Details

• Price: £22,950.00
• Transmission Type: Manual

Description

MG CGT

The MGC did receive a warm reception, however, from several UK Police Forces. They saw the powerful MG as a perfect fast pursuit traffic car and a number of forces acquired a small fleet with the Metropolitan Police securing 18 and the Lancashire Police buying at least 10. This superb example is one of those that headed north to form part of the Lancashire Police fleet. The inclusion of options such as a “calibrated speedometer, heavy duty rear spring, battery and 11AC alternator” all being clues to its original use. As was the factory colour of “Police White” which was distinct from the usual Old English White of “civilian examples.”

This “C” was retired from service in 1971 being acquired by a trader at which point it would have been stripped of all its special police paraphernalia and “made good.” The MG was also repainted in red at that stage. The first private owner followed in 1972 with a further three spanning the years from 1978 to 2013. At this point the MG was thought to have been off the road for around 30 years and long overdue some tender loving care.

The purchaser at that point reportedly bought a rolling shell and numerous shopping trollies and boxes full of parts. A very full and thorough restoration was undertaken at that stage with every aspect of the MGC diligently attended to. The list of works attended to is detailed in an accompanying document but, essentially, every aspect of the car – interior, exterior, mechanicals, the lot – were bought up to a first class standard. This labour of love culminated in a full professional respray in Old English White and the odometer being set to zero at the same time.

In May 2022 the current vendor acquired the MG with that zeroed odometer showing around 1,600 miles only. The car was sold by us via online auction. During the current ownership a full, professional engine and gearbox rebuild has been performed with the odometer re-zeroed and it is showing a shade under 1,500 miles on the day of our shoot. In essence that means just over 3,000 miles have been covered since an award winning restoration was covered and less than 1,500 since a full engine and gearbox rebuild. It is hard to imagine a more reassuring recent history than that for a superb matching numbers MGC like this one.
 

Exterior

There was not too much to differentiate the MGC from its lesser, four cylinder brethren externally. The most obvious cue was the purposeful looking bonnet bulge complete with aircraft style accompanying mini bulge required to clear the carburettors. It may have not been a fully resolved solution to the bigger power plant, but it lent the C the demeanour of a race prepared special when compared to the meeker standard car.

The earlier restoration of this C was a big one. The MG underwent a bare-metal bodywork restoration, including new sills, castle rails, quarter panels, trumpets, rear wings with all solid/sheet metal used, with no filler reportedly used or remaining on this example. New bumpers were also fitted at this stage and all other trim pieces re-chromed. The car received its new Old English White livery at that stage, too, with it appearing to be a very professional job.

With very light use noted in the intervening years the MGC remains impressively turned out to this day. The paintwork appears appropriately thick and evenly applied and the bodywork seems free from obvious dents, dings or deterioration. The original green tinted glass and head and tail lamp lenses all appear clear and complete with not delamination or fogging noted.

The 15-inch steel wheels are also finished in Old English White and are finished with a set of chromed, flat-topped hubcaps. A set of Michelin radials are fitted in a 185/65 configuration at the back and 165/65 at the front.