Lot details
Registration No: E651BJN
Chassis No: SAXXRWNP7AD570103
Mot Expiry: Jan 2006

Developed with assistance from Williams Grand Prix Engineering, the MG Metro 6R4 was unveiled at the Excelsior Hotel, London Airport in February 1984. Masterminded by Austin-Rover Motorsport Chief John Davenport, it was a Group B silhouette-racer in the same mould as the Audi Quattro S1, Lancia Delta S4 and Ford RS200. Built around a seam-welded tubular chassis equipped with all-round independent suspension, ventilated disc brakes and rack and pinion steering, its normally-aspirated 2991cc 'quad-cam' 24-valve V6 was allied to a bespoke five-speed manual gearbox and compact 4WD system featuring a central Ferguson-Formula epicyclic viscous coupling differential that split the torque 35% front to 65% rear. Said to develop some 410bhp, the 'Works' 6R4s were surprisingly benign handlers. Recording a strong 3rd place on its 1985 RAC Rally WRC debut, the bewinged pocket rocket's international career was cut short when FISA disbanded Group B rallying following the death of Henri Toivenen on the 1986 Corsican Rally. Though, that year saw 6R4s take 4th place in the San Remo Rally, 6th-7th-8th-9th places at the RAC Rally and win such non-WRC events as the Hunsruck, Ulster, Manx and Antibes Rallies (Didier Auriol also driving one to secure the 1986 French Championship). With its plans for the 1987 season in tatters, Austin-Rover decided to sell off the remains of its 200-strong, homologation-compliant production run. Detuned to 250bhp 'Clubman' specification, many enjoyed a successful second career in Rallycross, sprints or hillclimbs (Autocar magazine recorded 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds and 0-100mph in 12.8 seconds for a 'Clubman' 6R4).
Finished in white with grey upholstery, this particular example is described by the vendor as being in good overall condition. Reputed to be "6R4 No. 37", it was apparently fitted with its V64V engine on 9th October 1985 and transferred to the sales department twelve days later. Thought to have been among the last batch of approximately forty cars acquired by Ford dealer Gates of Harlow, it was reworked with a Goodmans fitted 'Clubman 300' reliability kit, towered tarmac suspension and wider tarmac-spec Dymag wheels. One of four cars bought by a Yorkshire businessman as an investment, it was road registered as E651 BJN on 15th September 1987. Subsequently sold via Lockyears of Surrey to its second and only registered keeper with 101 recorded miles, it was later part-exchanged with Worcester Car Sales from whom the present owner purchased it in December 1998. Believed to have covered just 1,300 miles from new, it is offered for sale with MOT certificate valid until January 2006.