Belga-liveried MG Metro 6R4 up for sale at Festival of Speed
The Group B era has long been esteemed with legendary status, it’s impossible not to look back at the cars that competed during that era with anything less than adoration and a longing that one day motorsport might be that cool as that again.
There is at least the occasional opportunity to live the dream, and take on ownership of one of those savage Group B cars from the 1980s. And as it happens, one such chance is due to arise at this year’s Bonhams|Cars Festival of Speed Sale.
It comes in the form of this utterly brilliant MG Metro 6R4, resplendent in its instantly recognisable Belga livery. It’s chassis number 102, and was built towards the very end of the Group B era in 1985. It could be yours for an estimated £150,000-£200,000.
Very different to the Austin Metro it’s loosely based on, the 6R4 was designed by Patrick Head, and powered by a 3.0-litre V6 engine mounted behind the front seats, with twin-cam cylinder heads modelled on those from a Cosworth DFV and an output in region of 416PS (306kW).
Group B regulations stipulated that 200 6R4s would need to be built for homologation purposes, but less than half of that total production were ever sold. The models’ most successful rally outing was its first, a third-place finish in the 1985 RAC Rally, but in the wake of its short rally career the 6R4 found its home in the world of Rallycross.
Chassis 102 also finished third at its first attempt at the Clarenbridge Crystal Galway Rally in February 1986. It was then taken to the likes of the Ypres 24 Hours Rally and took an overall victory at the 1987 Carfax Stages. In all, it’s been known to have competed in more than 30 rallies between then and 2009, when it was retired from competition.
Since then, it has undergone plenty of restoration work, including an extensive engine rebuild, and a return to the Belga livery that it wore during the 1986 Ypres 24 Hours Rally. It’s been left in great condition since then, ready for a new owner to come along and put it to work on the rally stages of the world.
The 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard takes place from the 11th-14th July, and you can watch every moment of the action on our live stream right here on GRR!
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