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1967
Alpine Rally as GRX 311D |
LRX
829E (GRX 311D)
Racing
History
1967
Tulip Rally Rauno Aaltonen/ Henry Liddon,
3rd overall (Group II)
1967
Geneva Rally Julian Vernaeve/Henry Liddon
2nd overall, 2nd Class (Group II)
1967
Alpine Rally Timo Makinen/Paul Easter,
retired (Group 6)
(competed with registration GRX 311D
The complex history of this car, i.e.
its use on the 67 Alpine was researched
by me. (Guy Smith) The car is covered
in works modifications, some of which
were directly attributable to Group six
mods. Research, paperwork and photos,
have proved beyond doubt that this car
competed on the Alpine in Group six form,
but for some now unknown reason had its
number plate changed at the last minute.
1967
Tulip Rally |
Now
owned by me (Guy Smith) seen here at Beaulieu
Mini Day shorlty after discovery of the
car, which had been used for shopping
for 25 years by an ex Abingdon employee.
Bought from the works in 1967/8 for £25,
as a slightly rallied car, (it had only
been used on tarmac)and converted for
everyday use.
The car is in amazingly original condition,
still sporting its twin fuel pumps, grab
handles etc, even the competition numbers
are still visible under the red paint
on the doors . This is one of several
cars to leave Comps in this way. Employees
were allowed to purchase the least damaged
of the cars, and several did. A hard pressed
mini will slightly bow in the floor pan
(an egg job) and although it does not
affect the car in any way, BMC could not
sit a car on a start line of an international
event, before the world, in this condition.
On some of the off road cars, Comps sometimes
went to great lengths to invisibly strengthen
the floor crossmember. This undoubtedly
accounts for why this car was sold on.
Most other cars that were not kept as
show cars, or sold as rally cars, were
torched up by the Abingdon scrapman.
1967 Tulip
Rally |
1967 Geneva
Rally |
Restored at
Beaulieu Mini Day |
Due
to the fact that this car was not subsequently
rallied after 1967, (as many were, and
were sort after for that reason) it has
escaped in totally original condition,
being one of only a handful of original
Competitions Department bodyshells in
existence.
Source:
www.smithmaps.fsnet.co.uk/indexmini.htm
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