1968 MG C GT TARTAN RED COUPE

I'm looking for a good home for my Tartan Red MGC GT Coupe. PRX988F. She was first registered in 1968. and originally finished in Snowberry White. Actually a Cat C due to localised fire damage (not accident) prior to purchase by myself as a none runner. but the work turned out to be an easy repair technically (if not financially!). Repairs were limited to electrical. mechanical and interior trim.

There's lots of history in the form of 2 files documenting some of the previous owners. and expenditure made in parts and garage repairs. Some of her life has been in storage. with receipts to confirm. However. what originally attracted me to the car was the outlay which recent owners had made in terms of professional technical upgrades which were sympathetic to the period of the car.

Recent history starts in December 1998 the car was taken back to a shell and repainted in Tartan Red by Meonstoke Classics. Panel work is itemised. and there are photographs of the shell just after reassembly had commenced confirming the extent of the rebuild.

In February 1999 MG Motorsport fitted uprated torsion bars to the front suspension. The then current owner took the car back again in October 2000 and the invoice total for work done was £5980. 73. This included:-

Re bore block. Stage 2 gas flowed unleaded cylinder head. lighten flywheel. balanced pulley. crank. flywheel and competition clutch. crank grind. valve cut-outs in the block. pistons and rings. big end bearings. main bearings. thrust washers. timing chain. vernier cam gear. Kent reprofiled cam to MG Motorsport spec. cam followers. recon rocker assy. front and rear oil seals. and core plugs. For the new installation. triple 45 DCOE Weber carbs were added along with; Downton tubular manifold and twin pipe exhaust system. and high efficiency radiator. Engine power being delivered is documented as 180 BHP at the wheels on a rolling road test. Subsequently Spax adjustable shocks have been fitted to the front and rear.

Documentation indicates that the new engine had completed 14k when the small localised fire occurred around September 2006. and was probably due to a carb spitting back. I bought the car as a none runner and commenced repair in December 2006. including:-

Interior; all new dash switches . ontrols and gauges. recon speedo (and cable) and tacho. New dash top. and crash roll fascia. new headlining. sun visors. radio speaker housing. heater ducting. control cables for bonnet. heater and choke. New glove box interior. New main wiring harness. flasher unit and replaced wiper motor.

Mechanical; sourced rare 2nd hand engine cooling fan which took nearly 9 months to find. replaced cooling hoses where required. service kits for all 3 carbs and new floats. New throttle linkage. New heater control valve. replaced heater fan motor.

Electrical; repair Lumenition electronic ignition loom where required. new high output ballasted coil to suit ignition system. New twin electric horns.

Also fitted new chrome grille. new twin 6 volt batteries. and new high output geared starter motor. The alternator has already been replaced by a unit with integral regulator.

As the wiring harness was connected up circuit by circuit. everything on the car worked which suggested to me that it had been looked after by the previous owner. The car flew through it's first MOT in July 2009 without a problem. which has been the case in the 3 subsequent tests. It will have 12 months MOT.

As the new owner you may wish to fit new carpets to the front foot wells and transmission tunnel to complete the interior. Seats are black with red piping. and are in good serviceable condition. the fronts having been recovered prior to my ownership. Body work generally looks good and is a real head turner. being much admired by all. see photos. However. in your own time you would probably consider locally refinishing parts of the engine bay. the top of the front LH wing and bonnet around the carb blister to remove the last indications of why she was taken off the road. There is some local corrosion as detailed in the photos on the rear panel and top of the LH rear wing where the beading is. Chrome work is very good. There's a Webasto type full length fabric sunroof fitted which is period for the car. Wire wheels must have been replaced shortly before I acquired the car because they are in superb condition with excellent ‘as new' tyres on each corner.

Mechanically the engine is strong. and the transmission quiet without any clunking from the rear axle differential. Overdrive moves in and out smoothly on 3rd and 4th gears. The carbs are balanced as best I can as an enthusiastic weekend mechanic. but they could do with some fine tuning by someone who knows how to balance and set the idle jets to achieve smoother running at low speed. Fuel supply is via a Facet pump and Filter King pressure regulator. You may consider rebushing the front suspension when convenient.

I've completed just 950 miles since putting her back on the road. which explains why I'm ready to let her move on.   I really enjoyed the challenge of the repair and putting her back on the road. but simply don't have the time to use the car and finish off the final touches.

She's a solid and genuine car. honestly described as best I can. See for yourself. If you would like to view call 07837732708 evenings and weekends. (answer phone during office hours but I'll get back to you). Viewings can be arranged for evenings. weekends. or possibly Friday afternoons.

The car has historic vehicle status. and as such is exempt from fees for road tax. She will come with a new MoT certificate. Insurance is surprisingly inexpensive through the specialist classic car insurers. I pay around £150 annually on a declared mileage basis.

Thanks for your interest and hope that you decide to bid.

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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