the BGT into a true long distance GT, one with 50% more power than its 4cyl cousin. Those qualities make these hard top cars popular with classic rally and event enthusiasts.
This car leans into that theme with its upgrades, particularly the £4,000 plus fitting cost of the 5spd MG Motorsport heavy duty gearbox and the sports orientated rebuilt suspension. They complement the other extensive mechanical improvements including new clutch, rebuilt engine, overhauled brakes and renovated cooling system. You can review the full list of work above.
The work is so recent that the car still needs running in. For buyers looking for a reliable, mechanically sorted MGC for long road trips or weekend jaunts, look no further.
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