The door lock and handle arrangement from 1968 to 1980 uses push-button exterior handles throughout, but the interior handle, door pull, and associated hardware changed at several points across those twelve years. This is the type fitted to the vast majority of MGCs, as only the very earliest production cars from October 1967 would have the older specification. The 1968 MkII introduced the recessed interior door handle, a style derived from the BMC 1800 range, centrally positioned in the door with a new door pull below. The door pull changed from a simple hinged type to a more substantial armrest-type pull with the 1972 interior revision, and again from the 1977 model year.
Handles & Interior Hardware
Interior door handles are available in standard and chrome finish for both left and right hand sides, with the handle bezel, connector block, and operating rod available for targeted repairs. Exterior push-button door handles are available for all 1968-onwards cars, with gaskets available individually and as a combined door and boot handle gasket set. Interior door pulls in standard black, padded black for post-1971 cars, and walnut are all available. The lock mechanism uses a push-button external handle with a key-operated barrel for locking, and an internal remote control lever for opening from inside the cabin.
Locks & Security
Door locks are available as a pair in standard and non-slip specifications, the non-slip version addressing the common problem of the lock barrel rotating in the door skin, and the anti-rotation door lock kit provides the same fix as a more economical solution. A three-lock set covering both door locks and the boot lock is available, and when replacing locks, ordering a matched set of barrels with keys for both doors and the boot or tailgate ensures consistent key operation throughout the car, restoring the convenience of a single key after decades of piecemeal lock replacements. On North American cars from the 1973 model year, special anti-burst units were fitted below the door locks, with strengthening bars added in the doors between the lock face and hinge area.
Striker Plates & Adjustment
The striker plate on the door pillar determines how the door latches and how firmly it closes, and a misaligned plate causes the door either not to latch securely, a safety hazard particularly at speed, or to require excessive force to close. The striker plate is adjustable, with slotted mounting holes allowing it to be moved in and out and up and down to achieve the correct latching position, and after any door hinge work, body repair, or lock replacement it should be checked and adjusted for a clean, firm close with no rattles. Anti-burst door catches, striker plates, and shims in multiple thicknesses for door alignment are available alongside all associated fixings.