1986 MG Metro 6R4

Lot details
Registration No: A16 PLR
Chassis No: SAXXRWNP7AD570173
Mot Expiry: Jan 2012

British Leyland's decision to retire the now competitive Triumph TR7 V8 at the end of 1980 left its motorsport division without a weapon of choice, and the following year the company approached Williams Grand Prix Engineering about creating a replacement. The resulting prototype launched to the press at Heathrow during early 1984 had absolutely nothing in common with a Metro of any kind, apart from the name! The seam-welded tubular chassis was powered by a mid-mounted 6 cylinder engine driving all 4 wheels (6R4 stood for 6 cylinder Rally 4 wheel drive). The dramatic exterior featured huge wings front and rear. At this stage, the newcomer was powered by a hack 6 cylinder version of Rover's ubiquitous V8, but what was arguably the first engine ever designed specifically for rallying was soon to leave the drawing board. The V64V was designed by ex-Cosworth employee David Wood. It was a 90-deg 24-valve V6 unit of 3-litre capacity with twin overhead camshafts per bank. It initially produced some 250bhp in 'Clubman' form and up to 410bhp in 'International' guise.

Having built the required 200 cars for homologation, the British Leyland team was finally cleared to compete in the Group B WRC events of the 1986 season and made its debut on the 1985 Lombard RAC Rally with Tony Pond and Malcolm Wilson as the appointed Works drivers. Wilson retired with transmission troubles, but Pond finished an encouraging 3rd overall (little did anyone realise that this would be the best result the model would ever achieve at WRC level!). Though the newcomer was clearly the car to have at National level - winning five championships during 1986 alone - it lacked the testing to survive the faster, tougher environment of the WRC events. Then, without warning, the opportunity for development was gone - following a series of crashes in which competitors and spectators lost their lives, the FIA banned the Group B cars from further battle.

Happily that was not the end of the story and, with the help of the various governing bodies, detuned versions (the capacity was limited to 2500cc) of the 6R4 were allowed to continue rallying at national level - something they do with great success to this day. They also achieved a stellar career in rallycross, where the rules were far freer, with some 6R4 campaigners eventually claiming up to 700bhp for their mounts!
'A16 PLR' is a well known rally example that was built in 1986. It has been campaigned with success over the years by such names as Peter Lloyd and John Brodie. Its victories include the 2005 Regency Stages Rally and the 2011 Weston Rallysprint. The MG's history file inevitably contains a large selection of invoices dating back to 2003 from the likes of 6R4 specialist Goodman Racing etc. These days the vendor considers the bodywork, the Orange paintwork, Black trim, circa 360bhp 2500cc engine and five-speed dog gearbox as all "good" and the mighty Metro is MOT'd into January next year.

The much loved 6R4s have an ardent following and rarely come to market these days. 'A16 PLR' therefore represents a great opportunity for somebody to acquire a motorsport icon that, in the right hands, is still capable of winning all manner of events from hillclimbs and sprints to rallies and rallycrosses. The bidding could be fierce!