Stunning 1983 Metro 6R4 Prototype!
I thought some of the newer members might like to see what the very first MG Metro 6R4 prototype looked like back in 1983. The first photos are taken outside Austin Rover Motorsport at Cowley... This second batch shows the car being -*test*-('")ed at Chalgrove Airfield in Oxfordshire... The last set of photos show the car being -*test*-('")ed at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire. Note the first version of the rear wing and the large intakes in the bonnet. All images appear courtesy of www.williams.latphoto.co.uk - many thanks.

Great pics Captain, had them on my hard drive for a while. Many thanks for uploading them :D

Yeah, I know we've all seen them, just thought I'd share them with the newer members who possibly hadn't. I personally think the car looks absolutely stunning in the above form. Also bare in mind that the 6R4 never appeared in public with the above body panels, only various closed -*test*-('")ing in 1983 and the media launch in 1984.

Captain, I still think thats the best looking metro. Gorgeous ! Is that the car you've got the panels from ??? Garreth

It is indeed Garreth, and thank you for just bumping up the value of them even more! :D One day they will be on a car, one day... ...whether I'm the owner is the bit I'm unsure about, unfortunately.

Thanks for sharing these photo's Captin :)

Yes ideed...they are cracking pics,so thanks for posting them. The car does look just stunning with that early bodykit but my absolute favourite is the slightly boxier,narrow arch prototype seen shortly afterwards,still minus all the aerofoils etc. In fact,the kit seen on the Winning Streak Metro! How did you aquire those ultra-rare panels,Cap'n? They must be the rarest of 6R4 memorabilia and you are so lucky to have them! All the best, Gary.

No problems 'metrodan' - glad you appreciate them! Likewise Gary - no problems, never a chore and always a pleasure! I prefer the above rounded style bodywork to the 1984 York National Rally style that you prefer - still we can't all support the same football team can we?! :wink: I actually bought them from someone who managed to rescue them from a rubbish skip! They were earmarked as rubbish, and God only knows what would have happened had I been a day or two later!

Captain, on the subject of the panels being thrown away as rubbish, is it true that there where loads of the carbon wheel fans thrown in the skip all those years ago?

Nick, Ken Hall told me when he was down there buying bits for his TR that there where cages of stuff and people walking around buying up things. He deffo remembers alloy roof panels at £8 each he asked what happens to anything not told and was pointed to skips where they where to be thrown out Noooooooooooooooooooooo sacralidge

I only have one pair of the front wings though chaps, but every other panel - both sills/rear wings, front bumper and rear bumper - I have a spare of each. One set of the panels is actually painted red and fully liveried with all of the Austin Rover Motorsport helmet, Bilstein, Champion, Ferodo and Michelin stickers from the launch in February 1984 at Heathrow's International Hotel. If I remember right, A656 NJO was updated with the 1984 York National Rally style bodywork for it's appearance at the 1984 Geneva Motor Show about a week later. Nicky - sets (4) of carbon fibre wheelfans were tie-wrapped together and didn't sell at £10 each set so they were scrapped! That's the story I heard anyway. Think what money you could make if you had that pile of tie-wrapped carbon fibre wheelfans For Sale in 2008!

I hadnt seen them before ;)

So what do you think of this first version then 'brataccas'?

call me Dave ;) at first glimpse from the side it looks like that renault GroupB car a bit lol :shock: