Registration No: TPL 588F
Chassis No: GCN1-304G
MOT: Exempt

• A home market car first registered on 6th March 1968
• Appears to have been subject to a professional bodywork refurbishment and engine overhaul
• Entered from a deceased estate
• Full tonneau cover and mohair hood included

Intended as a flagship sportscar to replace the Austin-Healey 3000, the MGC was introduced in autumn 1967. Based around the same two-door monocoque bodyshell as the humble MGB (albeit with a substantially altered engine bay and floorpan), the newcomer was powered by a 2912cc OHV straight-six engine allied to either four-speed manual plus overdrive or three-speed automatic transmission. Equipped with new torsion-bar independent front suspension, telescopic shock absorbers and lower geared rack and pinion steering, it was visually distinguished by a 'power bulge' bonnet and taller 15-inch wheels. While early road tests criticised the car's 'nose heavy' handling later reports were far kinder (which suggests that Abingdon's engineers quickly overcame the larger powerplant's extra mass). With some 145bhp and 170lbft of torque on tap, the model was reputedly capable of 120mph. Too readily confused with the four-cylinder MGB, it was dropped in 1969 after just 4,544 Roadsters and 4,458 GTs had allegedly been made. Though, some forty years on, the MGC's lack of period sales success has only made it more collectible.

From a letter supplied by the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust supplied with the car, we are of the understanding that ‘TPL 588F’ was despatched on 15th February, 1968, to Wadham Limited of Surrey and specified with White paintwork over a Black interior and hood plus the desirable option of wire wheels. Little is known of the car's history until the late 1980s where we start to see some receipts in the history file from the previous owner and a first place concours win on 26th May, 1989, for the Staffordshire area event for the MGOC. It is believed that the car was subject to a full body overhaul prior to this, which has been preserved remarkably well. The vendor's father acquired the car in 1991 and continued to maintain the car to the best of his ability and there are many receipts in the history file for servicing parts such as points & condensers, oil etc, plus also the Girling Mk2B servo seems to have been replaced / overhauled a number of times in this period. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago and the vendor did not get the full story of the car before then so the vendor can only recount that the car was taken off the road and put into dry storage in the mid 2000s for over 10 years, due to his father's declining health, and was recommissioned for the road in 2016/2017, by the vendor for himself, prior to his passing, so he could enjoy the car once more. It has now been decided that it has come time for the family to part ways with the car as it has not been used since the passing of its loving owner.

Upon inspection, the car appears to be in very good fettle - although we are not entirely sure when the paintwork was done, it appears to have been done to a very high standard and has lasted so well that it appears to have only been done recently. A testament to how well this car has been looked after! The engine bay is very presentable with the engine painted the correct colour and all fittings appear to have been either replaced or refurbished. Although the car had not been driven for some time, when driven for photography, the car drove very well, with the six-cylinder engine running smoothly and the gearbox and clutch functioning well. The braking system also appeared to be very adequate. We do, however, recommend a full mechanical checkover due to the lack of recent use.

For more information, please contact:
Lucas Gomersall
lucas.gomersall@handh.co.uk
07484 082430