Denemek ALTIN - Özgür

THE FULL WORKS

Octane

|

September 2022

The short-lived MGC suffered a poor reputation as a driver's car. The racing GTS suggests it could have been so much greater, as Richard Meaden discovers

- Richard Meaden

THE FULL WORKS

For a glorious spell during the 1960s, the British Motor Corporation enjoyed an exceptional period of overseas motorsport success. Fuelled by the desire to promote export sales in the USA and Europe and facilitated by a talented team of engineers and drivers, the BMC Competitions Department was a force to be reckoned with on the international race and rally scenes.

While the giant-slaying antics of the Monte-winning Mini-Cooper S came to define the Competitions Department's efforts in the eyes of the wider public, the Abingdon-based outfit fielded a raft of impressive and versatile machinery. They ranged from the aptly named 'Big Healeys', which revelled in rallying and long-distance road races, to numerous MGs that also proved adept at circuit and stage driving. Even the unlikely Austin 1800 saloon got the Abingdon treatment to compete in the gruelling London-Sydney Marathon.

Among the most appealing - not to mention last - of the cars built by the Competitions Department cars was the Lightweight MGC GTS. The car you're admiring is the first of only two cars built, chassis number ADO 52/1060, but affectionately nicknamed Mabel on account of its registration number, MBL 546E.

Between 1967 and 1969 Mabel raced successfully in four blue riband endurance races, scoring some deeply impressive results in the hands of some of the quickest and most celebrated drivers of the period. MBL's first outing was on the 1967 Targa Florio, where somewhat confusingly it was entered as an MG GTS (the S standing for 'Special', not Sebring, as is commonly suggested; also hence the 'missing' C from the tailgate badge) and ran with a special 2004cc four-cylinder B-series engine and the flat MGB bonnet. The reason? Because the six-cylinder MGC road car was still secret at that time.

Octane

Bu hikaye Octane dergisinin September 2022 baskısından alınmıştır.

Binlerce özenle seçilmiş premium hikayeye ve 9.000'den fazla dergi ve gazeteye erişmek için Magzter GOLD'a abone olun.

Zaten abone misiniz?

Octane'den DAHA FAZLA HİKAYE

Octane

Octane

Hal Needham

Stuntman turned cult car-movie director, with modesty to match

time to read

3 mins

July 2025

Octane

Octane

Age of Innocenti

For a brief spell in the 1960s, an Italian company built a distinctly Continental-looking coupé based on unlikely British underpinnings. Glen Waddington discovers the Innocenti C

time to read

8 mins

July 2025

Octane

Octane

The Great Escapement

A radical move for the usually conservative Rolex

time to read

2 mins

July 2025

Octane

Octane

BMW Isetta

Proof that something designed with economy in mind can also be huge fun

time to read

2 mins

July 2025

Octane

PLAYTIME IS OVER!

A road-legal 85%-scale electric 'Blower' Bentley has hit the streets...

time to read

6 mins

July 2025

Octane

Octane

EVEN BETTER THAN THE REAL THING

This official continuation actually improves on the greatest Ford Escort ever made. Both their stories are as unlikely as they are fascinating

time to read

9 mins

July 2025

Octane

Octane

Sébastien Loeb

The most successful rally driver of all time

time to read

5 mins

July 2025

Octane

Octane

PARTY 7

As Jaguar prepares for a bold step into the future,Octane celebrates the F-type Project 7, a thrilling sports car that draws on the marque's Le Mans heritage

time to read

6 mins

July 2025

Octane

Octane

Pete Brock

This engineer, designer and racer is best known for the Shelby Daytona Coupe but there is so much more to his life and career — from hot rods to hang gliders

time to read

8 mins

July 2025

Octane

Octane

Salon Privé's 20th anniversary is gearing up to be its best ever show

WITH preparations for the huge 20th anniversary edition of Salon Privé well underway, it seems certain that it will present the best event yet on 27-31 August.

time to read

1 mins

July 2025