This 175-Mile MG Metro 6R4 Group B Special Is Almost A Bargain
Such is the ridiculous state of the classic car market, that I scanned the press release for this soon-to-be-auctioned 1985 MG Metro 6R4, and was pleasantly surprised to find a £180,000 lower estimate. That’s actually quite reasonable, don’t you think?
The car was bought by Williams F1’s marketing department in 1988, and has spent its life doing not much at all. Despite being on planet Earth some 33 years, it’s only clocked 175 miles. What you’re looking at here could be considered a ‘brand new’ 6R4.
Just 200 of the ‘Clubman’ Group B homologation cars were built, with Williams playing a key role in the car’s development. Like most Group B rally machines, the 6R4 had precious little to do with the boggo road car it shares a name with. It was built around a bespoke tubular space frame chassis and powered by a 3.0-litre V6 engine with cylinder heads modelled on the top end of the legendary Cosworth DFV V8. Famously, that unit would go on to be used in the Jaguar XJ220.
In competition trim the six-banger was good for over 400bhp, although the road cars had a still very handy 250bhp.
The current owner took possession of this one in 2015, opting to have a “full mechanical re-commissioning” done in 2017 by BGM Sport. The work included a complete overhaul of the fuel system, and the car is said to be in “sparkling condition”.
Having arrived nearer the end of the Group B rules and never quite had the chance to make a name for itself, the 6R4 ended up being one of the lesser known cars of the era. That’s perhaps why it’s a sort of bargain.
It’ll go under the hammer at Silverstone Auctions’ Autosport International sale on 12 January.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
I don’t blame the classic car market, since generally things are on the upswing there. I think it’s the Williams connection, or the fact that it’s one of the least popular Gr. B cars.
I mean, most people who think of Group B think of the Lancia 037, Audi Urquattro, or maybe the Ferrari F40 (read into its history if you don’t believe me)
Some people want stylish, not Metro
A quick Google search brought up the Ford RS200, Peugeot, Lancia in 037 and Delta trim, a 3 Audi Urquattro cars in the first 6 results.
Below that was a 308 GTB Ferrari.
Below that was an FB RX-7.
Below that was about 18 more photos of the Urquattro.
Below that was a Porsche 959.
Below that were some modern day artistic renderings, of an Alfa Romeo Giulia, Alpine A110, and Rolls Royce.
Below that was finally a Metro, with the website title being called “the Forgotten Group B car”
I mean, imagine telling your friends that you bought a Group B rally car, and then telling them that it’s the Metro… You go from hero to “meh” as fast the Metro goes from 0-60
To be exact, the 288 GTO/288 GTO Evoluzione and 308 GTB were the Ferrari rally cars. The F40 was derived from the 288 which ultimately never raced in Group B.
just wanted to say cheers, always enjoyed reading your posts.
Best wishes from Croatia man, all the best to you and your loved ones
I mean sure it’s a Group B racer, but to be fair, it wasn’t all that successful for it to be that special.
Like the 037 or the 205 T16( which in most auctions is actually much cheaper than this)
And in the end it’s still £180k for a MG metro no matter how big those Air scoops are, and if you plan on driving it, it’ll probably blow itself up considering what the Brits were making in the 80s.
At best id pay £80k. It’s a bit too extreme for £180k
I could get a Lancia 037 if I wanted a Defunct Group B racer car.
At least that’s cooler
This car shares nothing but a name (and doors) with the mg metro roadcar. Spaceframe chassis, mid engined V6 and 4 wheel drive weren’t exactly options at the dealership.
I fundamentally disagree with the “it’ll blow up” comment because if this was a mazda with an R and an X in its name, you would be saying how thats just part and parcel of ownership. It competed in a few seasons, where the brand new engine was unsurprisingly having issues, being a brand new design. After the demise of group B, 6R4s were used heavily in rallycross to great success. Surprisingly reliable after it had been developed properly.
Worth £180k? As a weekend toy, no. As a piece of history? Yes. I could have 2 6R4s for one 037, and if that doesn’t tell you the car is underappreciated, I don’t know what does.
My group b rally nerdyness is coming out lol
epic twingo gt-r supra rotor coolguy (#makCtGREATAGAIN!)(electric hate cult squad) (elon musk h8 gang (#rotorfighter) (contrariangang) (ls cult) (furrysquadfam) those vents would like to s u c c
it’s almost like people are programmed to say that they dislike MGs (or old british cars as a whole), even if their natural reaction is positive lol
it’s literally a group b car, but people are acting like it’s a fiat panda competitor.
I wish I could get that car but again, my usual drivers licence wouldnt cover driving it
and the 180k price might be an issue for most of us haha
Looks like a total ricer haha
whats with the downvotes? its true
It’s a christmas miracle.
Still my favourite car from the period. I mean come on, most cars don’t have a rear wing as mighty as this thing’s front wing. WING. ON THE FRONT OF A HATCHBACK. What more could one want? That itself is worth 100k. :D
Cool car
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