Rod McElrea at Bathurst

[Bryan]

If anyone is in contact with Rod, can they ask him if there is any truth to this story I heard a few years ago...

While discussing unusual cars we'd raced, a friend dropped in a comment that Rod had been contracted to drive a Leyland Marina Six at Bathurst.

Now, I'd be inclined to treat that as BS, except that it was made by a well respected, long time administrator, and long-time friend of Rod's. Of course, my memory could be faulty (just ask SWMBO).

But there are several facts, rumours, and supposition that suggest Leyland were going to have a tilt at the '75 race, with a twin-carb Marina in the 3-litre class, and 5-litre P76 or Force 7 Coupes in the open class. Unfortunately, when David Abell pulled the pin on Leyland Australia in October 1974, most of their records were destroyed, so it's difficult to know how much is just urban legend.

A Leyland Marina Six did race in the 1974 Hardie Ferodo, finishing 25th. That was a private entry - story here.

Evan Green had entered a P76 in the 1974 London-Sahara-Munich World Cup Rally, winning the Targa Florio stage. That prompted Leyland to build the "Targa Florio" special, but it had no performance upgrades apart from a LSD.

Of course, Leyland had a history at Bathurst, with so many wins for the Mini Coopers in the 1960s. But were they serious about Bathurst, and would they have chosen a New Zealand driver?

[librules]

January 73 Modern Motor has an article about a proposed V6 version of the Marina that Leyland Australia was working on. It was to be a version of the forthcoming P76 v8 with 2 cylinders removed. It even has a photo of the prototype engine. Maybe this was the genesis of a works entry which never came to fruition. There's no doubt an aluminium V6 would have been a better thing in the Marina that the straight 6, both for road and track, even with the rudimentary suspension. If I can find time I'll scan and post the article in the next couple of days.

[Bryan]

This one?

[Steve Holmes]

Wow, this is really interesting!

[Bryan]

Wow, this is really interesting!

I'm relieved to hear that, Steve, thought I might be the only one.

The link between Buick, Rover, Leyland and Holden engines is particularly interesting (and convoluted!).

Anything involving British Leyland seems to have more twists and turns than a Shakespearean tragedy. Lots of good ideas sabotaged by shonky management and militant workers.

I wonder if Marinas were ever raced in the endurance series or B&H? I've only seen photos of the works rally cars, and road cars in club events and hillclimbs, plus Graham Park's sports sedan.

[Rod Grimwood]

Leyland, Buick, Rover a lot is compatible with each other. Common back in days to have P76 block with Rover or Buick heads (call them what you wanted to impress)
Common conversion into Escorts or Cortinas (later ones) because they were about 20lb lighter than 2ltr Ford, so not too much playing with suspension.

[Bryan]

I've also heard some bits will swap with the Holden/Buick 3.8 V6, such as the front cover and timing chains.

Interesting writeup on Buick engine family history here.

[BMCBOY]

A little more info in this article

[Bryan]

Wonder if the "short-lived Rover V6" mentioned is the development mule V6 for the Metro 6R4 Group B rally car? That was a cut-down Rover V8, used until the purpose-built quad-cam V64V was ready.
http://www.mgownersclub.co.uk/mg-metro-6r4.html
http://www.evo.co.uk/features/featur...metro_6r4.html
http://www.6r4.net/site/6r4-history

[Jac Mac]

Wondered if there was any connection with the 6R4 myself, lots of compatibility with the ~1963/4 Olds/Buick V6, even right thru to the Indy/IRL stuff.
Aussie has always been a bit of a re-birthing center for previously failed or different application engine combo's, The 'truck' engine that morphed into the E49, Pontiac? that became the 253/308, 302 Cleveland that some USA guys still don't believe exist, or the OHC that evolved from the 250 Falcon motor.