I had always fancied a ‘C’ and had been told by several owners I had met over the years that they were the best MG to own.

In the June 1999 issue of the Club Magazine I spotted one for renovation at best offer over £2500 , so I foolishly told the owner that I was very keen to buy and would better any offer. What a crazy thing to do as I'm sure that I was eventually bidding against myself and managed to push the price up to £3 800!

I traveled to Devon to view the car and yes it was in a barn and had been there for 18 years. The bad news was that it was in a sad state, the good news was that inside the car there was a box containing many expensive new bits, carbs, callipers, hoses, copper brake pipes, etc.

Now in my workshop I stripped it down and with the aid of my rollover frame the car was turned upside down for a close inspection. As expected all the usual rot was there; sills, castle rails etc were all in a bad way and clearly needed replacement.

Before work was started the door apertures and body were cross-braced and the sills and other nasty bits were then cut out using an air chisel.

This is going on a bit so I will move on in less detail. Things were replaced, renewed or renovated as and where necessary and the car was  painted white and trimmed in black.

My first drive was a great experience, what a fantastic car! I have owned many B's but the C is a different car altogether.

The journalists of the day have much to answer for as their comments led to its premature demise.  A bit like a pack of 1960's Clarksons!!

A slight disappointment: I noticed, that the car seemed to steer by the throttle ie accelerate and it tended to go to the right and lift off sent to the left .Very worrying! A visit to MBG Beehive and
a test drive by Nigel soon found the fault.

Up on his lift and armed with a half inch ring spanner he tightened the axle 'u' bolts saying "you've been reading the manual, FT doesn't mean finger tight". The car was transformed and now handles superbly .

Andre’ Capy