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MGC Virtues

To: mgs@autox.team.net
Subject: MGC Virtues
From: mgguyc100@zeus.newedge.net (NewEdge IAS)
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 1996 18:14:26 -0400
Greetings all...

With regard to Will Zehring's MGC questions, the only differences between
the C and B are:
- engine, tranny, driveshaft, rear end, exhaust 
- hood/bonnet
- 15" wires (as opposed to 14" on the B)
- front suspension (and associated body structure)

The front suspension uses torsion bars & different shocks. Your read on the
front suspension's affects on handling are well founded. Most that I've read
on the C claim that the car actually handles quite well. Granted there
wasn't enough research and development time spent on the front suspension to
go beyond the capabilities of the B, but here's the story I've heard....

Development of the car was rushed, and the specs given the designers of the
engine which would be used - and that of the engines that actually became
available were different. As a result, the front suspension they'd designed
had to be modified to accept this variance. As a result, they never really
got the handling right, but it's not all that wrong.

I've also read that the cars provided for journalists at the time ('68) were
early cars, still with some suspension quirks to be ironed out. Reviews of
the time were harsh when describing the car's handling, and that negative
wave impacted heavily on the car in the marketplace. Later cars allegedly
have better handling characteristics than earlier cars.

In all other aspects, the roadster and GT versions of the car are identical
to a B of the '68/69 era. To a tee. I agree that an MGC GT is a grand
touring automobile. I would love to have one. If you're going to have a rare
car, like the C - make it rarer still by being a GT.

Like all cars of limited production, parts are going to be as rare as the
car. However, there's a healthy MGC movement, and once connected, one
shouldn't have any more difficulty than with the B.

Whew. Hope this helps, and opens some discussion. Wish I had $4500 US
(33,435 CDN..;)..) for a C GT as listed. Good luck to the fortunate
son/daughter who scoops it up..

One more thing, a tip for owners of non-OD cars from '68 to '73. As
mentioned earlier,the OD switch is part of the wiper control. Flicked
forward (or is that backwards?) it energizes, and I use mine in the roadster
as the driving lamp switch! Only for awhile though..'cause I've got an OD
coming for it...

'nuff fer now.

Cheers from the balmy Atlantic coast of Canada!

Terry "feeling the G-forces on the learning curve" Williams
'70 GT
'68 roadster
'77 roadster 


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