1967–69 MGC

The MGC was the first in a string of half-baked ideas that turned the British motor industry into a historic-preservation trust

by Rob Sass

The author’s current MGC GT

Few cars have taken more of a beating right out of the box than the MGC. Already incensed by BMC’s premeditated murder of the Austin-Healey 3000 in favor of the C, journalists were out for blood. And they drew plenty: “clumsy,” “nose-heavy,” and “not particularly nimble” were among the kinder epithets. While not a bad car per se, the C was the first in a string of half-baked ideas that turned the British motor industry into a historic-preservation trust rather than an actual industry. By the mid-’60s, it was clear that the charismatic and well-loved Austin-Healey 3000 was nearing the end of its 14-year run. The 1968 safety and emission laws were the final nail in its coffin. BMC desperately wanted to keep a big six-cylinder car in its range of popular sports cars, but as usual, there was no budget to engineer a new car. For the sake of expedience, someone suggested stuffing a big six under the bonnet of the MGB. Donald Healey wisely demurred when BMC...