David Thorn's 1969 MGC with Buick 300 V8 engine

David Thorn's 1969 MGC with Buick 300 V8 engine

as published in British V8 Newsletter, Volume XIV Issue 3, December 2006

Owner: David Thorn
City: Carthage, MO
Model: 1969 MGC
Engine: 1964 Buick 300 V8

Engine: 1964 Buick 300 V8 (which is very similar to the Buick 215, although it has an iron block in lieu of aluminum. It has aluminum heads, larger valves, and a longer stroke.) Heads ported and polished, engine bored 0.030" over. Dyno tested at 310 HP.
Intake: Aluminum intake w/ Edelbrock 4 barrel 750cfm.
Exhaust: Custom headers into 2.5 stainless Magna-Flow exhaust w/ dual chrome tips.
Cam: Isky HP-2 cam adds an additional 25 HP.
Lubrication: Remote oil filter on left inner fender.
Cooling: Custom built 4 row radiator w/ puller electric fan.
Front Susp.: Stock MGC. (Note: MGC used torsion bars in lieu of coil springs.)
Rear Susp.: Leaf springs w/ XD gas shocks.
Drivetrain: GM 350 turbo automatic w/ race torque convertor.
Rear Axle: Ford 8 inch w/ Lincoln locker.
Brakes: Front - AeroSpace Components aluminum hubs, rotors and calipers.
Rear - Ford drum brakes.
Wheels/Tires: Eagle alloy wheels front 15X8, rear 15X10 with Michelin 195/65 R15.
Body: Fender beads ground off flush. Exterior door handles and locks removed and filled. Door glass removed and openings filled. Chrome strips and trunk lock removed. Original turn/brake lamps replaced with steel. Sebring valance front and rear. Cobra style rear bumpers. Fuel filler relocated into trunk. Custom fiber glass toneau cover.
Paint: 1970 Plymouth Baracuda "Plum Crazy".
Interior: GM tilt steering with Grant wheel. B&M Quick Silver slap shifter. Custom upholstery. Summit racing seats with custom covers. Simpson race belts. Custom flat dash with Dolphin "6-pack" gauges.
Electrical: EZ 2 Wire Harness. Dolphin programable white face gauges. LED turn-signal and brake lights (front and rear). Original Lucas head lights. Battery relocated to trunk.
Miles Driven: 1815 miles as of November 2006.
Completed: 2005.
Comments: This MGC was built in Florida over a five year period. I purchased the car with less than 400 miles since its conversion. The car was built for speed. The conversion and rebuild was done to a very high standard. Since purchasing the car in May of 2006, it has been driven on a regular basis both for fun and to shows. It has won trophies in each of the shows it was entered in, and it never fails to attract a large crowd interested in the power plant and funky paint and interior. Unbelievably responsive, the car's handling is very agile and the brakes will stop it on a dime.

MGC hood

Buick 300 engine

Eagle alloy wheels

groovy upholstery

custom MG dashboard


boot cover

nerf bars

re-located battery

LED brake lights


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