An assessment The MGC Performance car, covering development, important features, and technical data on this the seventh model from the new MG range.
In this Article, I give a nostalgic go through the MGC, one among the top gang of classic cars, that was manufactured throughout the period 1967 to 1969.
In 1967, on account of declining sales, it was decided to discontinue the objective 3 Austin Healey 3000 sports vehicle.
Since 1963, the thought of adding significantly larger engines towards the MGB was being seriously considered since its monocoque construction would easily handle this kind of unit.
In this way, a derivative with the original MGB, with greatly enhanced performance, could be produced.
Accordingly, what seemed an all-natural choice was to add some 3 litre, 6-cylinder, overhead valve unit in the Big Healey.
However, on closer inspection, the decission was taken that, in the current form, this engine was unsuitable. Consequently, the job of redesigning it turned out put in place.
One of the biggest hurdles to overcome was that it is weight, at substantially more than six-hundred pounds, was excessive.
Following much development work, it was discovered that the entire weight could just be reduced by some forty pounds, which meant that it turned out still over two hundred pounds heavier compared to the B-Series unt it turned out built to replace.
The redesigned engine now had the benefit of a crankshaft with seven main bearings, reasonable improvement within the four bearings inside the original Austin Healey engine.
The benefit of this is it should allow smoother running at higher revs.
However, what was among the finest achievement was that the entire new engine was reduced by nearly 2 ", which will just allow the unit to suit into the engine bay from the MGB.
Further, the prevailing bonnet would no more close because it was important to reposition the radiator, whilst one of several two SU carburettors protruded way too high.
This was overcome by modifying the bonnet so that it contained an original, wide bulge to the radiator, plus a small raised area the same shape as a teardrop to pay off the carburettor.
Using this sports vehicle being previously designated the name MGC, and in addition, it looked remarkably just like the MGB and, in reality, shared the majority of the body panels and many from the other components.
The redesigned engine developed 145 bhp, a boost of some 53% over that produced by the original B-Series unit.
It received a new gearbox, which in fact had synchromesh on all forward gears, that has been also designed to the objective 2 sort of the MGB.
Due to size the brand new engine, it had been required to substantially get a new front suspension by replacing the coil springs with torsion bars, which would produce a stiffer suspension than that of the MGB, along with adding an anti roll bar.
In order to cater for any additional weight with the new engine, telescopic dampers were added.
Small changes were also made to a corner suspension, which retained a live axle with leaf springs.
The brakes were beefed on top of Girling, servo assisted, eleven inch discs in the front, and nine inch drums on the rear.
The wheels were increased from fourteen to fifteen inches, in addition to five inch rims.
The back axle was uprated, along with a Laycock-de-Normanville overdrive, which operated at the top two gears, was offered just as one optional extra.
The MGC performance car was finally launched in 1967 to coincide with all the withdrawal in the Big Healeys.
Externally, inside your tell it independent of the MGB was the wide bulge around the bonnet containing a chrome strip that got more distinctive.
It had been available as being a two seater convertible plus a fixed head coupe.
A disappointing feature in the engine was the possible lack of torque at low revs and its reluctance to rev freely.
At its launch, the auto received fierce criticism in the press who had been concerned with:
The unacceptability high fuel consumption
Too little get-up-and-go
The very heavy steering
Its distinctive understeer caused by any additional weight at the front end of the car
Unfortunately, although not surprisingly, the production run in the MGC lasted only two years, where time 4,542 with the convertibles were built in addition to 4,457 of the GT's.
Since its demise in 1969, the automobile has turned into a very collectable commodity, and the original problems have since been overcome by:
The use of the best tyres
Making minor adjustments to the suspension settings
Straightforward engine tuning
Simple modifications towards the head, camshaft and exhaust manifold
As a result of these adjustments, the original output bhp and torque may be increased by anything up to 30%.
This marked the end of the MGC
Perhaps this stroll down memory lane might have answered, or at best reveal, any question:
Which MG Fancy car is the Favourite?
However, should this question still remain unanswered, I am reviewing, in a few detail, in the future articles in this website, the complete range of MG sports cars which are featured within the memorable era spanning 1924 to 1995.
