Description:

SUMMARY

This well sorted and superbly presented Metro 6R4 represents a great opportunity to own a competitive car with very strong national provenance and Goodwood possibilities.

DESCRIPTION

Offered here is an MG Metro 6R4 with multiple period rally successes and a continuous competition timeline culminating as recently as the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed. It was purchased in 1987 from Austin Rover by Grant Shand and Frank Richer and registered D585 BRT. They also purchased numerous factory Works parts that included a Corsica dashboard and loom and a factory dog gearbox. It was campaigned by them in eight events in 1987 with a 16th place on that years Manx National Rally and a sixth on The Quip Forestry Rally.

In 1988 it was entered and driven by Tim Harvey with Duckhams support in the Birmingham Super Prix, which resembled a one-make championship race with the entire 22-car grid consisting of Metro 6R4s. The race was won by Tony Pond and Tim Harvey retired whilst in 12th place. In 1992 Frank Richer and David Senior won the Rees Steelwork Breckland Forestry Rally. David Appleby became the next owner for two years before selling the 6R4 to John Price.

Prior to the 1994 McRae Motorsport Stages, Colin McRae, a personal friend of driver John Gray, tested the car and was noted to be 'considerably faster'. Gray/Fergus finished second. It continued to rally through 1995/96 until an accident in 1997 on the Steyr Puch Manx National which necessitated a repair by R&D in Daventry. When returned to John Price he had it painted Orange. It was subsequently sold to Barry Renwick and carried the registration B4 RRY for the 1988 Cheviot National Rally, with Errington co-driving.

Throughout 1998, it was campaigned by Renwick/Errington on seven occasions with a 12th on the Tour of Epynt and other notable results included two first places on the DCC Stages and The Airport Stages.

In 1999, it was sold to John Brodie in a part-exchange deal where Barry Renwick took an ex-Peter Lloyd Escort in exchange for the Metro. Naturally Barry kept the registration B4 RRY for the Escort and the Metro acquired the registration P4 PLR.

During 2000/2001 it was driven by the Brodie/Whyatt partnership on 12 national rallies, winning twice on the Jack Frost Stages and the Festival Stages, and was a constant top-seven finisher in the other events.

It was then sold to Duncan Holder who competed in six events, mainly the Brean Regency Stages with one win to the Holder/Reeves partnership.

Acquired by our owner in 2011, it has competed multiple times (up to and including 2024) at the Goodwood Festival of Speed Forest Rally Stage and Goodwood Rally since 2018 with great success in its current Golden Wonder Crisps livery. A visit to G&G Motorsport of Hull in 2019 showed a healthy 350bhp after an ECU upgrade to Cosworth SQ5. The history file contains various invoices including one from Ramsport in June 2022 that included full preparation for Goodwood, engine service and belts, adjustment to raise the ride height, inspection of driveshafts, inspection to front differential, brakes inspection, fuel tank check, MOT and a clean. The history file also contains period photos and the car's current MOT which is valid until May 2025.

Well known in the historic rally scene, this 100% Works-specification Metro 6R4 is basically box-fresh with a Goodman engine completely tested to rally competitively with all safety equipment in date. It's highly eligible for all the top historic rally events anywhere in the world and widely acknowledged as one of the most sorted and competitive Metro 6R4s to come to the market in recent years.

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