ORX 77F

[mk1]

by worksminis » 21 Mar 2017, 11:25

“Simply the best”?

Monte Carlo Rally January 68. Makinen/ Easter. Group2. Severe overheating (loose crank pulley). Started final section but immediately retired.

Rally of the Flowers February 68. Aaltonen/Liddon. Group2.

Then sold to “J. Grundy” (G. Grundy?) according to Browning.
Price, meanwhile, wrote that Makinen last drove for Abingdon on the Acropolis Rally in May but then lists in the Appendix a 2 car entry for the 1000 Lakes in August. Robson in his much later book takes delight in spelling out these errors/omissions by 2 “eminent historians”.
What is particularly amazing about this is that Browning is featured doing a “piece to camera” in Jyvaskyla before the start of the 1000 Lakes in the Castrol film “The Flying Finns”. In this he states that Makinen had just told him that his car was the best that Abingdon had ever prepared for him.
In the Appendix of his book (which conflicts with his narrative) Price lists:

Rally of the 1000 Lakes August 68. Makinen/Keskitalo, ORX77F.
He also lists ORX777F as driven by Lusenius but the crew was actually Ytterbring/Persson. Makinen was known to have always demanded a dry car for the 1000 Lakes. This may not have suited BMC marketing but it was FIA legal up to the end of 1965. After 1.1.66. under the new Appendix J it was not. (the S was only homologated as hydrolastic until a dry “option” was homologated again on 1.4.70.). There is circumstantial evidence to suggest Makinen's 66 and 67 1000 Lakes cars were also dry. Was ORX77F on the 68 1000 Lakes dry? Is that why, with its splits and 648 cam in Group 2, it was “the best ever”? On Monte Carlo and the equally regulation obsessed Flowers, ORX77F was surely fully-legal hydrolastic. In Finland with Makinen on his last Mini drive, would anyone have dared challenge it?
What was the suspension when it was eventually sold to Geoff Grundy?

Grundy used the car on several Motoring News Championship rallies and a record of these will follow, courtesy of Peter Robinson's “Memory Lanes” book.

[mk1]

Postby davidscothorn » 29 May 2017, 16:36

DVLA MORRIS 1275 DOR 1/68 TAX 12/77 MOT NO DETAILS

[mk1]

by worksminis » 30 Apr 2017, 20:59

Not all MN records of Grundy in an S over the relevant period confirm it was ORX77F (but it probably was) and where there is no confirmation in the official entry list or results a question mark is inserted.
69
Welsh Marches Mar DNS ?
Vales Apr
Nutcracker Apr ?
Bolton Aug ?
Cilwendeg Sep
Cambrian Sep ?
Illuminations Oct ?
Plains Oct
Shenstone Nov
Targa Rusticana Dec
70
Bristowe Feb ?
Seven Dales February
Welsh Marches Mar
Vales Apr
Nutcracker Apr ?
Dubonnet May ?
By Cilwendeg Sep onwards Grundy is entered in OBL48F

[mk1]

y worksminis » 21 Apr 2017, 16:40

Thanks Brian. I will be adding data on use in MN rallies later (my priority effort is going to new threads for other numbers) but I don't have data on where this one is now (if anywhere!). Hopefully someone will post to enlighten us.

[mk1]

by Brian » 21 Apr 2017, 15:19

Great post, really interesting thanks for posting. It does show how much incorrect information is flying around does it not? Btw where is the car now? Cheers. Brian

[tintoptom]

Was owned by the late Paul lips I believe. Can anyone confirm?

Paul passed away a few years ago now. Not sure where the car is now.

[mk1]

Images

[Costafortune]

Last V5 issued February 5th 2019.

[Dearg1275]

It resides, awaiting attention, in Halesowen. There is the restoration of a Morgen apparently blocking progress. Nothing as far as I know has happened to it in the last ten years.

D

[Pete]

Geoff Grundy, who also owned OBL 48F...

[landygrundy321]

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[landygrundy321]

Dad in ORX77F

[spoon.450]

Great photos and history. Thanks for posting.

[landygrundy321]

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[spoon.450]

Advertised for sale in this month’s Cooperworld as an unfinished project. Looks very good.

[spoon.450]

Has it sold recently ?

[spoon.450]

Nice to hear that it sold to a well respected forum member. I’m looking forward to seeing the history being updated and the car being completed.

[Nevsmini]

Nice to hear that it sold to a well respected forum member. I’m looking forward to seeing the history being updated and the car being completed.

Well I’ve been called many things by many people but ‘well respected forum member’ would be a new one

[spoon.450]

Hope you’ve had a good Christmas Nev. Please keep us posted regarding ORX.

[Nevsmini]

Lineage of ORX77F from New to Present day.

MG Car Co.(Abingdon) : Sept 1967 - March 1969

Geoff Grundy : March 1969 - Aug 1970

Raymond Thompson : 1970 - 1973

Richard Johnson : 1973 - 1977

Peter & Richard Tooth : 1977 - 2021

Neville Smyth : Present Owner