This is a 1986 MG Metro 6R4. Designed by David Wood, Bob Farley, John Piper, Brian O'Rourke, Ian Anderson, Derek Jones and Patrick Head under John Davenport, the Metro 6R4 was a bespoke rally car produced by Austin Rover for Group B competition in the World Rally Championship. Despite sharing a name with the Austin Metro road car, the Metro 6R4 only shared some body panels with the Metro, with virtually everything else on the 6R4 being entirely different. Partly developed by Williams Grand Prix Engineering, the 6R4 featured a unique rear-mid-engine format not seen on the Metro.
Powered by a unique Rover V64V 3.0L V6, the car made up to 410 horses and put that power down on all fours; a 5-speed manual was also used. The engine was unique as it was naturally aspirated unlike its competitors, featuring a larger displacement to match. Production commenced in 1985 to meet WRC homologation rules. The car's first outing was at the 1985 Lombard Rally, where Tony Pond came in third; try as they might however this early success could not be replicated, and by mid-1986 the Group B class was banned on the grounds of safety, ending its short competition life. After the Group B ban many passed on to private owners where they continue to be formidable rally cars. Austin Rover would withdraw from rallying post-1986, with the engines and parts sold to Tom Walkinshaw Racing; a modified version of the engine would later appear in the Jaguar XJ220. Production ended in 1987 with 205 produced.
Now this casting was designed by Phil Riehlman and introduced in 2022 in the Team Transport lineup. This casting has seen three known releases, the last being this one in the Car Culture series in 2025.
