I had a 1968 MGC Roadster back in 1970 in the UK in Tartan Red. It was a fast smooth tourer but pretty heavy on the steering when parking. I initially put on a smaller diameter steering wheel for looks but soon reverted to the original large wire spoked wheel as parking became even more heavy! It was also rather prone to understeer when pressing on with that big six cylinder lump up front. Top speed was just under 130mph, which I obtained often from its 150hp! The only other modification I made was to lower the front of the car slightly to give a barely perceptible nose down attitude which improved the stance of the car. This I did very easily by adjustment of the front torsion bar suspension. It was a great car that I only sold when I got married as my wife couldn’t reach the pedals.
I changed back to the original steering wheel on mine too but, overall, I never got on with the car as felt so heavy after the Bs I'd owned. The BGT V8 I had for three years was the real deal.
@@rogerwatt8491 . I agree with the heavier steering. I had 1961 MGA mk2 a few years before the MGC and it was a much better driver on twisty roads, although still heavy for parking. The prettiest car of all.
Join the club! My first two cars back in 71, (a classic Cooper then an Escort Mexico) sold them on at probably ten times less than they would be worth now..☹️
Some years ago I went to MWS to balance and renew the wires on my Spitfire Mk3. They were professional, enthusiastic and dedicated. I had an enjoyable couple of hours there, while they worked on my car. Great firm.
My first CGT was a red automatic and then I got a BRG CGT but sold it because it had a sunroof cut into it and I decided it didn’t make sense to spend the money fixing the roof.
@@ThisWeekWithCars I bought a chrome set of rims in the right size to from British Victoria before they sold out to Moss Motors. My only issue is the Brake master cylinder. I bought a rebuild kit but I'm hopping it works and that the unit is not worn out or too badly pitted.
My brother’s mgc (soft top) been sitting in s.e. Iowa dry garage for maybe 30+ years. Now sitting under typical garage detritus (tarps, boxes, garden hose, lawn chairs, etc). I remember the C hood bulges poorly riveted into a donor B hood. He is a hoarder with zero interest getting rid of any of his cars.
I'm afraid it wasn't underrated, John . . . it just wasn't a good car. As I've posted above, I had three Bs before buying a CGT back in the '70s and found it such a disappointment that I went back to a BGT after six months or so. They eventually got it right with the BGT V8, one of which I owned for three years and loved it.
Thanks for the reply Steve, That video you referred me to not only had the six's sound but a fun and informative story and show, nice episode. The six's note is smooth and no gear whine that I heard, such as the big healey leaving the show. Thanks again for the reply and referral.
Lovely GT, just waiting for a startup sound, I've never heard the six before. I've got a 67 BGT and I'm partial to the GTs. Love your channel's LBCs and broncos and all the variety you have and your approach to presenting stuff. Thanks for all the hard work making the productions.
A very sweet little car that I'm sure gets lots of admiring looks at classic car meets - well worth fixing up and looking after. Not everybody likes yellow as a car colour, but I do. You certainly never lose them in car parks!
I believe that's called Primrose yellow. The one I had in the '80s was British Racing Green. There were several shades of British Racing Green in the '60s so doing research of year and models is necessary to ensure you select the correct shade if respraying.
I was quite surprised to see that the threads on the wheel nuts aren't left hand thread to reduce the risk of coming loose while driving in a forward direction Nice car Steve Nick Australia
The wheel nuts are threaded opposite on each side of the car. These are on the proper sides of the car and on British wheel nuts the side of car they go on is engraved into the nut so that if someone installed the wrong hub on the wrong side hopefully you would notice when putting on your wheels.
Always good to keep as much as you can original I think. I do like those wheels they set it off very well. I had that problem with a light switch on an MG GT that I was fixing for a friend. Someone put a strange switch in there, you could have headlights or sides on but not both, don't know why people do that? I got the correct switch in the end. Thanks Steve, all good stuff. 👍👍
The car looks great and I love it in Primrose Yellow. After owning three MGBs (one roadster, two GTs) I moved up to an MGC GT (in Mineral Blue) but found it a serious disappointment as it wasn't all that much quicker than a B and didn't handle at all well. After returning to an MGB GT (my third) for a year or two, I bought a BGT V8 which, with the way lighter engine, was a great car in terms of performance and handling.
I am on the other side of the wheel. When I had my 72 MGB, so many people told me it would look better. I feel that the B is a modern design and wires belong on open gendered cars -pre MGA.
Before installing a new turn signal lens, it is a good idea to clean the reflector to optimize brightness. After 50+ years, these reflectors will be dirty.
Every race team in the world balances their tires with the stickers on. media.gettyimages.com/photos/tires-sit-stacked-during-practice-for-the-nascar-nationwide-series-picture-id177472334?s=612x612
The MGC GT looks great with those painted (not chrome) silver wheels. I use MWS for wheels and tyres. Fortunately, they are only a few miles from my house.
I have had a set with the same size Vredesteins for thirty years. The painted wheels are much smarter than those nasty chrome things so many people seem to opt for, and they weather better too.
Yep. I believe these cars were standard with steel wheels with painted wires being an option. Don't believe chrome wires were an option. Although the wires look great, the downside to the wires is the splines eventually wear out and require replacement.
@@robj2704 Chrome wires were an option. I bought mine from British Motors of Monterey (Calif) when I worked there 1968-72. Mine had a Webasto Sun Roof, Auto trans and chrome wires.
I'm going to be the unpopular option and say I like the other wheels better. Granted the new ones will give a nicer ride and easier turning. I'd spray them gloss black.
Hey Steve, I dropped you a note on Facebook asking about a spare Dellorto body I have a while ago. Just curious if it actually ended up getting to you.
Love those 'wire wheels',..not that it mattersto your car, but, I'd prefer to have the two eared knock off nuts in lieu of the octagon lugs. ( MY opinion only of course :)
@@ThisWeekWithCars Well, you have to stay whit what's OEM! I like them too, it's just that my old MGB ( about 20 years ago ) had the silver ( not chrome) wire wheels and eared nuts, so I guess they are what I remember most. The MGC's were always on my wish list, but never 'reached ' one. :)
@@ThisWeekWithCars October 1967 with the intro of the 68 Model year. I prefer the winged knock offs but, like you.. not "right" on an MGC particularly the GT.
Refurbished my '68 MGC in the mid-eighties. Really enjoyed it, and later sold it to a Brit who shipped it back to England. It really reminded me of the Austin Healey 3000, what with the large banjo steering wheel, wire wheels, and 6-cylinder engine.
@@ThisWeekWithCars Surely it WAS the replacement for the AH 3000 WHEN Donald Healey backed out ? The MGC’s reputation suffered because the revised improved C series engine lost power due to extra main bearing drag. But in theory the car should have been a success.
@@johnmoruzzi7236 The view back then was the car was nose-heavy since the mfr. didn't modify the firewall to enable the engine to be set back. I did notice my crankshaft thrust bearings were worn and would allow the crank to bind up if starting with the clutch depressed.
@@johnmoruzzi7236 The thrust bearing wearing bound up the crankshaft, misaligning the conrods so it wouldn't start with the clutch pedal held in. Had to put the trans in neutral, clutch pedal out, to enable the engine to turn over.
Doesn't affect the balance, you can't have a "sticker set" if you take the stickers off. I am from the racing world were you don't take them off until they go on the car. If a mounter was doing just tires on wheels and giving them to a customer they should always leave the stickers on so that owner can save a copy of the label and read the warning labels if they wish. If I mount a set for someone sometimes I will peal one label off and stick it to a piece of paper so they can save it in their files.
The MGC was one of those obvious ideas that didn't really work out. The principal consequences of fitting that big lump were a clumsy bulge in the hood, increased fuel consumption and grievous understeer,
Junk those dumb splined hubs and get wheels that are 4 stud. I see some Superlites in the back ground. The correct way to go Those steel flywheels are by far worse. 1920s tech on a 70s car. 165x15?? so VW Beetle tyres!! Balance them,, first couple of corners and they will need doing again!
What to feel the performance is like vs. an MGB-GT? I wanted to add an MG to my British car stable and I was thinking the 'C' over the 'B' and would like your thoughts. Thanks.
