Images: Silverstone Auctions
This lovely 1970 MGC has had just two owners, was raced in period and looks like a brilliant, affordable opportunity to get into historic motorsport. It’s heading to auction at Silverstone Auctions’ 2015 May Sale. Let’s check it out.
The MGC is a fun little British sports car that unfortunately had its run cut short when British Leyland took control of MG. MG’s Competitions Department did build two lightweight competition cars before the production MGCs were available, however. They were known to MG fans as Romeo and Mabel.
They were designed to compete in prototype sportscar racing and six shells were built. The main structure was built from steel, while the exterior panels were fashioned from lightweight aluminium. MBL 546E, Mabel, was finished first. Paddy Hopkirk and Timo Makinen took it on its first outing – the 1967 Targa Florio, at that point with a highly-modified four-cylinder MGB engine. It would then go on to compete at Sebring in ’68 with a new three-litre motor, finishing in tenth overall.
At this point the second car, RMO 699F, was finished. The pair were entered into the 84-hour long Marathon de la Route, although only MBL finished. They would then compete Sebring in 1969 for the works team’s final outing with the MGC, where RMO would finish fifteenth, fifth in class.
This car is a modified MGC that was raced in the ’70s by Mark Burnside. It’s seen only one owner since.
When the current owner took ownership in 2010 the engine was rebuilt with new Cosworth pistons, valves and new valve seats. Crankshaft and rods were tested and with Dellorto carbies the power plant puts out 280 BHP.
The power goes through a five-speed T5 Borg Warner box and limited slip differential. Suspension duties are handled by rose-jointed front suspension and tramp bars on the rear axle.
All in all it’s a quick package, and at an estimated auction price of £14,000 – 18,000, an affordable one too! It looks like a fun option to get into historic racing, and we hope to see someone do just that with it!
It’ll head to auction at Silverstone Auctions’ May Sale 2015 on the 23rd of May. For more information head to their website here.
Images via Silverstone Auctions
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