Late last summer MotorMartin popped along to a favourite car auction on the outskirts of Leeds where one of the lots was a slightly down at heel Metro GTI and quite frankly, if the MotorMartin safe had been a little more generously filled, there may well be a slightly down at heel Metro GTI quietly falling apart in a little used area of the car park here at MotorMartin Towers. I was reminded of this when the following images arrived up here on the top floor alongside the news that a remarkably original 1984 MG Metro Turbo with just 7,317 miles on the clock has been consigned by Silverstone Auctions to its Race Retro Classic Car Sale taking place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, on 25th and 26th February.
With just two owners from new, the time-warp, concours winning Metro Turbo is expected to tempt bidders nationwide on auction day, representing a unique opportunity for MG collectors, as well as a potentially lucrative investment prospect, estimated at £16,000 to £20,000. Best start saving then.
“The condition of this MG Metro Turbo can only be described as ‘show-stopping’,” explained Guy Lees-Milne, general manager, Silverstone Auctions to MotorMartin recently. “Last year we sold a 1989 Peugeot 205 GTI of a similar calibre which soared through its estimate, selling for a new record price of £31,000. This rare, immaculate example is perfectly suited to today’s market.”
This particular car, MotorMartin has been told, was ordered new by its first owner, Mr H.W Lamont, and supplied by dealer Lex Mead of Bexleyheath as a special factory order. The unique design featured white, colour-coded bodywork with matching painted wiper arms, mirrors, and grille, with a red and grey cloth interior. So impressed with the car was the supplying dealer that it persuaded Mr Lamont to delay collecting the car so that it could remain displayed in the showroom. In fact, the colour combination was so successful that it subsequently became standard on the MKII model in early 1985.
Benefitting from input from Lotus Engineering Race Technology, the new Metro Turbo featured a 1275cc engine with a Garrett T3 turbo on a specially designed and cast exhaust manifold, powerful servo assisted brakes using four-pot calipers, ventilated discs up front, stiffer suspension, and also sported a new body kit utilising a front spoiler and four wheel arch extensions, neatly balancing the MG Metro rear spoiler, with Turbo-specific 13″ alloy wheels and low-profile tyres.
Maintaining this example in excellent condition, Mr Lamont entered his pride and joy into several shows, winning first prize in car-club Concours d’Elegance events in 2000 and for a second time in 2001.
The car then spent a period in professional storage before being passed onto its second owner after 30 years of single ownership. The car’s equally proud second owner continued to cherish the car for another two years before contacting the specialist auction house.
“We have a superb selection of sportscars and classic cars on offer at the Race Retro sales, and this fun, sporty, modern classic Metro Turbo is a fine example of car ownership and preservation,” continues Lees-Milne. “It’s also a fascinating part of British Leyland history which, with hindsight, probably played the pivotal role in ‘morphing’ the Metro from a 1.1litre shopping car into Leyland’s most successful competition car ever.”
The car is offered with its complete history file including full service details with all the MoT certificates and all documentation, and even its original, unused Dunlop wheels and tyres, as the owner wanted to ensure its total originality.
To find out more about the 1984 MG Metro Turbo for sale and Silverstone Auctions Race Retro Sales please visit http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/1984-mg-metro-turbo. It could well end up being the best decision you could make.
Where will you go?