FIVE CLASSIC TRIALS 1969 MGC GT
To celebrate the coronation of King Charles III this week, we get behind the wheel of the classic that gave him his first taste of motoring – Abingdon’s oft-misunderstood grand tourer
The big day is nearly upon us. This Saturday sees the coronation of the King, which presents us with the ideal opportunity to look back on the cars that have driven his passion for motoring.
We could have elected to drive all manner of lavish Aston Martins, Bentleys and Rolls- Royces, but given that our Five Trials treatment is all about testing the real-world qualities of today’s classics, we instead chose to revisit our monarch’s very first car – the MGC.
When Charles turned 18, he was gifted SGY 776F – an MGC GT in Mineral Blue. The young prince was frequently seen using his Abingdon sports car during his formative years and it would eventually pass to his son William on his 17th birthday, the car having been subject to extensive restoration work in the hands of students at Manchester College of Arts and Technology. Today, it forms part of a collection of royal cars in the care of Sandringham Museum.
But what are the appeals of MGC ownership beyond the obvious royal connections? Well, when it was new at least, not a great deal if we’re being honest. The MGC GT might have sold better in period – and would certainly be seen in a different light today – if British Leyland had elected to distinguish it from the ’ B GT with rather more than a subtle bonnet bulge and slightly wider wheels.
That’s because under that veneer of familiarity beats the heart of a very different car – one that's more affordable Aston Martin than re-engined MGB. That lack of distinction – and some largely unfounded early bad press – dissuaded many buyers from finding out for themselves and played into the hands of those who wanted to disparage the ’ C quite simply for not being the new Austin-Healey, which the Abingdon offering had the challenge of replacing.
The impression of mature cut-aboveness starts with the refined growl of its smooth 2.9-litre straight-six engine. It may have come from the same school as the B’s four-pot but was in the top set and excelled at sports. Some freer breathing and a bit more power may have been preferable, especially when judged by today’s standards.
The best bit, though, is the cabin. Replacing the original black dash panels with wood, together with the matching steering wheel, lends ‘our’ GT a real cracking Sixties ambience.
As part of its painstaking home restoration by David New, BLF 69H has also been treated to engine tweaks – including a Stage 2 cylinder head set-up – that means it’s running close to 150bhp. The engine’s pr
