Minis and rally Metro at Autosport auction

Coys auction house is hosting a car auction at the Autosport International show next weekend, January 16, and there are some treats for Mini and Metro enthusiasts.

Estimated value: 85-95k

Created for the short lived Group B race category, the 4WD mid engined MG 6R4 (6-cylinder, rally car, four-wheel-drive) Metro of 1984 was a world away from the best selling supermini to which it bore only a superficial cosmetic resemblance. The competition car effectively only shared the name of the production Metro as it featured a mid-mounted engine with four wheel drive transmission enclosed within a seam-welded tubular chassis. The development of this vehicle had been entrusted to Williams Grand Prix Engineering. The resulting car was shown to the world in May 1985.

It was powered by a David Wood designed bespoke 3-litre V6 powerplant which used some of the engine architecture of the Cosworth DFV. It featured twin overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. The engine was a break from the norm, as it wasn’t turbocharged as the majority of its competitors were.

The engine was mounted back to front in the car, with the forward end of the engine facing the hatchback and the gearbox attached conventionally behind it and, therefore, in the middle of the vehicle. The four-wheel-drive was permanently engaged, and drove separate propshafts to the front and rear differentials. The rear differential was mounted on the side of the engine sump with one driveshaft running through the sump to the nearside rear wheel. Much of the outer bodywork was made of GRP, with the only exception being the roof panels (which were aluminium) and the steel doors.

This car was the original Rothmans show car with fitted with development engine number one, which is the original V6 cast block ( 2 valves per cylinder). This car was never rallied and was only used for shows and demonstration, hence also, never registered. The car has only covered a mere 3,100 miles from new which must be the lowest mileage 6R4 on the market today. This truly is a piece of automotive history, stalled in time and in the Rothmans colours, it strikes a familiar pose!

These were revered in mid 1980s as the Marque to beat in world rallying, storming all events worldwide and beating all competition in the hands of some of the most famous names in Rallying history. This example is an opportunity not to be missed.

Estimated value: 5-7k

Having devised the iconic original back in the early 1960s, John Cooper sold his own modified Minis under the Mini Cooper name from the mid-1980s, before Rover’s acquisition of the rights to the name made it possible to officially re-launch the model in September 1990. The new Mini Cooper was based on the Mini 30, the most luxuriously equipped Limited Edition Mini to date, but fitted with the 1,275cc engine rather than the 30s 998cc unit. What would turn out to be the final Mini version – the Mark 7 – arrived in 1996. Changes included twin-point fuel injection, higher final drive gearing, driver’s airbag, side impact beams, additional sound insulation, improved front seats, front-mounted radiator and a Sportpack option. By the time production ceased in 2000, a total of well over 5 million Minis of all types had been produced, making it the best selling British car of all time.

From 2003 until 2009 this particular mini was the property of The Duke of Westminster. Offered today It Retains its original book pack which includes the service book which confirms its regular maintenance . In 2010 the coachwork was refinished. In 2013 a replacement Gearbox with a four pin differential was fitted .

Having only been used a Sunday car, and for shows and special trips, most recently  it has been modified with Cobra Sport seats, a monolita steering wheel Bullet door mirrors an RC 40 Exhaust system. It as covered only 7000 miles in the last five years and comes with a cherished no K14 MOH.

Estimated value: £7-9k

Having devised the iconic original back in the early 1960s, John Cooper sold his own modified Minis under the ‘Mini Cooper’ name from the mid-1980s, before Rover’s acquisition of the rights to the name made it possible to officially re-launch the model in September 1990. The new Mini Cooper was based on the Mini 30, the most luxuriously equipped Limited Edition Mini to date, but fitted with the 1,275cc engine rather than the 30’s 998cc unit. What would turn out to be the final Mini version – the Mark 7 – arrived in 1996. Changes included twin-point fuel injection, higher final drive gearing, driver’s airbag, side impact beams, additional sound insulation, improved front seats, front-mounted radiator and a ‘Sportpack’ option. By the time production ceased in 2000, a total of well over 5 million Minis of all types had been produced, making it the best selling British car of all time.

Dating from the final year of the Mini’s production in its original form, this Mini Cooper has covered a mere 26,000-or-so miles from new. Most attractively finished in British Racing Green with ‘white’ roof, it comes with service history that supports the mileage. Offered with fresh MoT and Swansea V5 registration document, this low-mileage Mini Cooper represents an opportunity to acquire a last-of-the-line example of one of the world’s greatest cars, which can only become increasingly collectible.

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