Pocket Rocket Racer: The 1969 MG C GTS 'Sebring' at Carhuna Auction
Paying homage to the Sebring racers, MG Motorsport's meticulously crafted interpretation of the two original factory cars for the road.
The MGC made its debut in 1967, designed as BMC’s replacement for the Austin Healey 3000. This model, produced in the Abingdon factory, was notable for its transition from a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine to a more robust 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine.
The Competitions Department took the MGC as a foundation, replaced much of its bodywork with aluminium, and managed to reduce its weight by nearly 200 kg, bringing it down to a nimble 900 kg. The MGC GTS showcased its prowess in the 1967 and 1968 Targa Florio, Sebring, and the Marathon de la Route at Nürburgring. Only two were built during that period, with Sebring in 1969 marking the end of the project and MGC production.
This homage to the Sebring racers was meticulously crafted by marque expert Doug Smith of MG Motorsport in Hertfordshire. Utilising an original six-cylinder MGC GT, MG Motorsport stripped it back to its bare shell before commencing the build.
The search for a suitable candidate led to Jersey, where an excellent example in good condition was found and brought to the UK. The 2.9-litre straight-six power plant, fitted with triple Weber 45DCOE carburettors, produces almost 200 bhp, significantly more than the stock engine. This example, finished in Aston Martin Heritage Q Racing Green, was completed in October 2023 at a cost of £90,000, excluding the donor vehicle, and has been sparingly used since.
Key features include a gas-flowed, lead-free Peter Burgess cylinder head, high-lift cam, lightened flywheel, high-performance clutch cover, and a Downton-style exhaust manifold. The suspension boasts SuperPro polyurethane bushes, negative camber, Spax adjustable dampers, and uprated torsion bars at the front with an anti-roll bar, while the rear features Gaz telescopic dampers. The bodywork includes Sebring Works MGC-style fibreglass wings, aluminium valances, Sebring headlamp cowls, and a Monza fuel filler. The interior is fully carpeted with a re-crackled dashboard, re-calibrated gauges, and a special Moto-Lita steering wheel.
Converted at a considerable cost by experts MG Motorsport, who regularly service the original racers, this MG C GTS ‘Sebring’ represents an opportunity to own a meticulously built homage to a racing legend. Offered by DK Engineering in a Carhuna auction, this exceptional vehicle is live now and will conclude on July 24th.
