What's greatest ever comp car made by BMC/Leyland/MG/Austin?
Discussion
The voting on this page indicates that the Austin Mini is in the lead at present...
BMC marques Motorsport Group
http://www.facebook.com/groups/338890396193229/
t, well thats the mentality on here.My response was meant to mean that if looking at BMC/BL/Rover/Austin/Morris/MG or whatever products for the greatest ever competition car made by them it has to be the Mini, nothing else comes close no matter how good they were in their own right. The Mini won International rallies and races against much more powerful competition, and did so over a large number of years.
I have had plenty of cars from them over the years, and would happily have another if there was one which fitted what I wanted. All we have at the moment are a couple of proper Minis, but we have have had Metros, Montegos, Rover 2, 4 and 800 plus my Dad ran a series of 1800s and then Rover SD1s and now has an MGF.
But the Mini was by far the best competition car!
I have had plenty of cars from them over the years, and would happily have another if there was one which fitted what I wanted. All we have at the moment are a couple of proper Minis, but we have have had Metros, Montegos, Rover 2, 4 and 800 plus my Dad ran a series of 1800s and then Rover SD1s and now has an MGF.
But the Mini was by far the best competition car!
NO TR7V8 Tony Pond always reckoned it could be better than the Escort, but BL pulled the plug. There were some other interesting blind alleys as well such as the Dolomite Sprint powered Marina. The Dolly had a fair competition history as well. The Dolly Sprint lump went into the March F3 car.
It's difficult to argue with the Mini's record, particularly when you consider its sheer longevity. Heck, in some forms of Motorsport (auto testing for one) it's still competitive against current production stuff to this very day.
That said, the one which makes me personally go all moist is the MGC GTS/Sebring, and let's not forget the Broadspeed Jaguar XJ Coupes...
Pick your definition of greatness... :-)
That said, the one which makes me personally go all moist is the MGC GTS/Sebring, and let's not forget the Broadspeed Jaguar XJ Coupes...
Pick your definition of greatness... :-)
It has to be the Mini followed by the Big Healey, and the competition record of the MGB was bloody good too given it was entered into far fewer events.
The BMC 1800 was good on long distance rallies too.
In it's heyday the BMC comps department could take on the world and win. There are great stories from those days.
The BMC 1800 was good on long distance rallies too.
In it's heyday the BMC comps department could take on the world and win. There are great stories from those days.
heebeegeetee said:
It was made at Longbridge and Abingdon.
Joint venture set up between BMC and Donald Healey wasn't it?My understanding (and this is based on a book about Donald Healey and his cars which I read about 20 years ago so it could very easily be wrong!) was that Healey effectively licensed the Healey brand to BMC for a fixed period for use on cars built by BMC, the 100 and 3000 series cars being developed from Healey designs and the Sprite being designed specifically for the joint venture. I believe this is why the Healey brand name hasn't gone the way of Rover, MG, Austin et-al as BMC's rights to the name lapsed long before BMC/BMH/BL went into their final death spiral which is why Healey was able to use it on the Jensen-Healey...
I don't have a Facething, so do they mention the Metro 6R4? Maybe not the best, but it provided a genuine British interest in one of the greatest race series ever.
Or, to go way out into the left-field, can we include the Coventry Climax (at one point part of BMC/BL) ET 199 fork lift truck? Obviously not a competition vehicle in it's own right, but paved the way for Climax powered Lotus F1 championship wins. Engines from that family powered boats, water pumps and still provides auxillery power for tanks.
OK, you're right, that's silly.
It's the Mini. Shame it was by accident.
Or, to go way out into the left-field, can we include the Coventry Climax (at one point part of BMC/BL) ET 199 fork lift truck? Obviously not a competition vehicle in it's own right, but paved the way for Climax powered Lotus F1 championship wins. Engines from that family powered boats, water pumps and still provides auxillery power for tanks.
OK, you're right, that's silly.
It's the Mini. Shame it was by accident.
tr7v8 said:
NO TR7V8 Tony Pond always reckoned it could be better than the Escort, but BL pulled the plug. There were some other interesting blind alleys as well such as the Dolomite Sprint powered Marina. The Dolly had a fair competition history as well. The Dolly Sprint lump went into the March F3 car.
Having been fortunate enough to have rallied both a TR8 and Gp 4 Escort, I’ll think your Find the late great Tony Pond was only saying that as BL were his employers at the time.The Escort, in the woods is a much better balanced car, and easier to drive. I think TP,s skill flattered the TR, however, a works version was faster on tarmac
Has to be the Mini, iconic with an outstanding competition history.
CiderwithCerbie said:
The Mini will walk the poll, but I love the bonkers Metro 6R4 especially in Rally Cross mode - mad, bad, super quick and very loud.
About to post those same two. The Mini of which I owned several back in the 1960s when I lived in London as did my partner. Ideal competitor for getting about the Metrollops toot sweet.. Yes, the MG Metro 6R4 .... superbly bonkers and what a wonderful sound wailing away deep in the forests .... never owned one of those ..
For me, a not too distant third would be the BTCC Big SD1 Rovers from the early 1980s...
Jag XJ-S has to appear somewhere in there - Was designed during the BL era, and had success in the states with Group 44, in Germany sponsored by Motul, before becoming European Touring Car Champion under the TWR banner - then went on to win the Bathust 1000, kicking Holden and Ford in the teeth at the same time.
Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff