Group B MG Metro 6R4 History

[MG Rover Sport]

There's some absolutely stonking 6R4 images posted by ex-Austin Rover Press Officer Scott Brownlee on Flickr. There's a load of prototype 6R4s, RAC Rally 6R4s, Middle East Rally Team Rovers, etc - pretty much everything that Austin Rover Motorsport were involved in at the time!

Here is the link, ENJOY... http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottbr...th/5530727592/

I have also set up an Austin Rover Motorsport Facebook Group page for anyone that is interested. It's pretty much all rallying at the moment, but please do join us if you share a common interest.

Here is the link, ENJOY... http://www.facebook.com/#!/home.php?...21165034619555

[KA]

There's some brilliant stuff there David!

The thread started with a pic of a 6R4 in the USA, and another one's turned up- a yellow car currently on EBay if anyone's feeling wealthy....

http://bringatrailer.com/2011/03/22/...ro-6r4-awd-v6/

[pixelpimp]

Found these today of A20ROV in happier times.

[andy97]

Chassis 118 is at Bill Gwynne's & is for sale:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2965006.htm

This road one is also advertised:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2335690.htm

[Gary Critcher]

don't forget this is still available : www.racrallydvd.com

[andy97]

And now this DAM 4100 version has come up:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3015774.htm

[Jukka Suvisalmi]

Hello to all you.

Please can you tell me what this number is in MG-Metro 6R 4wd?? (Gr:B)
It located under the drivers seat. Number is 00095

This is very urgent so I ll be very glad if you professional people can help me.
Thanks advance!

Jukka

[RogerRally]

Originally Posted by MG Rover Sport

The car changed Reg No to A20 ROV when either Carl or Max had it, and the original Reg No D111 BEG is now on Roger Binyon's blue DAM 4100 long wheelbase spaceframe rally car - although I am not sure if the original VIN No is on that car as well?

D111BEG has Karl Broads Vin plate 570/160, is that correct?

[Gerry Taylor]

Really pleased I started this thread, it's great to see all you guys talking about a great little car.
Gerry.

[ollyuser]

Hey

I am Starting to build a 6r4 model but want it to be very detailed, do any of you have or know where I can find detailed pics of cockpit,engine,suspension,chassis etc?

Thanks
Olly jefferies

[generalspecific]

A question for the experts (of which there are many on this thread). Post the 86 ban, I understand that a number of cars with the 3L Intl spec v64v engine were converted to 2.5 L.

My question, particularly as it relates to Goodmans work is what changes? Is the existing engine modded with liners and new pistons and thus there is still an old Intl spec lurking under the revised Clubman... or was the old crate always thrown away.

Apologies for my ignorance but I can see that there are a few real experts here who can help.

[generalspecific]

answered my own question now so ignore post above.

For fans of the works cars, I am pleased to say that Harri Toivonens Unipart car is on its way back to the UK after a long absence from these shores....

[VIVA GT]

Some interesting MG Metro 6R4 stuff here (and a very informative website anyway!)
http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/2012...-mg-metro-6r4/

[bigears]

Does anyone have the full results of the Metro 6R4 race at the 1988 Birmingham Superprix?

I am still on the look out...!

[Hampton Caught]

Greetings!

I was wondering if any of my fellow 6R4 fanatics can confirm the exact shades of red and white (roof) the 6R4 was painted in when it was first unveiled to the public?

Reason I'm asking is I'm about to start building a 1/43 scale model of the car as it appeared on the news that memorable day in the early/mid eighties.

Any help with paint names or codes would be much appreciated. I want to get the detail right.

I've recently finished a model of Rob Gibson's 6R4 as he ran it at Lydden Hill on August Bank Holiday Monday 2011. If anyone's interested, I can (try to) post a photo or two!

Very many thanks, Steve

[Mike Geen]

Hi Chaps, We are trying to arrange for some 6R4s to run at Harewood Hillclimb next year. We need to know how many V64V engines were produced in total in all it's guises 6R4, XJ220, Group C racer etc. The number of engines produced will dictate which class they can run in.
Who made the engines originally,more specifically the castings for head and block? Are they still in business?
Do records exist from ARG or TWR?
Who owns the rights now?
Any help would be much appreciated both by myself, a Group B fan and now part of the Harewood Hillclimb organising team, and the 6R4 owners who are desperate to run their cars up our hill !!

Cheers

Mike Geen

[MG Rover Sport]

I got your PM Mike, but have been away on holiday for a few days, so am only now finding time to catch up.

This was a question that Chris Wise also asked a few weeks ago, and we are really trying to find out some kind of definitive answer for you on the subject. It isn't as easy as that in all honesty though, and certainly not helped by the fact that neither MG Rover or Tom Walkinshaw Racing are no longer trading.

What sort of quantity is your deciding factor, ie less or more than what number of units? Maybe that would be a start for us - especially if it's in the 1000s, as I can almost guarantee that the total number of engines built would be in the 100s anyway.

[Mike Geen]

There needs to have been at least 1000 blocks made. Just with the number of 6R4s and XJ220s made i'm upto 486 ! There must have been some spares made too?

I hope we can sort this out, i want to see as many 6R4s at Harewood as possible. Preferably competing and not just as static displays!

Cheers

Mike

[MG Rover Sport]

How have you got to your 486 figure?

Have you counted 200 Clubman 6R4s, PLUS an additional 20 International 6R4s, Mike? That is the number built for homologation to Group B, plus the extra 10% required to homologate the evolution model at the same time.

If Austin Rover hadn't built the evolution versions, then the 6R4 would have only appeared in competition as a 250bhp Clubman car with steel doors, wind up windows, synchro gearbox and fibreglass panels.

I have asked a friend of mine who was in charge of 6R4 Sales at Austin Rover in the mid-1980s if he has any information to help you, or if he knows who else might be able to instead.

[Mike Geen]

I read somewhere that there were 205 6R4s built in total and 281 XJ220s.

Let's hope your friend can help!

Cheers

Mike

[MG Rover Sport]

220 6R4s for sure - 200 Clubman + 10% (20) International variants.

So that's 501 V64V engines then by my count plus an unknown quantity of spares. I cannot really see Austin Rover making enough to get up to your magical 1000 figure though Mike, but I will let you know when I hear back from my friend.

[Buildtech]

Reading through the thread - I thought I would contribute a couple of photos that may be of interest to all; particularly of the Clubman 300 Spec.

A healthy entry of 6R4 Clubmans at Silverstone for a circuit race in the Esso Metro Superchallenge of 1988: Tony Pond the victor.

Next a couple of shots taken at Brands Hatch in 1986: a Metro Clubman on display and also driven on a demo lap.

I always had a soft spot for the 6R4.

[MG Rover Sport]

Excellent photos 'Buildtech' - many thanks for sharing them with us.

I'm pretty sure that Tony Pond only used the 6R4 for the 1988 & 1989 Birmingham Super Prix supporting races, so it can't have been him on the top step at Silverstone for the Esso Metro Superchallenge race. I'll have to dig out my results and see if it tells me who won the 1988 race - Pete Slights or Sam Nelson springs to mind at the moment. It isn't 1989 as Beveridge, Williams, Price and Harris didn't conest the race that year.

The cars shown are (right queue working background to foreground) : Bill Barton; Sam Nelson; Ian Beveridge; David Williams and John Price. Steve Harris' red car can be seen to the left.

The white car with the red wheels was the Austin Rover Motorsport demonstrator, which also went on to become the Pace Car for the MG Metro Turbo Challenge in 1987 - you can just see the words 'Pace Car' in red across the back of the car in the middle photo.

Would love to see some more of your photos when you get a chance.

[MG Rover Sport]

Originally Posted by RogerRally

D111BEG has Karl Broads Vin plate 570/160, is that correct?

That is correct Roger, although it should really be an Austin Rover Group plate not a BL Cars one.

[Redzone]

Here's a pic of a poster that has been on the wall of the office in my workshop since 1987, my father Kerry Cox was good friends with Alan Clegg who worked on Jody Schekter's tyrell 6 wheel F1 car amongst others, including helping dad set up the suspension on his Holden Torana XU1, Cleggy ran the CBC team 6R4 pictured IIRC: