RE: MST blows our minds with incoming Metro 6R4

[Twoshoe]

You can probably pick this one up for a little less than £300k

[shakesc]

Remember, many moons ago, being in I think Cowley (could of been Longbridge, I've slept alot) seeing the 6R4 bodyshells on a rack, well after the motorsport program shut down

Would love a 6R4, off to buy a lotto ticket

[oobster]

I'd definitely purchase one of these from MST if my lottery numbers come up.

Just plain body though, no livery, for me.

[What The Deuces]

So

£300k

Sadev Diffs and Gearbox

Audi V6 with blower

3 way motorsport shocks

Motec

Around 350-450bhp


They will sell all they can make

[Earl of Petrol]

The Metro lives!
Bring it on.

[asci.white]

Such a fab car but it was a little flexible (and prone to folding).

I tried to call their manging director, Carwyn Ellis (sic) for more details but they hung up..

[105.4]

Caddyshack said:

Would the engine bay be long enough for a V8? I think that was the reason they went V6 although I think there was talk of a v8 originally.

I had an old copy of Car & Car Conversions magazine from around 1988 which featured a test of three different 6R4’s.

IIRC, one was a road going Clubman with the 2.5(?) V6, one was a full fat Grp-B monster, and the third was fitted with a tuned RV8 which was rwd only.

Again, IIRC, Will Gollop was a contributor / test driver to the article?

(Some of these details may be slightly hazy, as it’s a magazine I last read 35 years ago !)

[Water Fairy]

That's a big OOOOOF! from me

[Hammerhead]

Filled up next to an orginal last year - as you do





Wouldn't say no to one of these new'uns!

[tdm34]

Worked for a Rover dealer at the time of the 6R4 remember a letter arriving saying we could buy a clubman spec one for £12k plus VAT, my boss turned it down, couldn't believe it!

Also at Oulton park on a Rover beano track day for well-heeled customers, they had a short rally course tucked away with a selection of cars and handy drivers including Tony Pond and a full works Computervision 6R4, remember sitting next to him for this assault on the senses, lasted for about 45 seconds and I swear I watched the whole episode unfold through the side windows, it was a totally visceral experience, and one that'll live with me forever.

For me I'd sell a kidney, it's the noise that gets you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwvDFvLiIqQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUu4YO_wb1o

[ArnageWRC]

I recall a few different clubmen versions being rallied, a 8R4, plus a 4R2...Obviously being 2WD......

It surely needs to be a NA engine....the thought of a 5 cylinder turbo Audi engine is wrong; especially to a rally fan.

[Max BHP]

First job….business apprentice at Austin Rover Longbridge in 1985/1986
Seeing factory fresh 6R4s being run up before despatch……awesome!
The sound has stayed with me long after the demise of the company and the Phoenix Four debacle.
Amazing days….wouldn’t have missed them for the world.

[LotusOmega375D]

Much as I appreciate what will go into these, I would have to go for the real deal for similar money. Back in the day a disused airfield near us used to hold Club rallies on the occasional weekend. All the usual stuff: Escort Mk1 and Mk2, Imps, Minis, Mantas, TR7 V8s and often a single 6R4 which would annihilate everything else if it turned up. They used it to drive down past our house the couple of miles to the local town to fetch fish & chips and petrol at lunchtime. You could hear it driving all the way there and all the way back again.

[What The Deuces]

ArnageWRC said:

I recall a few different clubmen versions being rallied, a 8R4, plus a 4R2...Obviously being 2WD......

It surely needs to be a NA engine....the thought of a 5 cylinder turbo Audi engine is wrong; especially to a rally fan.

Its an Audi V6 supercharged.

[cookie1600]

Zenzz said:

Does it get any better?

No!

Probably one of the best articles on here for yonks. I can just see how a 'modern' version with a more dependable engine (of similar basic power to a rally spec V64V) would appeal and although I don't currently have £300k down the back of the sofa, I would be on the phone right now if I did. Where do I apply to sell body parts online?

Many years ago I spent two days measuring up a real, unused 6R4 in the showroom of a local dealer with an idea to replicate one with a slightly less powerful, common FWD engine and rear wheel drive (Lancia 2ltr Twin Cam in the back was my initial thought) in a modified standard shell. As it was I built a front engined Mini with a Lancia 1.6ltr Twin Cam as it was more straight forward back then.

As my old man was a sales manager for Leyland at the time, there were letters going around then to try and get rid of the 200 or so that were homologated but not sold. I seem to remember the price to dealers was knocked down to £13k?

Edited by cookie1600 on Wednesday 22 March 14:38

Edited by cookie1600 on Wednesday 22 March 14:39

[RumbleOfThunder]

Absolutely adore the 6R4 for obvious reasons, but are they really the car you hanker after for a scenic drive out somewhere, or blast down a nice B road? They are so wonderfully ugly, short and wide. They don't feel like a natural choice for the MST fast road/OEM+ treatment.

[redroadster]

Shorten a cayman n stick that shell on top done .

[JerryF]

I owned this one for 5 plus years.

Like anyone who has one owned wishes they hadn't sold it, but that's life.

Would like such a replica, but the price would have to be sensible and easier to drive than the real thing.

Edited by JerryF on Wednesday 22 March 14:54

[Penguinracer]

...I think a turbo version of the Audi V6 tuned to around 500 - 550 bhp would make it the car it should always have been (but could never be in period as it went down the N/A route).

[thewarlock]

Carlos24 said:

Amazing, I had an S4 avant with this engine and it was an awesome piece of kit with a pulley swap and remap. It was mated to a DSG as well so paddleshift will probably be an option.

I've never has a shot of that engine, I do have the later turbocharged version with a ZF8 on it, and it would be a lot of fun in something 1tonne+ lighter!