NEWSLETTER
University Motors Special with Cibie headlight conversion and custom paintwork
by Wood & Pickett. All three Specials were fitted with a UNIVERSITY MOTORS SPECIAL MGC badge pinned to the bonnet just forward of the bonnet bulge which on 1 UML and 2 UML was painted matt black. University Motors at this time were selling standard Cs for £1,370 and a Special came in at £1,620. Motor magazine quoted £158 for a Stage two Downton conversion and £228 for a Stage three, although all the Downton Stage three invoices I have seen quote £247. Downton offered their conversions for the MGC from as early as 1968. The majority of the 21 conversions carried out were of the Stage two specification and it is reported that only three Stage three conversions were carried out on the UM Specials. The Downton conversions were numbered. Stage two (two - SU carburettors) was known as number 43 in Downton language and offered an increase to 149bhp, whereas the Stage three conversion (three - SU carburettors) was known as number 45 and offered 174bhp. A standard MGC, GT or roadster, was rated at 145bhp. These upgrades were backed up by UML’s own mechanical warranties. The 12 unique grilles produced and fitted to the Specials were designed and produced in late 1969 by Wood and Pickett and consisted of three horizontal slats fitted to the original outer chrome shell replacing the vertical slats; the two remaining specials were fitted with recessed and standard grilles.
54 SAFETY FAST! JANUARY 2021
University motors 1970
Price list
Special paint from £65 Whethershield Sunroof £43 Vinyl roof £30 Grille £22 Inertia reel seat belts £17 Koni front shock absorbers Pair £16 Mota lita steering wheel £13 Cosmic alloy wheels (five) £60 Downton conversion (Stage two) £175 Downton conversion (Stage three) £228 Tape player £58 Radio £33 There were other MGCs to leave the UML showrooms which were cosmetically enhanced. This mainly consisted of paint jobs, interior work, alloy wheels and others simply had a Downton conversion; however these cars were not Specials and were not badged as such. It is difficult today, 50 years, on to say which C is a Special and which is not and it all comes down to a good history file. As stated, there were 21 MGCs converted to Downton specification and 14 Specials built, so that leaves another seven cars which only had a mechanical Downton upgrade. All three of the University Motors MGC Specials mentioned in this article, 1 UML,
2 UML and UMG 1, survive to this day and are in fine fettle. Finally, I feel I must point out that the last 133 Cs to leave the factory were all sold as basic standard cars – they may well have had some minor upgrading but were not Specials. The Specials were chosen by the customer based on the colour they preferred and then upgraded and picked from the cars UM had in stock e.g. 2 UML is a very early MGC GT and had been in stock for over two years prior to being modified and then sold to its first owner. I have been researching University Motors Ltd for many years now and I am still amazed at the effort they put in to sell a car at any time in their history. If anyone reading this article has any info on the company or on the MGC Specials I would be grateful if they could contact me. I would especially like to know about the rear seat conversions they carried out on the GTs. I currently own a University Motors MGC Special, reg number GGW 807J and have done so for the past 13 years, alongside my concours mineral blue MGC GT which I have owned for the last 30 years. The MGC, whether a GT or a roaster, made very little impact on the motoring world but did make it a better place to be. Rick Parry
www.mgcc.co.uk