Description
This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Iconic Sale at Race Retro 2025 - Competition Cars on Saturday the 22nd of February, Stoneleigh Park, Stoneleigh Rd, Coventry, CV8 2LG. In the early 1980s, fully aware of the influence of motorsport success on their sales figures, the British Leyland hierarchy were seeking another model to continue to carry the company name to sporting success however, in reality, there were no obvious candidates. It was only with the announcement of a new 'Group B' category for rally cars that the way became clear to commence what was to become the 6R4 programme. Under the new regulations, only 200 units were required for 'homologation' (plus 20 'Evolution' models) and there were relatively few design restrictions. Turbocharged engines, four-wheel drive, state of the art materials and lots of aerodynamic modifications were allowed resulting, over the next four years, in some of the wildest and most powerful competition machines ever produced.
As is well documented elsewhere, the world of International Rallying was devastated in 1985/ 1986 by a number of high-profile fatal accidents resulting in ‘Group B’ rally cars being outlawed for the 1987 season, effectively ending the 6R4's International career which, owing to its long gestation period, had started a couple of years too late anyway.
The 6R4's performance on the 1985 RAC Rally - its best-ever placing - indicated that an earlier start could have yielded much better results, certainly in the 1986 ‘learning’ year. However, perhaps because of their slightly macabre, 'bad-boy' reputation or maybe due to their ballistic performance potential and the short timespan in which they ruled, genuine Works 'Group B' rally cars have become incredibly valuable, rivalled only by F1 cars with serious provenance and Le Mans winners.
On offer here is chassis #208 which is fresh to market having been owned privately by our vendor since 1996. ‘C818 FFC’ was entered and driven by Tony Pond and Rob Arthur in the infamous 1986 Rallye de Portugal. During the rally, an RS200 tragically left the road killing some spectators and injuring many others. A number of drivers, including Tony Pond, understandably refused to drive for the rest of the event on the basis that it was unlikely that spectators lining the stages would be deterred in their traditional quest to get as close to a speeding rally car as possible, so chassis #208 was withdrawn.
During 1986, #208 was also used as Tony Pond’s test car in the Tour de Corse, was Malcolm Wilson’s test car at the ‘86 Rallye San Remo and, post-Portugal, was entered in the Marlboro Port Talbot rally achieving an impressive 3rd overall driven by David Llewellyn with Phil Short in the hot seat.
It was subsequently sold to ex-Austin Rover Tyre Department Manager, Ian Beveridge, who campaigned the Metro with his wife Pat in the BTRDA Championship in 1987, ’88 and ’89 achieving much success including winning the Severn Valley Stages and the Wyedean twice. For these UK-based championships, the engine was de-tuned into ‘single-plenum spec’ in order to comply with the regulations and it has remained in this configuration ever since.
In 1996 the car was acquired by its current owner who has used it as intended ever since, achieving some impressive results over the past 29 years including winning the Tempest rally in 1999 and numerous class wins at the Rallye Sunseeker from 1997 to 2012. More recently, ‘C818 FFC’ has become synonymous with Goodwood in current ownership, entertaining the crowds on the Goodwood Festival of Speed rally stage on no less than 16 occasions from 2005 to 2024. More recently, the car was selected as one of 6 MGs used in a special parade at the Festival for the MG 100 year celebrations, as well as competing on the infamous hill climb. The car has also competed at the Goodwood 72nd and 78th Members Meetings as part of the Rally Sprints, as well as the one-off Goodwood Speed Week during COVID.
Our vendors mantelpiece is adorned by ‘Driver of the Day’ silverware from 2006, 2009 and 2016 and, in more recent times, his son won the ‘Group B’ class in this car at the Goodwood FoS in 2019. A year earlier, in 2018, at the Festival, the car was driven by Jimmy McRae (who signed and dated the driver’s side door panel) and at the 2023 event, it was driven by former World Rally champion, Peter Solberg, who also signed the car. #208 subsequently appeared on the front page of Autosport magazine in August 2023 with Peter Solberg doing a feature on iconic machines after his drive in the 6R4. #208 also adorned the front cover of the 1986 Autosport magazine after Rallye de Portugal.
#208 has frequently been in the public eye over the years including a feature by Classic and Sportscar magazine in 1999 where Tony Pond was reunited with the car driving it with the current owner at the Bill Gwynne Rally School and offering him some driving tips. In 2015, it featured in an award-winning short film starring Game of Thrones actor Richard Madden and in 2020, it took part in promotional filming for the inaugural Goodwood Speed Week racing against a Gravity “Jet pack”.
The car was looked after by the late Rod Lynne (ex-works Austin Rover) from 1987 until 2006 and since 2010, has been prepared to a high standard by Historic Motorsport with engine and differential maintenance entrusted to Autosportif. It’s accompanied by a set of Rob Arthur’s overalls, historic rally road books, and the original sales invoice from Austin Rover.
With a straight line of ownership, and available for the first time in 29 years, this may well be an unrepeatable opportunity and we welcome any enquiries for this important ex-Works MG Metro 6R4.
