William Lentz Ivey, Jr., Columbia, SC
1 9 6 8 M G C G T Serial Number G-CD1-U/2926-G One of ONLY 484 WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WERE MADE FOR NORTH AMERICA.
Hoping to silence critics that thought its cars underperformed, MG
built the “C” in 1968 and 1969, swapping out the 4-cylinder engine
for a larger V6. Unfortunately, criticism persisted, and MG returned
to 4 cylinders the next model year.
My Uncle, U.S. Airforce Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Praytor
Killingsworth, purchased this North American market designed pale
primrose yellow MGC GT with automatic transmission new from
Bob Morin Motors, Pasadena, TX, on January 24 th , 1969, for $3,450.
Shortly after purchasing the car, he was reassigned to Naha
Air Force Base, Okinawa, Japan, and the MGC went with him!
Hugh Praytor Killingsworth, Circa 1944
Original Bill of Sale Original 1968
Maintenance Service Schedule and Record Book,
showing that the MGC GT received its 6,000 mile service in
Okinawa, Japan
British Motor Corporation had an authorized dealer in Okinawa, Japan,
CAL Orient Trading Corp. Hugh took the car there on May 31 st , 1969 for
its 6,000 mile service and would continue to take it to them until his
transfer back stateside in 1971.
Original Service Invoice from
CAL Orient Trading Corp., Okinawa, Japan
A distinguished Airforce Pilot, Hugh flew 96 missions over the Himalaya
mountains into China in WWII. During the Cold War, he flew nuclear armed
B52s over the Arctic border with Russia, and during the Vietnam War, he
flew C130s and classified resonance aircraft into Vietnam, Cambodia
and Laos. He logged 713 combat missions in his career. After spending 30
months in Japan and putting 12,613 miles on the MGC GT, Hugh
transferred to Arnold Air force Base, Tullahoma, TN, where he retired in
1972.
Hugh disagreed
with the MG critics
and got a rush trying to push the V6 to its top
speed of 140 mph.
He gave me the MGC GT in 2015 with the
condition that I couldn’t drive her “…until you
have the brakes fixed. They don’t work.”
Thank you to Ed Stanfield for connecting me with Dr. Will Harmon, who got her roadworthy again.
Hugh pushing the speed limit, March 12, 2015
Hugh passed in 2017, just shy of his 97th birthday. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
British Motor Museum Heritage Certificate #2025/2943 with “as built” factory Technical Specifications.
