1968 MG C Roadster

Comprehensively restored in 2015 by an experienced professional engineer, amateur restorer and acknowledged MGC expert who was looking for his next challenge, this wonderfully thought out MGC has been subtly updated to reflect the fifty years that have elapsed since it was originally built.

The bodywork, for example, is an unusually dark shade of British Racing Green that looks almost black under some lighting conditions. The dashboard and seats have been trimmed with the usual black leather but then edged with green stitching and piping. And the carpets are a vibrant shade of green, all the better to complement the dashboard stitching and contrast with the coachwork. It’s all been cleverly, and meticulously, done and looks really rather wonderful. 

The car is also fitted with a rare Bermuda hardtop that has been sprayed to match the bodywork. With its plentiful glazing panels, this combination gives the best of both worlds, providing snug but airy motoring in the winter, while still offering the full-bore, wind-in-the-hair convertible experience when the sun is shining. 

The car is, in the words of its owner for whom it comprises a small part of his collection of MGs, “a glorious car for an open-road blast.”

The body was stripped and all the rusty metal cut out and replaced. This work included new inner and outer sills, footwells, rear wings, rear spring hangers, and front inner wing sections. All the panels were galviprimed prior to being welded and then protected against rust with the liberal application of Dinitrol. The doors were replaced with good secondhand items and a new pedal box assembly was welded in.

The car was then repainted in a darker-than-usual shade of British Racing Green. It looks absolutely stunning, and much more contemporary than the usual shade of BRG that everyone else uses.

The MGC was then carefully reassembled using new waist trims, door handles, and locks. A new windscreen and sealing rubber were installed, along with new head and side lights. New badges were then fitted, along with new door mirrors and sill kick plates. 

New door seals and hood fittings keep things quiet and tightly sealed, as do the all-new seals on the rare Bermuda hardtop, which was professionally glazed. 

The original 15-inch wire wheels were refurbished and painted before being shod with four matching Michelin tyres. We’re delighted to be able to point out (yet again) that the very best cars always have matching tyres fitted to them. Seriously, anyone who restores a car and then fails to fit new, matching rubber isn’t fit to call themselves an enthusiast.

As you would expect given the meticulous nature of the rest of the MGC, the underside is as clean as the topside. This was one seriously proper restoration.

The seats are the originals, recovered in black leather with contrasting green piping. They look fabulous and utterly in keeping with the subtle updating that is evident throughout the rest of the car.

For example, the dash was covered in black leather, which was then finished with contrasting green stitching. We weren’t convinced we liked the sound of this but we have been wowed by the photographs; the contrasting stitching was a brave and unusual move but one we think looks absolutely stunning, bringing the usually staid MGC interior slap-bang into the 21st century.

The green carpets were replaced as part of the restoration, as were the door cards. In fact, the entire interior is an absolute joy, being clean and fresh and vibrant. It’s rare to find a restorer with such a keen eye for colours as this and the whole thing has been very skilfully done.

The engine was stripped and found to be +20 thou over-bored. It was then rebuilt with new piston rings, a gas-flowed head, a flywheel that had been lightened until it contained 30% less gravity than the original, triple inlet manifolds and triple SU carburettors. An extractor manifold speeds to gases away via a stainless steel performance exhaust.

A new radiator was also fitted, along with new filters and fluids, an oil cooler, and a three-piece clutch kit, including new slave and master cylinders. The brakes were rebuilt with new discs, pads, a new brake master cylinder, shoes, and new rigid copper and flexible hoses. The front brake calipers were rebuilt with new pistons and seals

The suspension and steering assemblies were fully restored too, including new kingpins, rear shackle bushes, and reconditioned Spax gas rear shock absorbers. MG Motorsport rebuilt the steering rack prior to it being reinstalled.

As you’d expect, the car is very lively indeed (“it’s got a lot of poke”, as the owner put it) responding well to the throttle throughout the engine’s full rev range. It changes direction smartly and stops on a sixpence (well, it was originally built well before that bloody awful Brexit 50p was announced…). 

It drives, in other words, as well as it looks. Which is high praise indeed.

History Highlights

The online MOT history shows nothing of concern, with only minor niggles having given the MOT tester anything to write about in the past decade and more. The MOT certificate itself expires in September 2019.

The MGC comes with a thick file of old invoices, receipts and other bits and bobs including some lovely period photographs. However, aside from the photographs of it when it was still red, little is known of the car prior to its restoration in 2015.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been restored to the very highest standard.

The MGC’s time has come, with discerning enthusiasts willing to pay a good price for the very best cars and this car is certainly one of the very best we’ve seen.

It might not be one for the traditionalist, having been thoughtfully modified and beautifully restored, but everyone else will love it as the result is an MGC that is fit for the 21st century. The attention to detail and emphasis on its future longevity also mean that it is ready to provide another fifty years of carefree motoring for the discerning driver.

We think it will sell for between £17,500 and £22,000, which might be at the upper end of the scale for an MGC but then the quality of the car is at the very upper end of the scale too.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen in Hampshire; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.