1968 MG C GT'S'

Combining the aesthetics of a true British sporting icon with the advantages of modern engineering, this tribute to the MGC GT Sebring offers a driving experience that combines the best of all worlds.

SJW 79G is a genuine one-off, having been comprehensively rebuilt and sensitively restored to the highest specification by Ray Ingram of Classic Motivation in Kent. His brief was to deliver a modernized version of the lightweight MGC GT ‘Works’ car that briefly emerged from the BMC Competitions Department before the project was closed down in 1969.

And boy, did he deliver.

With its muscular poise and British Racing Green paintwork, the exterior finish is in homage to the ‘C’ that raced in the Targa Florio in 1967, the 1968 Sebring in Florida, and the Marathon de la Route at the Nürburgring. Taking advantage of carefully selected upgrades to match its historic legacy with modern expectations of performance, reliability and comfort, the fact that it received its current MoT certificate with no advisory points shouldn’t come as any surprise. Mind you, it’s been doing the same since 2016…

Since being completed seven years ago it has only covered around 3,700 miles, which prompted him to take the difficult decision to give his treasured classic a fresh lease of life under new ownership.

Competition cars usually focus on performance rather than aesthetics, which means that unless you’ve got a factory budget, the bodywork tends to be something of an afterthought.

Not here.

Of course, it’s got the obligatory race-car Perspex headlight covers, racing roundels, stick-on numberplates, a front towing point, extra air intakes, bonnet strap, exterior bonnet release, and a Le Mans-style fuel filler cap.

It’s debumpered too, and those swollen, Sebring-style wheelarches hide a set of genuine 8Jx15 centre-lock Minilite alloy wheels and top-spec, 225/60R15 Continental tyres. (Just take a look at the stance in slides #19 and #25…)

All of which is very nice and only to be expected.

What has surprised us though is the quality of the installation and the overall fit ‘n’ finish, which is top notch. This is a car that gets better and better the closer you look, and those of you with an engineering bent will appreciate the time and effort that went into getting it all to hang together so well; this is a car that could win shows as well as races.

The swage lines align as they should, as do the doors, bonnet, and boot lid. The wheelarches have been executed superbly, and the paint applied with more than the usual skill.

The limited chromework is excellent, as are the light lens, the glazing, and the riveted retaining brackets for the headlamp covers and air intakes.

Work to do? Don’t be silly. Aside from the usual stonechips and minor marks that even the most carefully curated car picks up, the bodywork is lovely. Why not pop along and take a look for yourself? If you’ve even the vaguest interest in bidding we promise it’ll be worth your time.

The good news continues inside.

A new gauge arrangement complements a genuine Brantz International Pro2 Rallymeter (with remote control) and electronic speedometer. The former has, as you might expect given his previous career as a rally navigator, been carefully calibrated to be absolutely accurate. The latter is by Smiths and is a very clever solution to fitting a better speedometer in a classic car.

Safety is taken care of via a colour-coded Safety Devices roll cage, a fire extinguisher behind the driver’s seat, and an ignition cut-off switch within easy reach.

But, again, the surprising thing is that the sort of creature comforts we’ve come to expect are there too. Like electric power-steering and windows. Re-upholstered seats and a gorgeous wood-rimmed steering wheel and an alloy gear knob.

The seats adjust via aftermarket alloy handles and the seatbelts are held in place with some nifty and nicely executed brackets.

There is a pair of gorgeous green Perspex sun visors too, plus a red brake balance adjuster to the right of the steering wheel.

This is a car that is as tactile as it is quick.

Civilized, too thanks to good carpets that cover extensive Dynaliner noise insulation.

A spare Minilite wheel and matching Continental tyre sit in the back, strapped down to keep it in place no matter what the driver is egging the MGC on to do.

The MGC also comes with a car cover to help keep your new toy looking immaculate while it’s garaged.

The mechanical specification is as impressive as everything else. The seller navigated in an ex Roger Clark Ford Escort, so knows the value of a car that handles - and he certainly went all-in with his MGC.

He began with the original six-cylinder 2,912CC engine, which was cleaned and updated before being carefully reinstalled into an engine bay that had previously been stripped back to bare metal and repainted.

It was coupled to a five-speed Getrag 265 gearbox (taken from an eighties BMW M5, its ratios are: 3.82 / 2.2 / 1.39 / 1.00 / 0.81) via a modified clutch with a lightened flywheel.

Its lowered and recessed position - it sits one inch lower and four inches further back than standard - provides the Sebring with optimal balance. “It has terrific handling”, he tells us – and with his experience who are we to argue?

Running on unleaded petrol the engine is fitted with twin HD8 carburettors and a modified OHV camshaft. He fuels the MGC with 99-octane petrol from Shell or Esso, boosting its octane rating another couple of points with ‘Liquid Lead’.

A high-torque starter and Magnetronic ignition fires the engine into life, and it exhales through a six-branch stainless-steel exhaust, which is as aurally and visually pleasing as it is efficient.

Cooling is via an alloy radiator.

Stopping is courtesy of four-pot alloy calipers on vented discs at the front and single-pot calipers on the rear, with the handbrake on solid discs. No fewer than three fluid reservoirs supply the hydraulic fluid and the car maintains its poise on the road thanks to five-link rear suspension and ball-jointed front suspension with telescopic dampers.

The iconic flared Sebring wheelarches accommodate eight-inch Minilite wheels that are driven by a Quaife ATB limited-slip differential, giving the GTS all the nimbleness and agility you would expect when power is applied through the bends.

Have we mentioned how well it handles?

As you can see, it fires into life and ticks over and revs beautifully. It shows good oil pressure too, and while the rev counter doesn’t work, do you like the little jig the electronic speedometer does when it’s first powered up?

The engine bay is absurdly and joyfully clean, as is the underside. The fettlers of you our there will rejoice at the thought of getting their hands dirty clean on this absolute beauty.

The MGC comes with a bunch of old MoT certificates, and old tax disc, and a photo album of its restoration.

We’ve sold more than our fair share of competition vehicles over the years, and while we love the idea of running something so focused, the reality is often a peaky engine, a hard ride, and uncomfortable seats, all of which conspire to make it a miserable on the public road.

But then a car like this comes along and changes everything.

Beautifully prepared and looking stunning, this is a car that would be just as comfortable being used as a daily driver as it would competing in your local hillclimb or being shown at your local classic car show. It’s a genuine multi-purpose vehicle that could take the place of two or three cars in your collection.

Which makes its guide price of somewhere between £30,000 and £40,000 a bit of a bargain given what it’ll do for you – and the doors it’ll open.

And, if you remain unconvinced as to its cost-effectiveness, why not try working out how much it would cost you to commission one to this standard?

Quite.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, 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’.