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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 👍👍
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Very nice MGC GT!
My Buddy had a maroon one of these in high school. I had stock MGB...Lots o fun w/ both. We both wish we still had them lol.
I don't know how you're able to pick a favorite. You have so many cool cars.
HINT: I've never featured my favorite in a video yet. But you have seen in videos of my collection.
Nice car Steve i have a white 1968 C roadster the second one Ive owned first one was also '68 mineral blue
Wow, those wheels make a huge difference, looks superb.
Does the MGC use the Austin-Healey inline 6 cylinder engine? Your MGC looks great!
@@williamwallace7166 No, It was a new and dedicated engine for the MGC.. not a Healey motor.
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.
Similar story with my 69 MGC GT bought in 1970. Sold mine when the second kid came along. Bad move. : )
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..☹️
Already a rare car in the UK, yours looks amazing Steve
Terrific change re the wire wheels and tyres - well done. It now looks like what an MGC should.
The new wheels and tyres has transformed the look of the car. I bet it will drive so much better too.
MGMGCGT 😺🤔🤔 Just kinda rolls off the tongue🤣🤣🤣
THNX👍💪🍻🦅🦅🦅🦅
I owned an MGC GT. Fun little money pit.
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.
I have never had a problem with anything from MWS
Great find. I just started restoring a 68 MGC GT in British racing green. Its an rare automatic transmission model.
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.
If it was working recently there is a good chance it will just clean up and you can put your new seals in.
@@ThisWeekWithCars It will be one of my small inside winter restoration projects.
I bought a 1969 MGC GT in 1970... 4 Speed Auto Trans.
I would love to have this car. Perfect model and color. One lucky guy.
Fabulous! Nice upgrade
Car looks great Steve with the new wheels. 👍 Love all your videos, all very informative. Keep them coming.
Changing those rims and tyres did a lot.
Wow...Steve....the new wire wheels are stunning!!!!
Hi, from snowy Decatur County, Iowa! I LOVE MGs
Hi Steve. A very underrated car for far too long .Now looking how it should . Thank Steve.
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 taking good care of Jim's MGC. He founded the Flatwater Car Club, and was a great person to know and a dedicated MG enthusiast.
Well said!
Did you see my first video with this car: th-cam.com/video/xYVUV7RWPJ0/w-d-xo.html
Get the two carbs sync'ed and it'll run like a charm.
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.
Very nice!
I really like your updates and car projects. You have quite the collection!!
Correct wirewheels look great! The larger diameter wheels really set the MGC off from the MGB.
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.
@@robj2704 4 known BRG. Not my favorite I prefer another Brit green .
Not a "little" car. LArge by MG standards and Brit cars of the same era.
@@robj2704 My favorite British green was not one of the BRG colors but
BROOKLANDS Green.
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.
Watch my previous video to hear it. th-cam.com/video/xYVUV7RWPJ0/w-d-xo.html
The wire wheels look awesome and really show the car as originally designed. Great!
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.
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.
Great demonstration thanks
The new wheels do look fantastic! I'm mainly here for the British cars but I enjoy most all your projects :-)
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. 👍👍
A nice British sports car.
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
Yeh i picked up on that i am postive thats wrong.
Perhaps it's the other side that is LHT.
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.
Beautiful car Steve !! The wheels make all the difference !!
The wheels look way better. Very nice car.
great information
always look forward to your videos steve im in the ukby the way!
That hunter balancer would be proudly owned by any tire shop!
That's a keeper now with those wheels.
I don't see myself selling this one.
The car looks cool as well
Much better! And I love that the car still has the period-correct GPS speedometer. 😂
GPS wasn't available until the late 1990s, therefore a GPS speedometer is not period correct for any MGB or MGC.
that is a very nice car, great stuff thanks
Very nice 🙂👍
That’s a beautiful car in one of my favourite colours for it. The dash is completely different to the UK cars.
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.
Beautiful.
You're right. Maybe it's the BGT style lends itself better, or I can't tell what it is actually, the larger wheel/tire combination does look better.
wow thats nice👍
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.
The wire wheels look to be 72 spoke nice car was made for wire wheels nice video thanks
Balancing with the labels attached - good move!
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
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.
Hello from Canada! Can you send info on the GPS speedo in that beautiful CGT?!
This one is from speedhut.com/ but there are other manufacturers.
The wheels made a huge difference. Are the wheel nuts reverse thread on the Passenger side? I would think so but not sure.
Yes
very nice
Have you ever used the dedicated Rudge-Whitworth adapters on your balancing machine ?
Does the right hand side of the car have left hand thread on the octo wheel nuts?
So the correct torque spec for the wheel nuts is about 10 hammers :) Probably is about feel ...
I would mark up those wheel-nuts. Easy to spot them if they have moved loose. The wheels look mikes better.
Is there any piece of equipment that Steve doesn't own?
My Step-Father had a yellow MGC-GT in Peoria, IL around 1980-ish and sold it off. Could this be the same one? His initials were RWR.
If you could find any more information about it or even a picture we might be able to find out.
@@ThisWeekWithCars I will try to find something.
Hmmm .... I preferred the 1st set of wheels ... the bronze complimented the yellow.
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.
I have not gotten it.
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.
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.
It was supposed to be the replacement for the Austin Healey 3000 but Donald Healey backed out.
@@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.
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 :)
For sure they look cooler but they are not right an MGC never came with the eared nuts.
@@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. :)
I believe it was sometime in late 1967 that MG cars started to come with the octagon instead of winged nuts.
@@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.
Also watch "The Widest V8 MGB GT In The World" right here on YT.
We call those type of wheel centres "spinners" in the U.K.
That would mean a completely different thing in the US: www.dubwheels.com/spinners-c-2215.htm
We always did too in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Or knock offs...
Did they make an MGC in a roadster or were they all hardtop GT’s ?
Yes they made 9000 MGCs half were roadsters and half were GTs.
Maybe it has one switch for the left headlight and one for the right headlight.
Have you also replaced the spare wheel? It would be a bit awkward if that one is smaller than the other ones.
The spare was still the original wire wheel with the correct size tire.
@@ThisWeekWithCars Hopefully the previous owner did not have to use it then, given that his other wheels were smaller.
Why do you balance wheels with the labels on ?does it effect the balance.
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.
@@ThisWeekWithCars Thanks for the response just wondered as all removed from the tyre fitters I've been too.
I'm guessing it was a fog switch
That car looks a million bucks with the wires....
Should have gone chrome imo
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,
You forgot to list the benefits.
When did you own yours? I thoroughly enjoyed mine.. Of my 8 MGs owned since 1965 ( currently have a 63 B) I miss my MGC GT the most.
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!
You obviously have no experience with British cars or wire wheels. Stick to Detroit Iron.
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.
For a street racer, corner cutter, country lane car... MGB. For a "tourer" MGC.
What setup are you using to balance the wires? Looks like an old hub? Was doing the exact same wheels and tires for my AH 100 today.
What is the torque spec for the wheel nut? 5 hits of the hammer?
That would depend on the weight of the hammer.
@@ThisWeekWithCars Factory hammer, 7.5 whacks, aftermarket hammer 13, dead blow forever.