1969 MG C 'Sebring' Roadster

The MG C GTS Sebring was one of the best-looking and most iconic creations to come out of the BMC Competitions Department in the 1960s. MG felt that success in International competition would help their brand image in general and the forthcoming launch of the MG C in particular. Work on designing a lightweight 'C' began in 1966 with the intention of competing in the World Sportscar Championship (Group 6-Sports Prototypes) and six bodyshells were built, with the centre structure built from steel similar to the production cars, whilst the exterior panels, such as the roof, doors, and the instantly recognisable bubble-arched wings, were formed in aluminium.

Ultimately, only two lightweight versions of the MG C GT were assembled by BMC at Abingdon. These 'Works' cars RMO 699F and MBL 546E (affectionately known as 'Romeo and Mable') ran in the 1967 Targa Florio and in 1968, the MG C GTS, as it was now known, raced at Sebring and the 84-hour-long Marathon de la Route at the Nurburgring. Their final Works-supported outings were at Sebring in 1969, when the MG C competition project was cancelled.

Shortly after the GTS programme was shelved, Austin Healey guru, John Chatham, stepped in purchasing what was left including the remaining four unused shells and all the remaining spares. From those ashes grew the inspiration for this project, the MG C Sebring, built by Chatham himself utilising the knowledge that he had gained through following the GTS programme. The end product, that we are delighted to offer here, was never conceived to attack a race circuit or rally stage but for fast road and occasional track day use and, we suggest, a rather entertaining outing it would be, combine that with present celebrity ownership, Peter Tomlinson. the founder of 'Tiswas' and the intrigue builds.

In addition to the usual MG C specification the GTS enhancements extend to the wide arch extensions (moulded directly from the factory cars), 8J centre-lock Minilite Alloys, twin sports exhaust, headlamp covers and the yellow nose paint, but go further and look under the bonnet and it's clear to see that this is more than a visual feast. Triple 40 DCOE Webers, a six-branch manifold, and a performance cam all built into a balanced engine with a lightened flywheel giving 200bhp, quite an increase over standard. With a lightweight bonnet, wings and valences, uprated suspension, torsion bars and a limited-slip differential, this particular MG C clearly has much to offer either as a fast road or track day car or possibly sprints or hill climbs at club level. Featured in Classic & sportscar Magazine in 2019 it was described as being 'The best MG that might have been'

This striking 'C' is sure to be the talking point of any classic car show with its stunning appearance and John Chatham provenance and, with cars built from works spares changing hands for six-figure sums in recent times, we believe this example, at this guide, represents fantastic value.