Lot 300: 1999 6R4 3-Litre V6 Race Engine

This International 6R4 engine - number 16 built by the MG Metro 6R4 specialist David Appleby’s DAM Engineering - was supplied fully-prepped in April 1999 to Mark Bailey Racing for a MBR972 SR2 sports-racing car. A copy of the DAM invoice of 01/05/99 records a total build cost of £18,212.50p. Having reportedly done no mileage since the last rebuild by Dave Midgley in 22/06/02 (substantiated by copy invoices for £1755.00 labour and £1708.45p parts), the dry-sumped engine comes with Bosch injectors, upgraded MBE management system with SBD-supplied £750.12p ECU (currently blank and easily programmable), Jaguar rocker covers and alternator, but without exhausts, electrics or wiring loom. According to the vendor, in current specification, this 3-litre capacity V6 should produce around 400bhp, which would make it highly competitive in another sports-racer or historic C2, where engines of this type were employed in period, but also for a DAM-bodied lwb or production MG Metro 6R4, particularly for hill climbs and sprints or track days where power outputs remain unrestricted. For although current MSA Special Stage rules only permit multi-point injection engines up to 2.5-litres of no more than 300bhp, the ‘Slowly Sideways Group’ still employ full-house Group B cars with much more potent engines of larger capacity, like this one, for their un-timed demonstrations as at Stoneleigh this weekend.