1966 MG C
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Year of manufacture1966
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Car typeOther
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Chassis numberGCD1111
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Engine number294RCH111
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Lot number349
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DriveRHD
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ConditionUsed
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Exterior brand colourRiviera Slver Blue Metallic
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Interior brand colourBlack leather with blue piping
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Number of seats2
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Location
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Exterior colourOther
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GearboxManual
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Drivetrain2wd
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Fuel typePetrol
Description
Guide price: £20000 - £25000.
- Earliest 6-cylinder MGC GT built in November 1966, (Official production started in July 1968)
- Historically important pre-production car with a unique grille
- An earlier restoration was undertaken by J D Classics pre-1990
- Large history file including British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate
- Much recent work carried out by Steve McKie Sports Cars and MG Owners Club, Workshop
With the forthcoming demise of the Austin Healey 3000, BMC were under pressure to find a replacement. One solution was to transplant the Austin Healey's long-serving, 3-litre engine into the MG B engine bay. This would require some substantial changes to the underside of the 'B' meaning that when the MG C, as it became known, went into production it had much more sophisticated underpinnings compared to the MG B, and with the seven main bearing, straight-six mounted up-front, performance was substantially improved over its sibling.Verbal, documentary and photographic evidence unearthed shows that LBL 412D, chassis number #GCD 11111 is the earliest MGC GT pre-production development car and the first line-built, home market MGC GT, the build commencing on 3rd November 1966. The registration number LBL 412D was definitely attached to the car that was used by BMC's Competition Department for brake dynamometer testing at the Motor Industry Research Association's track facility to establish some datum power output figures for the new MGC.Chassis GCD 11111 was completed to the following specification: Metal SLV BU/BLK (Riviera Silver Blue metallic with black trim); automatic transmission - the first and only automatic GT development car; home market spec, wire wheels, Dunlop SP radials, and MPH speedometer.A copy of the 1970's continuation log book shows that the engine size was amended to 3528cc which would suggest that the ubiquitous Rover V8 engine was fitted as it had been to a couple of MGB Roadsters a few years earlier. The car was later reunited with a 2912 cc engine, this time with a manual/overdrive transmission. Following a full restoration by JD Classics, LBL 412D featured on the cover of a US Healey Club magazine in 1990.Additional historic work has evidently been carried out including restoration of the bodywork and a repaint in its original livery of metallic silver blue, complete refurbishment of the interior with black leather piped in light blue with black carpets and trim, and renewal of the chrome and external brightwork and fittings, though certain areas of the bodywork are now showing a little sign of ageing. The car's previous owner was Justin Law, historic Jaguar racing driver. Kept in good health by the current custodian, with the MGC enjoying Southern European tours over the last three years "without missing a beat", LBL 412D is offered with good sized history file including invoices for parts supplied for restoration, copies of old log books, its British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate, and the well-thumbed V5.